cutshurt

Yup thats how I do it. Its not easy to get that mouse to sit still though. Darrel

I forge the hawk with the mass from the head for the blade works out great Darrel

I fold 3 1/2" of the file in for the center then fold the rest over to form the eye and I have three layers to weld that gives the mass I want for the blade. Darrel

I used to grind both sides of the files teeth off, but I dont bother anymore as it made no diference when forge welding them up. And as a side benifit I'm not wearing my grinders out and I have more mass in the hawk. I have not ground the teeth off of the one in this pic, didn't hurt the weld at all. as for the handle its a not a problem and it may even help keep the handle a bit snugger in the head. Darrel

I made this one just the other day from a 24 oz ball peen and curly Ash handle. I like file work on everything I make. I did a musturd etch on this one to give it an old look. I drift with a rounded off chisle and then a modified small ball peen hammer head to open the eye more then finish off with a large teardrop drift from blacksmiths depot. Darrel