Messerist

NC cooter I just may retire my aqua fortis stain and steal yours! Thanks for posting pics of your fine work...and your recipe! Merry Christmas!

"Not a Knifemaker?" Pull the other one. I would say you are an "exceptional" Knifemaker. Merry Christmas!

She looks to be a "thumper" Outstanding! Merry Christmas!

An old ball pein couldn't ask for a better re-incarnation. Great work! Merry Christmas!

Is that one of your own handles, or may I ask where you got it? Stunning work as always. Merry Christmas!

I have forged several knives from rasps. It is fun to explain to folks how I forged the "snakeskin pattern" into the blade.

A nice, rugged looking blade, yet the damascus adds a touch of elegance:).

I think The $50 Knife Shop is an excellent resource for a fledgling knifemaker as well as someone with more experience. I use Mr. Goddard's tips and techniques daily when working on my knives.

What a neat little package! Thanks for the look!:)

Nice shape and lines!:)

Ewww! Yuck! Snakeskin! You just take that horrible knife and sheath and ship it right to me and I will rid you of the horror of having to let the monster see the light of day!! How can you sleep knowing it is in the same house as you? Let me relieve you of the burden of insomnia. OK, there are no criticisms. Comments:NICE!!! What more can I say?:)

Tnraines if you can swing it I highly recommend Tim Lively's dvd on primitive knife making Knifemaking Video DVD It is a very good resource if you are trying to make a knife on a limited buget or just starting out and want to learn. I've been making knives for about 15 years and I really simplified things by watching his video. The website is a great resource as well. Lots of tutorials. This forum is also a great resource. Many great makers here who are always willing to offer advice and tips. Good luck:)

See if you can scavenge some scrap! Years ago when the US Navy was building its "Arleigh Burke" class destroyers I had the opportunity to visit a friend who worked in the mill that was making the connecting steel bars for use in the modular construction of the ships. I'm not sure of the exact application of the steel but the chunk my friend gave me was enough for five blades. I made him two, one for his brother, one for his Dad and one for my brother. It forged like bearing steel, but when annealed, filed like cold butter. I triple quenched the blades in canola oil and triple tempered to a dark straw, almost bronze color. To this day I am not sure how to classify the steel but the knives are still cutting and are performing well....at least I've had no complaints. Scraps are good!:)

I used a drift shaped for tomahawk handles. You can find them online through several blacksmith supply firms or you can forge one out. I picked mine up at a rendezvous several years ago. I recommend drifting out the hammers head for your hawk "before" forging out your spike and edge you will get less distortion. Good Luck!

I am at a loss to what type of steel it actually is but a feller I work with is a ancient machinist and "he says" that most hammers are made from mid-range carbon steel. Somewhere in the 1040, 4140 range. The blacksmith who gave me the gumption to go ahead and try the hawk edge quenches his hawks in oil after reaching critical (non-magnetic) temp. He then, as did I, tempers to purple. I heated the eye with a propane torch and just watched the colors move through the hawk. I did this three times Quenched it in cold water when the edge was purple. Since I've posted the HT methods I used on other sites I've been advised that a straw color would be better for a hawk. This is my first one and we will see which works better. I did not HT the spike because I feel it is beefy enough to perform it's intended task. You guys are all great in my book and really know how to inspire further attempts with your generous comments. Hope to post more soon, Thanks!:)

That is just some gun oil I rubbed on the blade to prevent rust. Now stop looking at axe porn and finish that hawk!:)

I've posted this photo on several other sites so some of you may have already seen it. It is my first Hawk. I made it out of a 24 oz ball peen hammer. A Blacksmith on a Muzzleloader site makes them out of ball peen hammer heads and he inspired me to give it a shot.

Fantastic work! I hope your second one is better!:)

Boing!!..Excuse me while I pop my eyeballs back in my head! Exemplary execution of a Bowie!

You have done an ancient Roman Cutler justice with your work...Super! They are smiling at you from heaven.

Hammer away! Looking good. Keep at it and the addiction will overtake your soul! Another Acolyte of the Soot!

OMG that looks terrible!!! Send it to me and I will hide that horror from the public forever!! Especially with an Ironwood handle! How could you? :o

Don and MRobb have it right. I like your overall design but if it were my knife I would work some more on the handle so that it feels good in the hand. You are doing very well for a novice maker and are in the right forum to help you develop your skills. Good Luck:)!

Looks like a stout little chute knife. What did you use for your handle. Keep at it. Soon you'll be addicted beyond recovery!:)

Very nice! A good use of an old knife given new life as well as an expression of your abilities on a blade that many would just pooh pooh and not give a second glance. Not all our knives are Bowies or tacti-cool jihadist-slayers. Knifemaking Kudos!:)