Rich Hale

Ken I have taught alot of students the basics of smithing, I could have used your post at a text...thanks for sharing

Jim If you can find a distributer in my area,,Glendale/Phx I will pick the part up and stick it in a brown truck...need pics of all sides and data to take with me to pick part up Rich Hale

At least one of them folks on the berm had to say "hey y'all watch this"

This drop point hunter has a sambar stag handle and ss bolsters,,the blade is ATS-34 and the deep relief engraving is mine.

This is a very complex subject, With many techniques and types of equipment..See if your library has the James Meeks book on engraving. It is a bit pricey to purchase. It will give you an overview of how, what and etc on this subject.

I made the little chasing hammer to help with my engraving,,A short piece of S-7 inch round.

I have heard good things about them. I also have gotten most of my materials from K and G in AZ. http:

Mike I have a bit of college also....lol

Thanks for all the nice comments,,I have a couple more new knives and will post pics in next couple of days,,,,,

Just out of shop today the knife has ATS-34 blade, hidden tang with 416 Stainless guard and butt cap. The handle is really nice sambar stag.

Keep it up you are doing great,,,I like desisn and workmanship on all...And I really like that you put them in the hands of users. The feed back from hunters is invaluable for makers.

IForgeIron Blueprints Copyright 2002 - 2011 IFORGEIRON, All rights reserved BP0366 Multi-position vise holder by Rich Hale I got a bowling ball at a thrift store for $1.29. Sliced off a slab with a band saw. You can do this with a hand saw, it cuts pretty easy. Flatten the cut area with a sander or rasp if needed. The vise is a cheap one that was about $13 new. Four metal screws about 1 3/4 long secured it to the ball. The ring was cold turned from 1/8 x 1 1/2 steel and the ends welded. A piece of 1/4 inch. ID. hose was split and fitted onto the edge of the ball. You can turn this ball in almost any position and it will stay put for light work like filing or sanding. I did not measure the ring make it fit the ball so the ball does not extend below the bottom line of the ring with the hose in place. Detail of the ring. View full article

This piece is about seven inches long with a three inch blade. The blade is my damascus and the scales are mastodon ivory. bolsters are satin finished 416 stainless

Theer is certainly a concern when a lot of things are heated, Like those mentioned here. We are all exposed to chemicals that may be toxic. Some are real bad guys and let you know right away that you got a dose. Many folks use muriatic acid for etching damascus knives or cleaning scale..get a whiff of it and you react right away. Carbon monoxide is another one you may not realize it but it is deadly and silent,,,does not have a smell. You may notice headaches after exposure. Likely the most commonin gases from smoking some folks smoke for decades and do not see side effects. When Jim Wilson (Paw Paw) heated the galvanized he got the text book signs of exposure. In addition he had been along term smoker and had lung disease as a result. He was a friend and a great guy I miss him.

YOu can indeed forge a knife and do no sanding or grinding at all on it. History again in action. Or you can do a bit of both. Check out the works of Daniel Winkler...he grinds part and leaves part forged.. really a nice look. For me I like a clean,if not forged traditioanal look. Knives are a big part of what I do in the shop so I use a pricey belt grinder,,and every surface is finished even if I forge the blank,..to each his own.

My damascus blade and spring with stag scales and stainless bolsters. Blades is 3" long and knief is 7" long when opened.

I competed another folder today and posted a pic in the gallery it is called stag folder,,,take a look if you like..

I love this place

There may be a bit more to this story,,,,You likely presented you self well and made a good impression,,,,Nice to hear

Blade is my damascus 1084 and 15N20....It is a slip joint and a blue print would just not work on a folder, there is a whole lot of steps and some just have to be adjusted as you go.

I just completed a new folding knife, for pics and info please see gallery thanks. Small folder, 5 1/2" overall length with 2 3/8" damascus blade. 416 bolsters and jigged bone scales.