Irondragon Forge ClayWorks

One time when I was still on patrol with the PD just after an ice storm, I got a call of a minor traffic accident at an intersection with a slight grade. The city hadn't yet chatted that intersection as it was a secondary road. I pulled up below the vehicles and proceeded to try and walk up the 15 or 20 feet to the wreck and fell on my keester, got up and both guy's, that I knew were chuckling. I asked them why are y'all out here driving on this ice. One of them said "gotta drive ya can't walk on it". We all had a pretty good laugh over that reply. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Then the condenser stored the charge until the points closed and sent the charge to the plugs. We used to charge up a condenser and leave it laying on a bench or counter in the shop and invariably someone would pick it up and get zapped. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I really don't know the weight of it, but as a kid I could only pull it about half way back and at that it was fast. The last time I saw that bow was when I joined the USCG and departed for boot camp January 1964. It was in the closet of my bedroom. When I got out in '68 the bow was gone and mom didn't remember it. I always suspected my brother or some friends of mom's that helped take care of her while I was away had absconded with it. By then life got in the way, raising 2 kids, a career in the automotive industry (parts manager of a large Cadillac dealership) a couple of divorce's and finally marrying Debi. When we moved to Arkansas in '82 the urge to shoot came back and Debi loves shooting both firearms and bow & arrow so the journey began anew. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I've never seen hammer blanks for sale, where did you get it. We can't post live links to commercial sites but can mention the name so googling it will bring it up. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Hence the saying "faster than falling on ice". One day during an ice storm, I saw Debi doing a whole ballet while trying not to fall on ice. By golly she made it without falling, probably because of all her Karate and dancing lessons when younger. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

My introduction to Archery began when I was about 14 and had a paper route. On my route there was an elderly black gentleman who taught me a life's lesson that is with me still. At that time the paper boys would collect the weekly money for the subscriptions and turn them in to the route supervisor. The gentleman had failing eyesight and when I would collect the money, he would say there was money on the table by the door take what you need. I asked him how he would know if I took the right amount and he said he wouldn't know but that I would know. That lesson about honesty really stayed with me and I never took more than needed. Every once in a while when I rode by his place on my bicycle he would be out in the vacant lot next to his house, shooting at a target with a bow and arrow. One day I stopped to watch him and due to his poor eyesight he missed the target a lot. I asked him if he would like me to get the arrows for him and he said sure, it's hard for me to find them. I collected them and headed home. I told my folks about the encounter and my dad who was a Lt. on the police force said that he knew the gentleman and that he was a decent fellow and it was ok for me to help him with finding his arrows. One day when I was getting the arrows for him, he asked if I would like to shoot some. Silly question and I said sure, was dying to try but afraid to ask. He basically taught me to shoot a bow and arrow. He said the bow was one he made when he was a young man it looked a lot like the bows seen on the old western tv shows. I found out later they were called "Self bows". One day just before Christmas when I was collecting the money for the paper, he told me to go over to the corner of the living room and bring him the bow. I did and he held the bow out to me and said Merry Christmas it is yours to keep. I took it home and told my folks about it and my dad said it was alright to keep it as the gentleman had flagged him down and told him what he wanted to do with the bow. I learned just before New Years from my dad that he had passed away. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

You are right Frosty the band is still playing with new members, however all the founding members and several later members have passed away. I had to google the Ventures to find all that out. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

If I'm not mistaken, every member of the Ventures has passed away. However their music will live on. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Over the last 5 years or so, I have seen some Bow & Arrow stuff, scattered around the various Sub Forum's and thought it would be fun to have a thread for folks to post photos here of what you have. Doesn't matter if you made or bought them but stories about them would be interesting. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Oh ya the Ventures one of a kind grout and my favorites with the drumming battles. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Paul, good to hear you are recovering and doing better. If you go to the sub forum https://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/186-farriers-and-horse-stuff/ There some posts about hoof picks. If I recall Jennifer (jlpservicesinc) has posted some she has made. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Flintlocks rule... I've forged many flash hole picks for friends. I saw your knife when it was in the sub forum Gunsmithing, Muskets, Flintlocks etc but didn't tie in the pick. The knife looks good and should be an excellent Skinner. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Good job on the stock. I have an original Wilt Krueger Wriezer 58 cal Jaeger percussion rifle that I had to do the same for. It was a WWII GI bring back that he had cut the forearm off to fit it in his duffel bag and the forearm was lost. Everyone said I would never match the original stock but with my wife helping with matching the color (she's the artist in the family) and me forging some missing parts it is shooting once again. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Outstanding job on the customization of an old classic. I love both original and customized old one's. I have a Springfield Krag Jorgenson 30-40 Krag that is customized, best deer rifle ever. My old Lt. (may he rest in peace) used to say that 30-40 Krag could be laid on a bench or tree stump and if a deer walked by within a hundred yards it would shoot it without Randy's help. My Springfield 1884 Trapdoor is in original configuration and I load both black powder and Trail Boss powder for it. I can consistently hit clay birds on a berm at 125 yards with it. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

The edit time window on the forum is very short, limited to 2-3 min. in my experience. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I love Haggis, especially with a dram of single malt scotch to wash it down. For a long time it was banned here in the U. S. until recently (2021) when the ban was lifted. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. If you put your general location in your profile, you may be surprised how many members may be near you to lend a helping hand. I can't really help as fly & screw presses are not in my area of expertise. I'm reasonably sure some of our current members have some experience with them. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Welcome from the Ozark Mountains. That looks like a very good Farriers anvil and knowing the history of it is a plus. The minor edge chips are of no consequence, and I hope you have read about not doing any grinding, milling or welding on the hardened steel face, which will do more harm than good. We won't remember your location once leaving this post, hence the suggestion to add location in your profile. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus PS I agree with George N.M. on the value of the anvil $400 U.S. would be a fair price in my area.

Yes, it will rotate to any angle wanted by loosening the big wing nut. It is a companion jig to the first one posted made out of square tubing with wood inserts as jaws. The only drawback we found is it's limited to blade length it will accept. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Looks very good to me. Most of the time minor adjustments are the norm. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

That's a good looking nose cap, not quite authentic, or at least I've never seen one on a Trapdoor. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Archie Have you ever tried the 50/50 mix of Dexron II ATF and Acetone, it works just as well as Kroil and is a lot less expensive, even if you can find Kroil locally. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

If I remember that was long before resistor plugs or shielded wires. I once saw him shut down a single cylinder motorcycle by grabbing the frame and plug wire connection at the spark plug, grounding it out. I never had the nerve to try that. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

Yes, anvil height does matter, too low and it puts a strain on the back/spine. Check in the anvil section on how to set the correct height. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus

I could have sworn I added pictures of the bench mount jig so file work can be done, so here they are. Maybe it is in another thread. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus