Aaron Gouge

Sorry, I’ve been out of service. I did end up buying it! I paid $3.75 a pound. So $450 as it was a 120 anvil. Im pretty pleased as this is my first anvil. Aaron

I’ve been messaging his wife. Somehow he missed the one and thought the 20 was for 200lb. Apparently that was some information he found somewhere online. I had her measure it and it comes in about 4 inches shorter in length than my 150lb Fisher that I have on loan.

This is true. Currently the anvil is secured to an old stump. That makes weighing it a little bit more challenging. Also I was hoping for a anvil that was over 150lb. With this particular one being about an hour from home I don’t want to ask the vendor, who doesn’t seem to know much about anvil‘s, to try and pull it off the stump to weight it. It depends on how much they’re willing to negotiate on price. So was hoping for a little bit more information off the forum before I took up too much of their time. Aaron

Hey all, Hey Fischer and Will has showed up on the local marketplace. Seller claims it’s 200 pounds. Though I am not an expert I would understand it to be 120 pound anvil. I have a Fisher on loan right now. I was told it weighed 150 based on the number stamped on the front right foot when looking at the eagle logo side. Is this correct? If so then the anvil pictured would be a 120lber?

Latt, Thanks for passing on the info about the book. I will look into it. Deforming a piece of pipe is a good idea, well see. I am probably several weeks to a month out before I start on the scabbard. Just trying to come up with a game plan. Thank you all. I will post some pics when I get to that stage. Aaron.

Thank you Latt for your post. A jewelers class would be great but just not a option at this point. I will look at the Rio Grande silver solder. I may just try to buy either a ORCA EZ Torch or Victor Turbotorch STK-11. It seem jewelers use them and they seem far better than just a plumbers torch. I have seen pictures of chapes that were made from tow pieces of brass that were butted together than soldered as well as chapes that were wrapped around a mold and soldered in back at a lap joint. Some insight on what would be a better or easier technique would be helpful. Aaron

Tomas and Frosty, Unfortunately taking a jewelers course at a community college is not an option right now. Thomas when you say you use a hard solder are you using a Silver solder? Do you have a preferred brand? How about a hard brass solder? Aaron

Hey all, I am looking into making a scabbard for a Scottish Dirk I am working on. I will need to make the chape and fitting at the top of the scabbard. Not sure yet if I will use copper or brass. Anyways I am totally new to sodering and brazing. My understanding is that these are tequnics that runs somewhat parallel but brazing requires higher heat. My understanding is for greater strength these components on the scabbard should be brazed. I currently do not have any kind of torch. As I continue to process this whole scabbard build my question is what kind of torch? I have read quite a bit onlin on different set ups but would like some input from forum. I have looked at the ORCA EZ Torch, Victor Turbotorch STK-11, or a Bernzomatic TS8000. I appreciate your thoughts on wether the TS8000 is adiquet or if one of the other two are going to be the way to go. Thanks Aaron

So after posting on a knife forum i was told this is a Frank J. Dilluvio knife. It seems he used this mark early in his knife making career before switching to his first initial and last name. So mystery solved. Thanks all.

When looking at this mark it could also be fjd. Any thoughts out there? Aaron

Tomas, Thanks, I will put my question out on one of the blade websites. If anyone else out thier has some more info please pass it on.

Thanks everyone for the input! Jspool I am planning on etching after pining. I also am planing on using some mosaic pins in the vera wood handle. So I wanted something different in the bolster. I am leaning towards making my own pins from the Damascus stock. At this point I will plan on cutting some square stock of the billit and rough forging them round. Then my plan is to chuck them into my drill and sand them while they spin. Aaron Hey all, I know it has been months since I was asking about what pin material to use on Damascus bolsters but I thought I would update. I did use some of the parent stock and it came out well!! So thank you all for you advice!

Tomas, That was how I was reading the makers mark. FPD . Is that a name or mark you are familiar with?

Hey all, We had a family get together this weekend and I brought a few knives that I recently finished. While sitting around with family my father brought out a custom knife my grandfather gave him in the early 80’s. Grandpa worked in Detriot at a specialized metal supply house. One of the cliants was a knife maker who Grandpa bought this particular knife from. Wonder if any of you could help me to identify the maker?

Thanks everyone for the input! Jspool I am planning on etching after pining. I also am planing on using some mosaic pins in the vera wood handle. So I wanted something different in the bolster. I am leaning towards making my own pins from the Damascus stock. At this point I will plan on cutting some square stock of the billit and rough forging them round. Then my plan is to chuck them into my drill and sand them while they spin. Aaron

Hey Steve, are you advising stainless pins for the bolsters or stainless bolsters and pins. DeEulear I am not quite ready to forge my own Damascus. I had contemplated trying to make pins out of the extra material from the bolsters. I have turned square stock into dowls many times with wood but was concerned about creating symmetrical pins with the metal. If you have some insight/tricks for doing this I’d be glad to hear it.

Thanks for the insight Awrkiron. I apreaceate the input. I will be using Bolivia Vera wood for the scales. I have seen some picks of copper pins that look really good in the Damascus bolsters. It is still a option. The silver or steel look... something that might blend in more with the Damascus. What kind of metal would I be looking for the pins to be made of??

I plan on using rain drop Damascus.

Hey all, Working on a Persian fighter inspired knife. I plan to use Damascus steel from bolsters. I plan on using pins to help hold the bolsters. As I am newer to knife making I’m looking for some suggestions on what kind of pins to use that would blend well with the Damascus. I’ve seen some different images where the pins blend nicely with the Damascus just not sure what the pins were made of where or where to purchase them. Thanks for the help Aaron

Thanks Steve, I have been on the IBS web site and found contact info for the Indy branch. I will be giving a call to Bill Newman for more info. FYI I ordered and read your book. Very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks Tomas and Glenn for the info. I was un aware their was a Indiana Blacksmiths Association. We just moved here in Dec. I will try to connect with IBS.

Hey all. Newbie here. I have been reading the form a lot, so much good info! I have started down the road of knife making. Right now I have a Atlas mini forge that I am using. It has been great. It size dose have limitations but none the less it has been great. I am working on putting together a brake drum forge that I plan on using nut coal form Tractor Supply in. I hope this will allow me to work on odder shaped project as well as forge weld with flux. I have one knife finished and I am finishing the handle on my second. Probably will start a 3rd pretty soon! Forge welding interest me. The hope would be to at some point try may hand at pattern welded knife blades. Yet the general art of forge welding metal togeather is also a great skill to have in ones box of tricks. So I was hoping to connect with someone in the Indianapolis Indiana area who could show me how forge welding is done. All the info available on the net is great but it still leaves a big learning gap. Nothing like watching a task done in person and being able to ask questions. I hope I have this in the right spot. If their are any links that you all think might be help full I am open to more reading as well.