M Hill

Whoops - fat fingers - hundredweight not stone weight.

You must have a better search engine because when I searched I got around 500 supposed hits. Then I started looking and many/most did not even mention Hill anvil. I tend to do my research before I ask a question. Isaac Hill or I Hill anvils I know about as well as D Hill anvils and possibly Isaac's son, maybe Thomas, but did not find any markings. But NOT an I Hill with an H anvil. Was just asking if anyone knew about them because I did not find anything about an anvil marked I Hill H. It is also marked with the stone weight of 1 0 21 on the reverse. .

There is an anvil on Marketplace that is a Hill made anvil. It has the usual "I" above the Hill, but this one has an "H" to the right of Hill. Is this usual or does it mean something? Anything with Hill on it gets my attention - Duh! 133# but pretty swayback so not probably going to get it unless it is the only one with the extra "H" - My first name starts with an H. Any info would be appreciated.

Y'all 'r talkin martian fantasy greek! and I cannot find a translator. Learned some computereze on a huge machine at college (Texas A&M) with card punching. Only Fortran. Then was able to use a Dex machine at my first job with Fortran, but then went to XT or AT and command lines - whichever came first (I don't remember). IBM lent me a real early machine when I was building a large assembly and shipping facility in KY for them. The company financial guy commandeered it though. At the time the company had an IBM 36. It was an interesting time - one of the companies we owned and I got to stick my nose into helping them run it - was all Mac and I had to get familiar with that platform. Man, that was like night and day then! Other than that all I know is how to punch buttons! Once a redneck - always a redneck.

Ahhhh - Central NM - Gotta love Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Dad's best friend was in Las Aalmos and we'd vacation up there often. We lived in San Antonio, TX at the time and it really thrilled us kids to drive through San Antonio, NM. I think I still have an "authentic" Mescalero totem pole that we got at some tourist store somewhere around there. LOL That was all of 50+ years ago - I'm sure it's changed a little since then! Not that I want to bypass any learning and am not trying to. It's been awhile - decades ago, but I have taken some basic blacksmithing lessons. The problem, I'm having now is that nothing is open for learning. One place is open - Fiddlers Grove Blacksmithing - Great organization and do a great job of teaching - but 9 - 12 months is their program and does not really touch on knife-making. It's not that I've played golf and watched TV all my life and then all of a sudden I want to do a knife. I've made a lot of things in my life - very familiar with tools and materials. I've made knives - in that I've bought a premade blade and put on a handle, and polished and sharpened. Nothing particularly hard about that. Bought an inexpensive 2x72 grinder to be able to cut out and shape blades using it. Just got it set up and just about to use it for that. However, what I want to eventually do - and I said eventually - want to be able to do is to forge some blades as well as make some - and I'll use the generic term - damascus as well. I'm NOT going to go out buy me some 440 stainless and forge some damascus, or try to do a Vanax blade or cryo treating first time out. I know my limitations as Clint would say! The problem is the want to learn - without opportunities. As always, my timing is impeccable! Guess, what I am hoping for is someone near who could advise me, teach me, etc.... or could point me in the right direction. I have exhausted looking on the internet. And before I can hit hot iron, I need a forge. I live in a residential neighborhood within the city limits. I've already expressed problems with The Smoke Nazi over smoking and grilling - and not sure if I could get away with hammering on an anvil. So not even sure I can do much of anything else but cutting, grinding, polishing, and sharpening.

Ordered the introduction book this morning. However, I have read a couple of other books and have watched a number of youtubes.

As far as bladesmithing classes go, I'm hoping someone from Middle Tennessee knows of someone, sees this and directs me to someplace. There is one guy I know about with bladesmithing classes, but I cannot tell if he is healthy enough or has just shut down because of the virus - he hasn't answered e-mails. Might have to swallow hard and travel a ways to get instruction. Even thought about the Metal Museum in Memphis - but they are shut down. Same with the Appalachian Center for Crafts in Smithville. There is a couple of places around with blacksmithing 101 and I'm not against taking those-however - I'd rather have instructions specific to knife making. Not really, trying to cheat the learning process, I rather enjoy it. One always needs another bbq fork or fire poker! The hammer and press idea was more future.

George, thanks for the idea about coke - did not know that it was smoke-free. I'll look into it. However, even with connections it ain't easy to find coal here - unless I buy in bags from Tractor Supply. We did a project for what used to be the largest coal dealer in town, - now they do other things. Also have a friend that owned a coal distribution company supplying coal to utilities. With some bad guvment interference and a couple of judgements that didn't go his way, he had to declare bankruptcy a almost 20 years ago. The Amish up north of us sell some coal I've heard, but don't know where. So probably stuck with propane. Have a couple of blacksmith clubs around - might have to ask them where they get their's.

Been thinking about either a powerhammer or a press already. But then again. I tie flies - sometimes. If I fished more, I'd lose more and I'd tie more. I bought a bunch of material necessary to tie flies with. As it sits now, I've calculated that each of my flies probably cost somewhere between $203.45 to $385.56 each! I go full bore and buy a powerhammer or a press each of the knives I would make would cost $500.00++++! LOL. I am, however leaning toward a press. Less noise, and since I'm in the Construction business, maybe I can get one of my steel subs to make the press body and one of the hydraulic mechanics around town to do the hydraulics without too much trouble.

You know, I'm finally at the point in my life, that I realize, I wish I had started some things sooner. Knife-making, forging, blacksmithing, damascus making, etc. always seemed like something someone else could do but not me. For the past year or more, I've been mesmerized by how many people make knives. A 2x4 hit me aside the head and I realized if everybody else could, I could too! With the recent set-up of a knife grinder, I have the tools to make a knife (but not heat-treating) and will soon. I can cut a blank out, grind to shape and install a handle, but know in my heart I would eventually want to do more - forge, pattern weld, forge weld, etc.... Unfortunately I'm 64 1/2 y.o. healthy and strong, and know I don't have decades to try new things and work through failures. A site like this is amazing - absolutely amazing! In just the short time I've slurked around and browsed - I quickly surmised that there are some very knowledgable, some immensely experienced, and some very talented people on this forum. Even though I sit at a desk in Brentwood, TN, I live in Nashville and would enjoy seeing other people's shops and set-ups and ideas of where to purchase things I need. I don't have the gumption to make knives for a living, but would like to make some for family, family, friends and myself and have collected a number of tools and materials to get started and will soon - after a couple of other projects get completed. Any tips or wise, sage advice is appreciated. I will be on the prowl for a gas forge - I'd go solid fuel, but have neighbors that don't like my smoke (grilling and smoking meat!). They don't stop me and I've gotten to be friends with the Firemen who show up when the neighbors call to report my "burning" - but I'd rather not go through the hassle. With the forge, I'd like to forge knives and to make a few pieces of damascus, and san-mai and heat treat. Next project to do is to set up my anvil. Mike