Wandering_R0gue

Thanks Frosty. So, either would work, but Hardenable will last longer. Kinda what I figured.

What is people's opinion: does a Touchmark NEED to be made from a hardenable steel, or would mild work? Being used on hot metal, what has more longevity? Thanks!

Everything is a masterpiece in my head... just doesn't usually translate to the real world quite as well...

I still need to sit down and figure out how to make tongs.....

True enough. I made this because I wanted a new belt knife but didn't want to buy one.

Thanks Cavpilot. Is made from a coil spring. The lettering is my touch mark, I just placed it too low.

Got out to the forge today. Start to finish, took about 9 hours.... definitely some spots for improvement, but I'm relatively happy with it, and considering it is only my second knife....

That is quite the feat of engineering..... I am pretty sure designing something like that would.make my brain bleed. Good job!

Thanks for the comment and the compliment! I quite like how the candle holder turned out. The pin is for a friend of mine who is big Into outdoor activities/survival/and outdoor Ed.

Thanks BillyBones. Was my first one. The spike did t give me so much trouble, but getting good alignment on the handle proved more difficult.

Put In some forge time, despite some tennis elbow issues I've been dealing with. Made a candle holder for the Mrs. (After many requests to do so), and a blanket pin for a friend. Pin has ferro striker edge, flint striker face and the pin is a detachable awl.

Yeah, I have considered that. Is a doable option, though it would require re-heat treating. There are options available, and I may try one of them.

Thanks Daswulf. I have been out of the forge for a month or so trying to baby some tennis elbow acquired at work.... but had the desire to go pound some steel. Was frustrating that my first idea failed, and this one didn't turn out as I'd hoped, but it is all learning. I like the blade profile on this, and my grinding is getting better, so not a total failure. Always something to learn from.

When things go wrong with a project, but you don't want to waste the work you've already done..... was making a blacksmith knife, but there was a severe Crack where handle meets blade.... so I cut it off and tried something else. I don't like the twist.... didn't turn out how I was wanting it to.

It is a scottish dirk. The script is Hebrew and give the name of the blade: "Shaphael Rasha" which is "He Brings down the wicked"

I forced a patina onto a blade this evening, and added some letter embellishments. It turned out decently enough that I am happy with it. Blade used to be a bright mirror polish. Gave it a nice weathered look, toned down the brightness to more of a matte finish, and added a protective coating and decorative pattern.

Hey Goods, I forged the whole thing from one piece of scrap stock. No welding in this, just shaping... was a bar about 3/8 x 3/4 x 6".

Havn't been in the shop in a while, and was getting the urge to make SOMETHING..... so, I fired up the forge this afternoon.... and randomly made a spoon... a heavy one.

It is in fairly good shape. Shoulders are a bit rounded, and there is a cut in the tip of the horn, but otherwise, it is workable.

This is mine. Paid 1.00/lb for it from some old guy's barn. 90lbs, but I don't know the maker. There are traces of a maker stamp on the side, but it is too rusted to be legible. Could be in better condition, but for the price, it does the job.

First real knife I have made. Kept it simple, wanted to focus on technique over style and use it as a learning piece.

Picked these up this afternoon. Best price: free. 4 six-foot pieces of Grader blade. Now I gotta make something from them.

Thanks for the input ! I am definitely going to work on my bevel grinds in the future. I currently only have an angle grinder and flap disk with which to do my grinding, so that is going to take some practice... but a belt grinder is in the planning. the first picture was with rough grinding. I have attached a photo of the finished sanded and sharpened version. As far as feel, it feels good for me... I have small hands and it fits perfectly. For anyone with "normal" proportions, the handle would probably be a bit short.

Mostly finished my first HC knife today. Heat treatment and final sharpening pending .

First project in New forge, and first in about 15 years or so. Don't feel like it went too bad considering....