Here is a great idea for a knife. I am not a knife maker, but I may try this one. This was on display at Quad State.

Peyton

those are really cool, what kind of connecting rods are those? they are connecting rods arent they, i have about 40 of them from old VW motors, maybe i could make something like that out of them

Ron

They are connecting rods, but i am not sure of the kind. There were three different sizes there. I am sure all connecting rods are good steel, but again I am not certain.

Peyton

my junkyard steel list shows connecting rods from cars to be 1040 steel or plain carbon steel with 40 points of carbon. It also shows connecting rods from trucks to be 2340 which is an alloy contining 3.5% Nickel and 40 points of carbon. Either one has 10 points more carbon than a HC RR spike that many people turn into knives. Interesting idea for a blade anyway.

Woody

looks like a connecting rod from a Harley-except that on one rod it has 2 outside journals and the other has one that fits between the two on the crank-so it will have to be a split crank engine-haven't been in any others like that.

The knives look a lot like the ones Billy Merritt of English, Ind. does from motorcycle connecting rods. His work is fantastic. I think some of his stuff is posted here somewhere and if not I have some good pictures taken at Possums hammer-in last year.

Jerry, please post your photos in the gallery. May want to use the Blacksmithing Events folder and the year of the Possum hammer in so they will all be together in one place.

Yup they were on Billy's table of primarily pattern welded steel objects at Quad-State Last weekend.

Thomas

Cool idea indeed. I would like to also like to try Craftsman wrenches.

Spot the connection between these two pictures?........ ;-)









one_rod.

Cool knives and anvil shaped objects: second things first. You can buy an anvil shaped object for alot less money than yuo will spend for one that is correct for the usage. The ASO"s just don't work out as they are not the correct material for the task. Now to the first thing. Cool knives. I like the look of those knives in the pics but then I temper that with some thoughts: If you research steels that are correct for knifemakeing and compare the the steels in knives similiar to the ones in pic you will find a mismatch. Theer is a differernce in composition. One that should be considered ..especially if you are new to knife making. An experience hand like Billy Merrit can do amazing things with steels That a new person may not be able to duplicate. For someone getting started you are best off learning how to move metal, what metal does when it is hot and spend a lot of time on heat treating and some shop practice with that. Then to improve you success rate start with simple knife steels that will make you look good. I prefer new steel but there are sources of used steels you can learn a lot from. Good solid basics pays off forever. research from reliable sources makes it easier. Have fun

those knives are wonderful, awesome way to make a knife!!

I think he's comparing ASO's to cool looking knives made out of poor knifemaking metal.

Cool knives! I knew there was a reason I kept all those old rusty wrenches :)

Rich thanks for the ASO blurb. It is needed to remind those starting out that they can make quality pieces without having the anvil, and other tools. Some of the best knives I have ever seen were made on a piece of steel in a bucket of concrete!

Peyton

And that piece of steel in a bucket of concrete IS AN ANVIL---just not a london pattern one. It's also a lot better than a cast iron lump that bears some resembelance in shape to a london pattern anvil.

Most of the world forges on anvils that don't look like a london pattern anvil---but are not cast iron.

Thomas
Thomas

Nice blades! The connecting rods is a great idea