KST1-Derek Fultz Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 My Dad (in his late sixties now) asked me to make him a throwing hawk sometime. We used to throw some he fabbed from pipe and sheet stock back when I was a 10 year old, 30 years ago now. He and I watched Ryan Johnson, of RMJ Tactical,forge a wrapped rasp hawk out at the SOFA conference a couple of years ago, and I think he's wanted a forged one ever since. I had picked up a couple of old rasps at a conference not long ago, so I purchased a tomahawk drift and handle and gave it a go. Here's the result. I'm pretty happy with it for my first one. By far the biggest forge weld I've ever done. My homemade propane forge did alright but I had to let it soak for awhile to get up to welding temp. I guess doors would help. We'll see how it holds up if he ever throws it... All critiques and comments are welcome. P.S.: Many thanks to all of you who have posted hawks in the past. Your projects were/are inspirational. -Derek Quote
teenylittlemetalguy Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Be-oootiful! Really like that a lot! Quote
rsilver4 Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 Excellent job,looks great and should throw nicely--Regards Butch Quote
KST1-Derek Fultz Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 Thanks for all the positive comments! Btw, it is gun blued and waxed. The handle has been heat stained ( not sure what to call it?) and stained with walnut minwax. Ready to do another! -Derek Quote
bowens01999 Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 i am new at forgeing first try was a hawk out of a rasp,it didnt go so well i could not get the rasp to weld . still learning and trying hope soon i can get one made , very impressed with your hawk. Quote
Ecart Posted July 9, 2011 Posted July 9, 2011 I've got a piece of an old rasp sitting around. After I grind off some of the file teeth and check out the integrity to make sure it wouldn't fail on me, I was going to make a big knife or dirk out of it. Maybe I'll try a hawk or axe instead. You've inspired me, sir! Quote
longhunter Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 Thats real nice Dad will love it Im sure ! Quote
KST1-Derek Fultz Posted August 31, 2011 Author Posted August 31, 2011 Thanks for the comments. I can't tell you how it's holding up to throwing. He's keeping it on the fireplace mantle and showing it off to all of his friends. I need to make him an uglier one he won't be afraid to abuse a little... -Derek Quote
Iron Striker Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 Very Nice! I have been seaching for a place to buy a tomahawk drift. Where did you get yours? Quote
freeman Posted September 3, 2011 Posted September 3, 2011 That is a quality looking instrument! Anyone would be proud to own it but I'm sure it has special value for your father since you forged it for him. Can you tell us about your experience welding it? How many welding heats did it take? Any special prep? Quote
CurlyGeorge Posted September 7, 2011 Posted September 7, 2011 Good job, Derek. I'm sure that he is very proud of that one. Make him another and it won't have to be "ugly" for him to throw it. Thanks for posting the pics. :D Quote
Guest Johnnie Posted September 13, 2011 Posted September 13, 2011 Wow, for a 1st attempt i think you have it sorted! Love it. Quote
KST1-Derek Fultz Posted September 13, 2011 Author Posted September 13, 2011 Thanks for all the great comments! I haven't been to the thread for awhile, so I appologize for not answering the questions more quickly. Iron Striker: I purchased the drift from Blacksmiths Depot after reading reccomendations here. I picked up the drift and a couple of handles at the same time. It's a standard size and is of good quality. I thought about making one, but having no desire to make my own handles right now, I thought keeping to the standard stuff was a good idea. It was around $25 bucks plus shipping and was money well spent. Freeman: I didn't have much trouble with the weld, which was surprising because I havn't done a lot of forge welding, and never a weld this large. I just made sure the surfaces were good and clean, used borax flux, and gave it a nice long (be patient) soak in my propane forge. Quick light taps on the edge working toward the fold and all was good. I did do a second weld working further back toward the fold, but it didn't need much. I used A LOT of flux because I was wary. Probably didn't need quite so much. I intend to do a few more of these, but forge time has been rather elusive as of late. I also want to try a slit and drift hawk sometime. I'll get back to it soon I hope. Thanks again for the comments! The rasp hawks are a whole bunch of fun to make and btw, any peice of strap of sufficient size will work for this fold over technique. It doesn't have to be a rasp. -Derek Quote
herchammer Posted September 25, 2011 Posted September 25, 2011 I've never done any blade work of any kind, but that is gorgeous! the texture that the teeth of the rasp creates, is the eye-catcher! Great work! Quote
herchammer Posted September 26, 2011 Posted September 26, 2011 KST1, I was wondering if that rasp was an older one, or manufactured within the last four or five years? Quote
KST1-Derek Fultz Posted September 27, 2011 Author Posted September 27, 2011 Herchammer, Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure about the age. I picked it up at Quad State last year and don't really know that much about the rasps themselves. If I had to guess, I'd say it was only a couple years old if that. It had red paint on the tang like a lot of them I see around and very little rust. I just picked up 6 more rasps for $5 at Quad State over the weekend. Time to get in the forge. -Derek Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.