About 20 years ago, I got the itch to "make" a knife. And the simplest construction method I found was to order a ready made blank and slap some scales on it. I ordered the blade I wanted, glued on some rosewood Dymondwood scales, shaped it on a belt sander and I've carried it and skinned more deer than I can count over the last 20 years.
Then a few years ago, Carl (Anvil Head) invited me to one of his Hammer In events at Trackrock and I met some great bladesmiths there. I took a lot of mental notes and SLOWLY started accumulating the tools I would one day need to forge blades. First, an anvil from a yard sale in Kentucky. Then, some hammers and tongs. And finally, a couple months ago I built my forge.
I had lots of scrap metal to learn with. I've made more scraps than I have tools, but it's an ongoing learning process.
Anyway, I finally finished my first knife from forge to finish. Carl will take one look at it and tell me the blade isn't straight, but I figure that's the only way to tell it from one of his.
Actually, now that I've had it out in the sunlight, I see that I'm not technically finished. I still have a little sanding to do, especially around the guard.
The blade is an old Nicholson file. The guard was a railroad spike that I hammered flat and then peened the face. The handle is from a chunk of stabilized black walnut from Bubba Custom Knives in Cleveland, red and black spacers, and elk antler I found in Colorado. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted this knife to look like, and surprisingly enough, it turned out pretty darn close to what I had pictured.
Thanks to all you guys who put your creative genius out here for the rest of us to admire and draw inspiration from! And thanks for looking.
Then a few years ago, Carl (Anvil Head) invited me to one of his Hammer In events at Trackrock and I met some great bladesmiths there. I took a lot of mental notes and SLOWLY started accumulating the tools I would one day need to forge blades. First, an anvil from a yard sale in Kentucky. Then, some hammers and tongs. And finally, a couple months ago I built my forge.
I had lots of scrap metal to learn with. I've made more scraps than I have tools, but it's an ongoing learning process.
Anyway, I finally finished my first knife from forge to finish. Carl will take one look at it and tell me the blade isn't straight, but I figure that's the only way to tell it from one of his.
Actually, now that I've had it out in the sunlight, I see that I'm not technically finished. I still have a little sanding to do, especially around the guard.
The blade is an old Nicholson file. The guard was a railroad spike that I hammered flat and then peened the face. The handle is from a chunk of stabilized black walnut from Bubba Custom Knives in Cleveland, red and black spacers, and elk antler I found in Colorado. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted this knife to look like, and surprisingly enough, it turned out pretty darn close to what I had pictured.
Thanks to all you guys who put your creative genius out here for the rest of us to admire and draw inspiration from! And thanks for looking.
