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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: tippit on March 27, 2009, 12:14:00 PM

Title: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: tippit on March 27, 2009, 12:14:00 PM
This is my first forged blade since attending GSMBS...slight delay due to filing some paper work to help with the US economy...TAXES   :scared:    5160 12" OAL with a flared guard that also flares on each side like Joe's technique.  Once it's finished, I'll post a final picture.

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Great%20Smokey%20Mt%20Bladesmithing%20Symposium%2009/KeeslarStyleblade001.jpg)

  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Great%20Smokey%20Mt%20Bladesmithing%20Symposium%2009/KeeslarStyleblade003.jpg)
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: woodsman1031 on March 27, 2009, 12:24:00 PM
There is alot of talent in that piece of steel!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: kbaknife on March 27, 2009, 12:52:00 PM
That is cool.
Waaaaaaaaaaay cool!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: skullworks on March 27, 2009, 01:10:00 PM
Awesome stuff there!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Chris Surtees on March 27, 2009, 01:26:00 PM
Very nice Doc!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Kevin Evans on March 27, 2009, 03:23:00 PM
Cool Stuff, Doc!!!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: MYSTIKBOW on March 27, 2009, 04:38:00 PM
WoooHooo Heee's Baaack!   LOL  That flared guard really gives it character! I like it Jeff. Nice work    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Montauks on March 27, 2009, 05:14:00 PM
Ya still gunna keep ya day job?
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: tippit on March 27, 2009, 07:07:00 PM
Blade finished!  A collaborative effort...not just Joe Keeslar influence although that is the style I so dearly love.

Greg Neely's session on forging a blade took me beyond what I was previously doing.  I was always too tentative in taking my blade edge too thin with hammers.  Greg convinced me to take it to the diameter of a nickle...not over heating, forming the point, distal taper, and plunge area with my hammers.  90 % of the blade was formed with forging rather than forging & stock removal as I did in the past.

Burt Foster showed me how to grind the blade and get my plunge lines clean and even.  My previous attempts on a long blade were pretty unimpressive to say the least!  

Jim Batson took away the myth of heat treating for me.  Anytime I tried to quench a thin grind, I'd always come up with a warp on the edge.

What else can I say about the generosity of Joe Keeslar.  Showing me his entire forging procedure on the Brut de Forge, a session on handles and guards (I now have his book all autographed too!), and his technique on making leather sheaths (which I used to dread).

This is my first GSMBS blade and I couldn't be happier...handle material still contemplating.  If anyone is thinking or on the fence about going to a big hammer-in, Don't give it a second thought just GO!!!  I talked to Doug Campbell several times when I was there as he had been pushing me to do one of these.  He said my smile came through the cell phone.

For anyone in the Northeast, there is another ABS Blade Symposium July 16-18th at the New England School of Metalworks in Auburn, Maine. If you want to attend give me a hollar as I have a cottage on a Maine lake about 1 1/2 hours from there. I might just go again as I'd like to see Don Fogg's session on damascus.  He is a Nor'east ABS legend.  tippit

   http://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com/NESM%20ABS%20HammerIN.pdf  

    (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Great%20Smokey%20Mt%20Bladesmithing%20Symposium%2009/KeeslarStyleblade005.jpg)
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Whip on March 27, 2009, 07:21:00 PM
Good to see you putting that education to work Jeff!  I love it!!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: tippit on March 27, 2009, 07:25:00 PM
Dang Whip, I needed a knife to cut tent stakes for my new Whip/Panther Primative tent  :)   Doc
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: kbaknife on March 27, 2009, 07:27:00 PM
Now, some curly maple and silver wire inlay on that and you're all set!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: tippit on March 27, 2009, 08:01:00 PM
Got to get a bowling ball first  :)
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: OconeeDan on March 27, 2009, 08:10:00 PM
That looks great!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: LONGBOWKID on March 27, 2009, 08:28:00 PM
STOP! I can't quit drooling on my keyboard!

Niiiice!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Steve Nuckels on March 27, 2009, 08:59:00 PM
That is so very cool!  Can't wait to see it complete!!!

-----------------
IN GOD WE TRUST
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: 4runr on March 27, 2009, 09:05:00 PM
Way to go Doc! That is just beautiful!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: killinstuff on March 27, 2009, 09:32:00 PM
I bet if that knife ended up on the St Jude auction block somehow it would bring n a pretty penny.
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: swp on March 27, 2009, 10:23:00 PM
Or maybe in the knife swap!   :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: drewsbow on March 27, 2009, 10:32:00 PM
very cool Doc  :thumbsup:    :clapper:
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Over&Under on March 27, 2009, 10:57:00 PM
Looking great Tippit!!
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: Lin Rhea on March 28, 2009, 05:25:00 AM
Batson's Symposium is another "must see". It's this week, I think. I cant make it, but will plan on next year. It's well worth the effort to be there.

   I'm happy for you Jeff. I sense new energy in your knifemaking. The excitement is contagious, so be careful.  :D  Lin
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: TxMoon on March 28, 2009, 05:37:00 PM
Congrats on a fine job.. Lin is right it is contagious I got to get to work thanks..
Great work look forward to seeing more.
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: d. ward on March 29, 2009, 07:43:00 AM
as always Doc you out done yourself on that one she's a beauty.bowdoc
Title: Re: Born Again Bladesmith
Post by: hunt it on March 30, 2009, 09:02:00 AM
Mighty nice blade Doc. You watch that knife making stuff don't cut into your bow shooting activities. Won't be long and I'm gonna have to take you you pig stickin never mind the bow.