Learnt a lot from browsing this forum and thought it was about time I said hello. I'm from the UK, mostly a woodworker but knife making hooked me in and now I'm addicted! Thought I'd share some of my efforts with you all here.
This is an axe I restored, forged in London in the late 1800's if the blade is true, had rusted mostly away so reworked the eye, removed all the rust, carved and fitted a new handle.
4 inch cutting surface on an 18 inch hickory shaft with a textured lower 1/3. Sheath is a snap button closure in veg tan leather.
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p769/kieranbig/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps59281a31.png) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/kieranbig/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps59281a31.png.html)
This is a speed bowie machete, forged and then ground to shape from an old lawn mower blade. This one shows some scars from me using it for a while for bush clearing, generally beating it up.
8 inch cutting surface, 3.5mm thick, with an unsharpened clip with an internally pinned 6 inch full tang handle in black walnut. Hardened, quenched in brine and hard spring tempered. Black cross-draw veg tan sheath.
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p769/kieranbig/Mobile%20Uploads/image3_zps168ee626.png) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/kieranbig/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image3_zps168ee626.png.html)
This is a tanto inspired knife, stock removed from a sheet of 1.2510 Tool Steel.
5 1/2 inch cutting surface, 4mm thick with a stainless steel corby riveted 4 inch purpleheart handle. Normalised and then hardened, quenched in water and differentially tempered. Black straight-draw veg tan sheath.
(http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p769/kieranbig/Mobile%20Uploads/image2_zps397af31d.png) (http://s1350.photobucket.com/user/kieranbig/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image2_zps397af31d.png.html)
Thought I'd show you all some of the skills you've taught me, any critiques, comments or ideas are greatly appreciated!
Kieran
Those look great! Thanks for sharing.
Nice job. Love the little hatchet.
Thanks,
CTT
Good start. Welcome aboard.
Darcy :campfire:
Way to dive in head first. Any pics of the textured part of the hatchet handle? I'd love to see how that looks. Keep em coming.
Matt
Afraid it might be a while, I'm up at university a couple hundred miles away from it at the minute haha.
I've got withdrawal symptoms from forging already!
Cool stuff Kieran!
Welcome to the Forum.
Steve
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Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS AP