Born Again Bladesmith

[tippit]

This is my first forged blade since attending GSMBS...slight delay due to filing some paper work to help with the US economy...TAXES      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.

 

 

[woodsman1031]

There is alot of talent in that piece of steel!

[kbaknife]

That is cool.
Waaaaaaaaaaay cool!

[skullworks]

Awesome stuff there!

[Chris Surtees]

Very nice Doc!

[Kevin Evans]

Cool Stuff, Doc!!!!  

[MYSTIKBOW]

WoooHooo Heee's Baaack!   LOL  That flared guard really gives it character! I like it Jeff. Nice work    

[Montauks]

Ya still gunna keep ya day job?

[tippit]

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  

   

[Whip]

Good to see you putting that education to work Jeff!  I love it!!!      

[tippit]

Dang Whip, I needed a knife to cut tent stakes for my new Whip/Panther Primative tent     Doc

[kbaknife]

Now, some curly maple and silver wire inlay on that and you're all set!

[tippit]

Got to get a bowling ball first  

[OconeeDan]

That looks great!

[LONGBOWKID]

STOP! I can't quit drooling on my keyboard!

Niiiice!

[Steve Nuckels]

That is so very cool!  Can't wait to see it complete!!!

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IN GOD WE TRUST

[4runr]

Way to go Doc! That is just beautiful!

[killinstuff]

I bet if that knife ended up on the St Jude auction block somehow it would bring n a pretty penny.

[swp]

Or maybe in the knife swap!  

[drewsbow]

very cool Doc