Nice looking knife....

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Just a photo off the internet but I really like the looks of this knife.----I've seen similar at gun shows selling with a leather sheath for well under $100. Would a price like that mean a knife such as this was made overseas not in the US? --Something I'm curious about is if knives like this are functional or merely a show piece. --Has anyone here made any knives with a look similar to the knife in the photo? If so, would you please share any photos you have?MM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:It was definately made by hand, i can tell from the scroll. Unfortunately its hard to put a dollar to labor price on hand forged iron work due to foreign competion and mass produced items. Most people cannot tell the difference and go for the cheap/replica instead of the hand crafted labor intensed item built to last and function for lifetimes. I would say $300 would be a well worth price for that to sell, but the person knows it wont sell till the right person sees it and just settles for the beat down price of $100 just to move it and his love of the craft.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Saw one very similar at a recent gun show.  Didn't note the price.  Here's a handle for a spoon I did years ago.  I made a letter opener that was similar but had a leaf where it wrapped around the front."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:They were selling for $75 with a leather sheath. What do you think the odds are a knife selling for that price is made in the US? I wanted to buy it but stopped myself..... the young man at the booth couldn't tell me if it was made in the US or not. --How long would it take to make a knife such as this, if you know? --In your opinion is this a functional knife or simply something someone would display in a case?adding something...--Notsooldordum> That's another beautiful piece. Actually, yours looks as if it would fit in the palm of one's hand better. How long did it take you to make and how hard would it be to add a blade to it?Last edited by Equilibrium; 09-11-2014 at 09:10 AM.Reason: missed a replyMM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:Most knife making is grinding. You can buy a nice piece of tool steel and profile 90% of the blade with a belt sander and various grinders. Some guys shape the tip using a bandsaw.The scroll and taper at the back is certainly heated and forged. However it's not all that hard to do, and again, a good bit of it could be accomplished by roughing out the blank on a saw and knocking off the edges with a sander. Then simply heat and twist and bend to shape.My guess is if it's dirt cheap someone was "cheating" and most likely it's imported. You could have dozens of blanks CNC cut for you. Than you could simply heat and twist/bend the handle and profile it to shape. In production, they have machines that can crank out blade after blade on a grinder. Insert the bent blank, and off it goes to shape the blade grinding as needed.If the guy at the table doesn't know much about it, chances are it's very unlikely it was hand made in the US. That sort of thing is usually a big selling point and the reason why items like that are not inexpensive. The only exception would be if someone was table sitting while the vender grabbed a bit or hit the head, but usually the sitter will mention the vender stepped away and will be back in a few and can answer your questions when he returns. I've watched another vendors table at shows so they could step away for a minute if they were alone. Most times it's more about being a deterrent to theft than it is about selling anything in the few minutes the vendor has to step away..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:That one is pretty simple.  It really doesn't take very long to forge and $75. is about right.  That one could be functional if they used a decent piece of carbon steel (spring). The handle would be hard to use for any length of time.Here's some hand-forged knives (mostly), made from old springs.  Paid about $3. each for them in Thailand.  They are probably $5. these days.I worked with an old blacksmith who had a setup like this.  I used to work the "bellows", which were more like butter churns."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:DSW> I don't know enough about knives to know if that one was dirt cheap or not. I usually rely on the representations made by the seller when buying. It looked like it was hand made to me but.... where was the big question and I guess we'll never know. --Totally understand about pee breaks. I've been at county fairs and have run into people I know who asked me to watch their booth so they could use the rest room and they weren't even selling anything.... just recruiting members for gardening or honeybee groups. The young man I asked looked awfully young.... could have been another venders kid simply standing guard for a few minutes. --Notsooldordum> "That one is pretty simple. It really doesn't take very long to forge and $75. is about right. That one could be functional if they used a decent piece of carbon steel (spring). The handle would be hard to use for any length of time." Ok... so the price is somewhat in line based on the design.... gotcha. The handle is impractical though which places this particular knife in a display case category. In other words.... attractive but not actually functional. Do you have any photos of knives that you've made that have form and function in that price range? I'm just curious.MM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:A design like showed could be used as a letter opener and the function of the handle would be fine for its purpose. I look at things differently. DSW carving one out on a bandsaw and twisting the end up is just making a knife to me. In prison people do the same with toothbrushes. Im talkin taking a piece of steel and forging the whole thing by hand with a hammer, anvil, heat and a vice.I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Originally Posted by Equilibrium...  How long did it take you to make and how hard would it be to add a blade to it?
Reply:I've started forging knives from rail road spikes. They are pretty popular. The one you posted looks like a traditional Viking knife. They aren't all that hard to make, just takes practice... That part I'm still working on!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Rail spikes don't make for much of a knife.  The "HC" marked ones are NOT high carbon, just higher carbon than the really low carbon spikes.  Still probably only about 1035 steel or thereabouts."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:True! But they sell well!!If I were going to make one to be used regularly I'd forge weld a hi carbon bit in the blade edge and temper it.But they are more novelty than anything, I can beat them out in about 20 min and sell them for $25-35.I've been wanting to make a tomohawk from a spike.. It will have a hi carbon bit in the leading edge. I'm by no means a sword smith or anything of that nature... I just like beating metal into cool things!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:I agree kids for whatever reason seem drawn to RR spike knives and tomahawks.  I don't know if it's a train thing or simply an interest kids have with sharp point things. I had kids pester the heck out of me for one at the Grange the last two years when I was doing demos. I think I sold all the ones I made. ( I made a point of only doing 2 or 3 so I could actually concentrate on other things, though I could have sold more.) Mostly I just make them as blunt letter openers. If a kid wants to sharpen them up that's on them. I also won't sell them to younger kids without their parent/grand parent with them to OK the purchase. Mostly to try and avoid liability issues. If a kid is old enough to drive, he's probably relatively safe with a semi pointy piece of metal with no edge..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I want a real tomahawk.  One that you can smoke through or whack someone's head off with.  They are nice."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumI want a real tomahawk.  One that you can smoke through or whack someone's head off with.  They are nice.
Reply:Equilibrium, I've only made a couple of knives.  Most notable was on a trip to Thailand some years after I left the Peace Corps.  We visited a blacksmith of renown out in the boondocks.  My older son and I forged two knives with the help of the smith.  About kicked our butts using sledge hammers and pounding on a tiny anvil (or was it a sledgehammer head?) in the tropical heat.  But we had a great time and enjoyed the traditional Thai hospitality on a little farm that had fish ponds, fruit trees and all that.  It was not a tourist place, just through the grapevine sort of encounter.  The smith observed that the finished blades appeared to be male and female, though they were intended to be the same.  One was more narrow and one a little more full.  He was right.  What wonderful memories."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I have made three or four knives over the years first popsicle  sticks then lead(I was only 8 or 9) ground one from a big power hack saw blade  another from SS  , a couple I beat out with a torch and hammer ,a couple small indian knives with big dog jaws and teeth for handles ,  The best one I made was from a preforged Rimpler blade ,I hand finished it with steel guard and stag horn grip with sterling silver but end. .But I collect knives from several American hand forgers , Kil at old dominion forge is one ( museum quality),  Don Shuffett is another ,(fighting knives) really nice quality and a $200 to $300 price tag. Got a damascaus  tomahawk for an old timer in North Carolina , several other damascus knives I believe started a blanks in Pakistan , They sell for $20 a pop ,you finish. I like sharp toys and have been known to carry as many as 5 knives at a time (counting my Gerber nail clippers). I also have a half dozen small patch knives , powder horns and bags   from the historical long hunter camp outs(called plunder) gxbxcLast edited by gxbxc; 09-11-2014 at 08:47 PM.
Reply:I have a copy of an hour-long Discovery Channel special on Bob Kramer and his knives but I can't post it so I found this for you all that I thought you would enjoy. One day maybe I can spend my time doing that.
Reply:There is a guy that goes by Stic on the hunting forums that makes knives out of horse shoeing rasps and old mill saw blades. It is always a race to say you want it. There are guys that have been trying for years to get one and still haven't. Prices are $75 to $100 and he sells hundreds every year. You can google him for more info. His wife, Shell, does the sheaths.
Reply:Well you have that nice new toy for awhile, Now's the chance to see how it does cutting tool steel. You can use it as a chance to work with "odd" size material, say 4" wide x 12" stock and cut yourself a blank you can sharpen and forge into a blade later. Heck you could toss a sheet of 3/16" under the cutter and whip out a plethora of letter opener blanks you can forge grind and finish later. You can keep things simple and just leave the tang flat and rivet wooden handles on the blank and shape it at the belt sander.I'd be dangerous with Jim's toy. I'd have a stack of all sorts of premade shapes stocked up right now for later projects. Fish and animal shapes for wind chimes, Flur de leas, shields, ovals and so on for various things, knife blanks, rosets, numbers and letters... If you can think of it in steel and copper I'd be trying to chop some out. I'd probably go into the poor house buying all the sheet material I could put my hands on. .No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I never thought of the hoof rasp thing. What a good idea. We must have fifty of them around here. The farrier drops off a half dozen or so every 6-weeks when he does the boys. He goes through them pretty quickly. As for material, my stack of 20ga copper sheets are great for the fish pieces I needed for Joyce's art and now that my edges are looking better, i have some 1/4" to do tomorrow. If any of you want something special, let me know. It's all just practice and b-roll footage for me learning how to get better and what affects what.
Reply:If you have any space left, toss a few 1/4" pieces in the box, if it hasn't gone out yet. I recently saw a step by step walk thru on forging a folded axe. It's one of the things I'd hoped to play with at the Grange, but didn't have time to. I've got a few old rasps/files stashed away and hoped to use a piece of that for the blade. Sandwich it between the two folded halves and forge weld all three together. That's pretty much the way they used to do colonial axes. You could "cheat" and make up a bow tie like pattern vs working all the material out from bar stock. You could do all sorts of "fancy" things like flare out the steel at the eye or do one of those long "bearded" viking axes out of 1/4". Then just fold it in half and weld in the file and shape and sharpen. That would make a really cool project, but a really easy one to do for a beginner.The design would be as simple as drawing one side of the axe, like  a standard silhouette, then mirroring the image around the center of the eye to make the "bow tie".No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Sure. It hasn't gone out yet but there's lots of various-sized rounds that you wanted in 20ga that I cut while learning. The edges are so scalloped that I was thinking of using for mini-saw blades for my 4" grinder but they'll work for what you're doing I'll toss a couple of rasp files in there for you too.
Reply:1/4" copper?
Reply:You should see the size of the penny I can make  Nope. 1/4" MS. 20ga copper. Had a stack of it for a coon's age.Already mentioned is the file for knife blank. I think leaf springs also. Files are hard to cut since there designed to cut metal. What I heard works on files is an old band saw blade at hi speed. Havnt tried it though.
Reply:Don't cut a hardened file or a spring with anything but an abrasive wheel unless the object has been annealed.  Now back in the day, they did cut hardened steel with what amounts to a bandsaw reversed - no teeth.  Friction sawing.  But I doubt they had rubber tires on the wheels.  Pretty amazing.  And I'm sure the SFM was way up there."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumDon't cut a hardened file or a spring with anything but an abrasive wheel unless the object has been annealed.  Now back in the day, they did cut hardened steel with what amounts to a bandsaw reversed - no teeth.  Friction sawing.  But I doubt they had rubber tires on the wheels.  Pretty amazing.  And I'm sure the SFM was way up there.
Reply:Way back they had rubber.  But they may have just used cast iron wheels on those friction things unless there was coolant, at least compressed air.  I expect they were a later development, or some dim bulb kept sawing long after the saw teeth were worn off.  Also cool were the things like bandsaws but they had interlinked files.  Band filer.  Do-All made some."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I "cheat". I simply toss the file in the forge, then cut it with a hot cut hardy and a few quick blows with the hammer when it hits at least medium red heat. If I need to do some trimming, A chisel when it's hot will allow me to easily shape it as needed. I'm going to thin it for forge welding anyways, so getting it hot isn't a big deal..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I've spent my life working with metal in all sorts of ways.  Mostly automotive welding and fabrication, branching out into machine work in the last (nearly) 10 years or so.  I have a great relationship with my son, now 26, and he wanted to get me something special for Christmas.  Knowing that forge and black-smith work is about the only thing I've not done, he found and purchased an 8 week knife forging class for us and his fiancé (who I also get along with very well) to take together.  That was easily one of the best (possibly THE best) gift I've ever received.  Anyway, after some basic skill practice, we made a few knives, and my final project was a largish Kukri. Without excessive forge welding, they didn't have material that I needed in anywhere near sufficient size, so I got a leaf spring from one of my 4x4 truck projects, cut a chunk out, and carried it to class with me.  Still need to make a handle, but it was great fun.  Enough so that I have now started setting up a forge behind my shop (already setup for a full range of fabrication and machining).  Just had the 250 gallon propane tank filled last week, and all I lack is final construction on the forge box, and finding a good anvil without having to mortgage the house.  As always, I've got great plans and too little time/energy, but it will give us something else we can do together.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in such things.
Reply:Farrier files are used for knives too. Check this out, http://www.doghouseforge.com/
Reply:You know.. We should start a blacksmithing thread on here!There are quite a few guys and gals on here that seem interested in it or are already doing it.Just sayin!... Might be a decent topic to discuss.Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Do you mean a thread, or a subsection dedicated to forging? I doubt the powers that be would do that. I know when we were trying to get small changes made to things to prevent spam, that Penton is very careful about making "major" changes like that. There have been talks in the past about a dedicated OA section, but it was felt by the powers above that what we have already covers that and breaking every little thing out into it's own section, just complicates matters.If you want, we can start a thread with links to blacksmithing posts/threads. I'll even sticky it. That way if someone wants to look at something on this topic, there is a thread with a bunch of descriptions and links that they can click on with a bunch of the can browse on the subject.It would mean the members would need to dig out threads and post the links along with a description of the thread. It would also help if others didn't clutter the thread with misc questions and so on and would direct them instead either to the OP of a particular thread they were reading, say by posting in that thread, or starting a new one to answer the question.For example,  The 1st post might be a link to my coal forge build thread ... http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?146321-Coal-forge and the description might simply be DSW's coal forge or something similar....No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by Dantheharleyman99You know.. We should start a blacksmithing thread on here!There are quite a few guys and gals on here that seem interested in it or are already doing it.Just sayin!... Might be a decent topic to discuss.
Reply:I think that would be great. I found iforgeiron and anvilfire the more interested I get in hobby metal working and they're fine but not like this WW. There are an increasing number of us looking for something different than what we've done for a profession the closer we get to and the further we get from 50.
Reply:Just thinking about band saw blades , when everbody started making knives they were using old saw mill band saws and circlular saw blades .Their pretty hard to find now but then we have more sources of high quality steel. Why way back in the 80's all the guys I meet who were making knives were always looking for saw blades in old farm buildings.
Reply:OK here's the sticky thread for blacksmithing and forging. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...61#post4670261.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Sweet!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Originally Posted by jlames... the closer we get to and the further we get from 50.
Reply:Yea I feel for you I wasn't looking and went past 50 ,now I am on a one lane road and the bridge is out!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI "cheat". I simply toss the file in the forge, then cut it with a hot cut hardy and a few quick blows with the hammer when it hits at least medium red heat. If I need to do some trimming, A chisel when it's hot will allow me to easily shape it as needed. I'm going to thin it for forge welding anyways, so getting it hot isn't a big deal.
Reply:Notsooldordum> I "stole" your photo and tinkered with it. I recognize some of your Thai knives.... I think... not sure.  I see jungle type knives and cleavers. Would the knives in the burgundy box be used for cutting grasses or maybe wood?  What about the knives in the green box? Small bone knives as in actually used to cut through chicken bones? If so.... those are totally awesome and practical. And what's in the orange box>>>? Some sort of an Asian mini-machete? Some of the other knives are definite I-don’t-knows like those in the blue box. What the heck would those knives be used for? I love the looks of those... wouldn't know what to do with one but.... love the looks of it. -- -- Dantheharleyman99, DSW, gxbxc. jlames, & baddog> photos of your knife creations please!!! All of you!!! I want to see.....  Not that I'm interested in making any myself... just curious. --DSW> I agree with this statement, "There are an increasing number of us looking for something different than what we've done for a profession the closer we get to and the further we get from 50." A dedicated forum may not be all that unreasonable of a request given the demographics. The search engine is limited pushing those who want to stay on this site to the WWW where we soon stumble across iforge type sites.... one stop "shopping" has its benefits to me at least. The category doesn't exactly dovetail with any existing forums.  Such a forum would compliment forums already made available. Beyond that.... there are so many darn sticky thingies hung up at the tops of thread listings.... they're most likely being ignored by all but the newest members. I may be in the minority but.... I don't read the titles any longer. My brain focuses on the sticky icon so I can scroll past all of them to get to current thread listings.MM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:Green box - usually short, very thick and heavy to whack open cocoanuts.  Or to cleave most anything.Blue box - typical northeast style farmer machetes.  Curved blade tends to bite in rather than sliding off, like a sickle.  The have small thin ones and long thick ones.  I use this type to limb trees. Burgundy box - All-around utility machete.  Very useful for chopping, splitting bamboo or kindling, pointing stakes or whatever.  Makes a dandy drawknife.Orange box - These are held in the crook of your arm or sometimes with a leg.  They are used for whittling or more for splitting and smoothing small strips of bamboo to make chopsticks, umbrella ribs, skewers, ribs and bands for Asian farmer type hats, etc.  I can't recall where I stashed them.  I'll have to look around.  The pointy knives in the middle are to keep people from swiping your beer.Another box of knives was shipped to me with the handles pulled off and shipped loose.  Pissed me off as each one is individually fitted.  The number of permutations to get them matched up is mind-boggling.Most all of the knives are pretty thick.  They are not like thin South American machetes.  They taper from maybe 1/8" at the tip to maybe 1/4" to 3/8" at the handle.Last edited by Oldendum; 09-14-2014 at 10:17 AM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by EquilibriumI agree with this statement, "There are an increasing number of us looking for something different than what we've done for a profession the closer we get to and the further we get from 50." A dedicated forum may not be all that unreasonable of a request given the demographics. The search engine is limited pushing those who want to stay on this site to the WWW where we soon stumble across iforge type sites.... one stop "shopping" has its benefits to me at least. The category doesn't exactly dovetail with any existing forums.  Such a forum would compliment forums already made available. Beyond that.... there are so many darn sticky thingies hung up at the tops of thread listings.... they're most likely being ignored by all but the newest members. I may be in the minority but.... I don't read the titles any longer. My brain focuses on the sticky icon so I can scroll past all of them to get to current thread listings.
Reply:Notsooldordum> I bet those coconut knives could be used for cutting bone... I've seen similar shaped knives in China and that's what the Chinese used them for. Neat that they're actually coconut knives.... I wouldn't have guessed that. They're really cool.... I wouldn't mind seeing a close up photo of one of those.... if they're easily accessible. Now that you mention it.... the knives in the blue box do resemble my sickle. Close.... so close on what the knives in the burgundy box were. The splitting/whittling knives in the orange box are interesting and now I understand why such a long handle. No worries about not being able to locate where you stashed them to take a better photo but if you ever stumble across a YouTube of how they're used.... I'd love to see it. --"The pointy knives in the middle are to keep people from swiping your beer." Ahhhh.... I knew exactly what those knives were for before you told me. --I'd probably have screamed when I opened the box soon as the realization struck that they were individually fitted. I know myself well enough to know I would have sat down and started in on matching them up. It would have eaten away at me leaving the box with all the blades and handles just laying loose in it.... sorta like the one bad bulb on a strand of Christmas lights eats away at me. --DSW> "No one has added any other links to the thread I started, so I'm not sure the powers will see a need if there isn't any interest shown in what we already have." If what you say about the majority of members logging on and hitting the new posts button is true.... few probably know it's there or are passing right by it without realizing what it is.  I haven't seen the thread yet but..... it's a thread. I honestly wouldn't add any links to it that I've got bookmarked. With the exception of three.... they're all offsite and are either YouTubes, blogs, or info-only web pages. I suspect any threads that could be linked to here are.... as you said... buried in other forums or not able to be linked to because they're not exclusively on blacksmithing or forging.... threads get hi-jacked.... they veer off topic and when they do.... all kinds of interesting and wonderful things pop up.... just like what happened in this thread. --I guess this may very well be one of those situations where.... if you build it.... they will come and it will be "seeded". --Interestingly enough.... I was going to suggest a new forum. A weldors' personals type forum where those with gifts and talents to share could post their location and willingness to take someone under their wing and those looking for someone with knowledge or experience to get them started or to guide them could post their location and what help they needed but.... once I actually thought about it.... I realized how ridiculous such a suggestion would have been. MM 211Smith Tru Lite O/A set, Thanks Bob!Lincoln AC-225--But you must not change one thing, one pebble, one grain of sand, until you know what good and evil will follow on that act. The world is in balance, in Equilibrium- Ursula K. Le Guin
Reply:I'm going to start a short thread on my post vise and the stand I built tonight.. It will be in the blacksmithing links, just gotta get some pics uploaded! I'll also put a few pics of a few knives and spikes I played with recently.Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:As promised here is one of the rr spike knives I made. And my first attemp at a pineapple twist!I'm new to the smithing game so don't judge too hard! LolI made one Saturday night that I'll try to get a pic of..!Real welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Equilibrium, most any of those bigger knives pictured could cut bone.  They are quite heavy. However, many have a rather thin edge.  Cut very well but a little more prone to chipping if you strike something extremely hard, like a ripe coconut shell or a hard pine knot or the like. They have many different shapes and thicknesses to deal with a particular task.  To crack open a hard coconut, you use the rounded backside of the knife.  Keep your eyes open for one like the ones in the burgundy box."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumDon't cut a hardened file or a spring with anything but an abrasive wheel unless the object has been annealed.  Now back in the day, they did cut hardened steel with what amounts to a bandsaw reversed - no teeth.  Friction sawing.  But I doubt they had rubber tires on the wheels.  Pretty amazing.  And I'm sure the SFM was way up there.