Some stuff I forge.
- Thread starter 3/4Flap
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Protocall_Design
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That's some fine work there. It looks like every one would get the job done.
Beautiful! Really like the machete on the left in the third pic.
You are a very talented man.
You are a very talented man.
Thanks very much. Keeps me off the streets.
That one was ground from a scrapped chainsaw bar (we're in logging country & I get saw and processor bars, millsaws and of course pickup and truck springs for raw materials.)
Left hand chisel grind. Best for clearing woody brush and limbing choke cherry and mountain maple I cut in the mountains and pack out for handle material. Struck on the bevelled side it pulls the blade away from the main stem so as not to strike the stem.
Here's a pic in the reverse, showing a little limb knicked off the stem, blade bevel under it (actually struck from the top w/ the bevel against the stem).
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Pisgah
Member
Clean, utilitarian blades. Nice.
Tell me about the one in the first pic upper right that resembles the USMC hospital bolo.
More pics too if you can.
Thanks
More pics too if you can.
Thanks
@sjbrdn
The one with aluminum scale grips is a is a sort of Smatchet type (it's got a point, the so-called "splint knife" was rounded. I had one...what a club!
) The "Smatchet" is also made from a sawbar, heat treated all thru to 50RC (I used to run all my blades up to a metallurgical firm where they would Rockwell test them for me for free. I basically figured out various heat treatment processes and materials that way.) Others get a differential treatment. Depends on intention.
Grips are scrap aluminum, heavily riveted on with 3/16 iron rivets. Our ranch was previously owned by a blacksmith and while he took most stuff he left me with a large quantity of rivets and a broken leg vise which I fixed and now use.
Also includes a "bone-breaker" edge on the spine. When butchering in the field if a heavy bone is encountered rather than strike it with the sharp edge, the bone breaker is used then the cut completed w/ the knife or Smatchet.
also included in a scabbard tiedown. Many years ago my wife picked one up off a workbench, the bolo slipped out of the scabbard and hit her leg on the way down to the floor. Opened her up like a pork roast. That's what a 13 inch long razor does... Ever since, EVERY heavy field knife gets a retention device.
Along those lines, I NEVER use a lanyard. I do not want to be handcuffed to a 13 inch long razor blade on a fall down the mountain where these things get used routinely.
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Cleavers???
Hey 3/4Flap...very nice knives and tools, but where are your cleavers? I would think you Mountain Folk would need them for butchering farm animals and game. Although I don't do much butchering, I do love cleavers and have restored quite a few vintage ones. Great for my BBQ tasks like ribs and chopped pork! Here are some Civil War era (mostly Wm. Beatty) and later examples (Foster Bros., Briddell, etc.) that I rescued. There are a few modern knifemakers like you that are making some beautiful and utilitarian cleavers, including damascus versions. It may be a small niche market, but I think they're cool. Enjoy!
Hey 3/4Flap...very nice knives and tools, but where are your cleavers? I would think you Mountain Folk would need them for butchering farm animals and game. Although I don't do much butchering, I do love cleavers and have restored quite a few vintage ones. Great for my BBQ tasks like ribs and chopped pork! Here are some Civil War era (mostly Wm. Beatty) and later examples (Foster Bros., Briddell, etc.) that I rescued. There are a few modern knifemakers like you that are making some beautiful and utilitarian cleavers, including damascus versions. It may be a small niche market, but I think they're cool. Enjoy!
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@Hawg Rider
Those are great blades there!!
And since you asked. Here are a few. I like them, too.
A massive 2-handed hogsplitter (w/ the wife splitting one of her deer), a 4 1/2 pound traditional butcher's cleaver, a Nakiri, a heavy kitchen cleaver, one I made for a sibling and a couple elk-antler-gripped jobs from 2 of my kids' wedding sets. (I made all of my kids carving sets for wedding presents).
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Thanks.
Bolos, parangs and billhooks are my thing, tho I've made many other types.
Yes, I do all my own leather work. Scabbards, holsters, rifle boots, saddle repair, etc.
Bolos, parangs and billhooks are my thing, tho I've made many other types.
Yes, I do all my own leather work. Scabbards, holsters, rifle boots, saddle repair, etc.
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In the Field.
And oldie but goodie. Been with me on many adventures. 13" blade. From an ancient McCulloch chainsaw bar. Left hand chisel grind. Heat treated to 57RC. On its 3rd handle now, walnut, w/ spacer/welt to put weight forward. Tiedown hole. Iron rivets.
Scabbard 13 oz weight saddle skirting leather. Weep hole for drainage.
And oldie but goodie. Been with me on many adventures. 13" blade. From an ancient McCulloch chainsaw bar. Left hand chisel grind. Heat treated to 57RC. On its 3rd handle now, walnut, w/ spacer/welt to put weight forward. Tiedown hole. Iron rivets.
Scabbard 13 oz weight saddle skirting leather. Weep hole for drainage.
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Nice! You are a true craftsman! I would love to add a hogsplitter to my collection, but the prices (eBay, etc.) are going through the roof.
Thanks very much.
That hogsplitter doubles as a trail maker riding on the 4-wheeler. Massive thing, from a logging processor bar ~1/4" thick. Oak handle scales.
A few pix of its heat treatment and the heavy plywood scabbard.
That hogsplitter doubles as a trail maker riding on the 4-wheeler. Massive thing, from a logging processor bar ~1/4" thick. Oak handle scales.
A few pix of its heat treatment and the heavy plywood scabbard.
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Old Arkansawyer
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3/4 flap, I can see the forge marks on some of the blades, I like that. Also nice to know you use scrap steel. We are on the same page if you have a coal/charcoal forge and not a gas burner.
I make most of my cleavers from truck springs. Just plain oak handles
riveted. I've had a couple complain about forge marks, I point out that
shows they aren't factory made.
Next question, do you have a power hammer? I find it's a lot of work
using hand tools and a 3 pound hammer.
I make most of my cleavers from truck springs. Just plain oak handles
riveted. I've had a couple complain about forge marks, I point out that
shows they aren't factory made.
Next question, do you have a power hammer? I find it's a lot of work
using hand tools and a 3 pound hammer.
Kudos.
Ha!! I use both gas and charcoal. The charcoal I make as I have an endless supply of wood on the ranch.
I do not have a power hammer. I make my main hammers, however. For much knife work I use the 4 lb one and then there is a 2 lb and smaller as well as a "soft" (annealed) one for work demanding that. I have some purchased as well, cross, strait & ball peined, etc.
Pix show some along w/ a drawknife I made for making handles. One pic shows the mandrel work forging the eye of the hammer. I'm the guy swinging the maul.
My main anvil is a piece of skidder grapple welded to a piece of heavy plate. Together they weigh 185 lbs. Then I have a similar but smaller arrangement for cutting hot metal and of course the farriers anvil for a horn and hardy hole stuff.
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Old Arkansawyer
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I like the dog head/Japanese style hammer, although I have never used
one.
You do excellent work.
one.
You do excellent work.
3/4 Flap, Thank you, and others, for a great informative thread. Makes for a nice break from the gun stuff. Most of us love edged weapons and tools also. Loved all the photos. Looks like you and yours have a great life.
That's really impressive.....
That's some great craftsmanship!
That's some great craftsmanship!
