AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: tallbear on September 08, 2015, 11:05:42 PM

Title: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: tallbear on September 08, 2015, 11:05:42 PM

 This winter my mentor and friend Big Al Kahkonen crossed over to the other side.Al was a member here but never posted which is unfortunate as he was very talented,some of you might remember him from Dixons or lately the CLA Show.Al was a man of many talents and started building muzzleloaders in the 1970's and continued until his passing.Al never sold his work so he is virtually unknown except locally and made  what he referred to as "Kahkonen North Carolina Rifles" mostly big early Iron mounted rifles with heavy Jaeger influence.Al strove to make every part of his rifles and also loved to make the tools to make the parts mostly using 18th Century techniques.I am deeply honored that these tools now reside on my bench ,many I helped him make while working with him and they will continue to be used for their intended purpose.I also thought by sharing them here others can be inspired by Als work as I was when I was a "know nothing" 17 year old kid and Al took me under his wing.

Mitch Yates

Big Al getting ready to do some forging in the blacksmith shop.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2FIMG_0002_zps9x9tifhc.jpg&hash=3ae41817877d045712d34d55f7cc866247152c5b)

Set of Dog Leg inletting chisels

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F001_zpsv5u9up5u.jpg&hash=39f2a062a5c1e880bb9439c90c8965c24d2fb25e)

Tumbler mill

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F004_zpsb57traru.jpg&hash=483b8de9a96f4087bbb3618d622b1b2b44792253)

Screw Mills(these are used to make both the shank and head of gun/lock screws)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F005_zpsbusgbpmc.jpg&hash=39ea7d11804b3f23e1d9dedee0633f91d6b33839)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F006_zpsffsfny0h.jpg&hash=aa327725396119e5c32ea2df23b72a9d0f7902f1)

Spokeshaves

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F007_zps16v7yxlf.jpg&hash=fae75c7a4965e8a16d34e6c2a2caf84f164e65ec)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F008_zpshmwxn4ax.jpg&hash=232df4fa3472bc520724d22898d0f3bf7007690e)

Plane for making dovetails on patchbox lids

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F009_zps4sg1ezae.jpg&hash=1533821b8bb64e855c51d02d14e821ff319ad40f)

18th Century Filing Vice

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F011_zpszhqqoxlj.jpg&hash=dd46267d5868bfbe7dfe0d125e1bee29f2925b3f)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F012_zpswz1f8i98.jpg&hash=44568972a934aa78bbea698c6886134dadbba0dd)

Hand Forged Jaeger Lock Al was almost finished with.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F014_zpszd7ohal5.jpg&hash=66e53961d0ba62d63247de3e0b6a81c3ebae2a0d)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F015_zpsxzrgcvy8.jpg&hash=a016c7c18df256488b386f408cee184877d5aaee)

Hand made round ball mold cherries with hand forged mold and nippers.

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F016_zpswdzapaxz.jpg&hash=b790adaaf145308b878e8852827ec56247c77b1e)

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F017_zpsktkrlcwa.jpg&hash=5cce3668aac18ba16ffbf4a7c686a730330df648)

Draw Knives

(https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi112.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fn166%2Fjmyates%2FBig%2520Al%2F019_zpskjcu6bdl.jpg&hash=7a116805fe37b9463ff8ef8e169f3c7efe370d8c)

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: billd on September 08, 2015, 11:20:59 PM

Very nice.  You are very fortunate to be able to say he was your friend.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: heinz on September 08, 2015, 11:35:46 PM

Those are the fine quality tools of a Master smith. Thanks for sharing them with us. His memory will live on in those fine tools whenever you pick them up.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: KC on September 09, 2015, 12:00:05 AM

Sounds like an interesting man you were fortunate to have known.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: James Rogers on September 09, 2015, 12:31:00 AM

Mitch,
I can relate to that 110%!

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Ryan McNabb on September 09, 2015, 02:58:49 AM

Really like that tumbler mill.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: PPatch on September 09, 2015, 03:46:12 AM

Beautiful tools, sorry you lost a friend and mentor Mitch. Perhaps someday you will be passing them on. I'd love to see one of Big Al's rifles.

Dave

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Acer Saccharum on September 09, 2015, 04:27:31 AM

Thank you for sharing that story, Mitch.

There is mortality mixed with repurpose, mentorship and a real caring.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: ddoyle on September 09, 2015, 07:00:17 AM

The tumbler mill and the cherries are very inspiring pictures. Seeing how he cut the teeth on them and how he built the mill made some lightbulbs go off.  I have looked at every mill pic I can find but for some reason his just made it look doable and worthwhile.

Your friend was a very productive and creative human being sincerly hope you enjoyed many years in his company.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Marcruger on September 09, 2015, 05:07:00 PM

Great post Mitch. Seeing your work, Al must have been a super teacher.
Was Al from North Carolina? Best wishes, and God Bless, Marc

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Daryl on September 09, 2015, 06:34:26 PM

Thanks for this post, Mitch. I'm sure we are all now remembering long time friends who have passed.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Ed Wenger on September 09, 2015, 07:41:15 PM

That's awesome, Mitch.  Glad they went to a good home, and a great way to remember Al.


     Ed

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Ky-Flinter on September 09, 2015, 07:57:40 PM

Mitch,

So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend, but it's wonderful that you have his tools to go along with the memories.

-Ron

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Joe S. on September 09, 2015, 11:14:16 PM

Sorry for your loss.It is good to see that you where able to learn from him and I'm sure he was happy to have a person to pass his craft off to.I used to know many an old craftsman who in the winter of their lives felt a little empty by not being able to pass the torch for one reason or another.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: flehto on September 10, 2015, 12:36:03 AM

Kahkonen is a Finnish name as is mine and judging from the efforts of my relatives in Finland {Suomi}, "Big Al" was just doing what a lot of Finns do for hobbies and jobs...... and without any fanfare.  After visiting relatives in Finland for a month {a lot is learned}, I was impressed w/ the "can do " spirit of the Finns.  "Big Al" Kahkonen was representative of many Finns....Tevesiin, Fred

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Curtis on September 10, 2015, 06:26:15 AM

It certainly looks like Big Al had a lot of talent, those are some really neat tools!  Thanks for posting those Mitch.

Curtis

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: bama on September 10, 2015, 07:25:05 PM

Yes indeed Mitch, I know that Al wanted his tools not only to be appreciated but used and that is why you have them. Make him smile and use them alot.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: Meteorman on September 12, 2015, 02:57:27 AM

Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
       ~Lazurus Long

You were obviously a good student, Mitch, in many respects.

Title: Re: The Gunbuilding Tools of "Big Al" Kahkonen
Post by: J. Talbert on September 12, 2015, 04:24:55 AM

Mitch, a friend and craftsman like that will surely be missed.

I can tell from his tools that his guns must have been fine works.

Jeff