Busy on the Forge

[jcmcclure]

I watched that video the other night. For me time is precious and I just dont have the time to put into such a restoration, nor do I have the  skill. It was a good watch though.

[David R. Pennington]

As your blades show, you can learn to forge on a worn anvil and get good results. You learn to find the surfaces you need. Those should make excellent knives. The critical part is the temper. I am still learning there, but I have an excellent blacksmith mentor to lean from.
I traded a cast Chinese anvil and $250 for a very nice Hay Budden a while back. I also have a pre Civil War Peter Wright on loan from a friend (he won't sell it to me). The Peter Wright has a good bit of wear but I have learned to love it and find myself going to it more than the Hay Budden. I will be heart broken if he ever demands it back. Let us see how they turn out.

[jcmcclure]

As your blades show, you can learn to forge on a worn anvil and get good results. You learn to find the surfaces you need. Those should make excellent knives. The critical part is the temper. I am still learning there, but I have an excellent blacksmith mentor to lean from.
I traded a cast Chinese anvil and $250 for a very nice Hay Budden a while back. I also have a pre Civil War Peter Wright on loan from a friend (he won't sell it to me). The Peter Wright has a good bit of wear but I have learned to love it and find myself going to it more than the Hay Budden. I will be heart broken if he ever demands it back. Let us see how they turn out.

Wick Ellerbe has been awesome in providing some great direction on tempering for high carbon steel and he has not let me down. Your lucky to have a mentor so close that can provide you with some visual and hands on learning!

[tim crowe]

The blades look fine, if Wick is helping you , you are in fine shape. The anvil, use what you have , up grade when you can or repair. I saw a lot of make do blacksmiths using truck chassis, or bulldozer parts for anvils in 3rd world blacksmith shops. Use your ingenuity . I would like to see the blades when they are done.

[jcmcclure]

The blades look fine, if Wick is helping you , you are in fine shape. The anvil, use what you have , up grade when you can or repair. I saw a lot of make do blacksmiths using truck chassis, or bulldozer parts for anvils in 3rd world blacksmith shops. Use your ingenuity . I would like to see the blades when they are done.

When I asked Wick about tempering he wrote me a lengthy response that I saved in a couple locations to make sure that i do not loose it. He has tons of good knowledge.

[Gary Tucker]

Casey, be sure to keep us posted on the knives.  Would love to see the finished product.  They look great.

[jcmcclure]

Casey, be sure to keep us posted on the knives.  Would love to see the finished product.  They look great.

I am off today-Sun and I am fixing to hit the forge now and hopefully have those blades hafted by the end of this weekend.

[Gun_Nut_73]

Just as an FYI, one of the Foxfire books mentions welding a section of automotive leaf spring to resurface the face of an anvil.

Back to topic, excellent looking knives.  I would like to see more photos of them as you progress.

[heelerau]

Mate,
       looks like you are off to a good start, those blanks are coming along nicely. When you have finished one of them please post a picture of it.
       The anvil is doing its job, might not be pretty, but it is what you have and up to the job. A better one will find you, as things do when people know you have an interest in such things.

Good luck

Heelerau