Year One - “Learn by doing”

When I first started I tried to just make as often as I can so I could learn the process, learn from my mistakes, and gain experience. Many ugly projects, and many still sit on my shop wall as a reminder of where I’ve been.

Building my first forge

First forge made from a marketplace freon tank
Lining the inside of my homemade forge
Instructions I used to make my own "T-burner" from parts I sourced at my local hardware store
Initial burner test
Changed from a bell top to a "T-burner" for better airflow
It's alive! - first forge up and running

First set up

This incredibly large stump I helped cut down became my first anvil stump
I notched the stump to have a place for my railroad track anvil I had won
I used some packing foam to help keep it in place and reduce the ring (proof of my green status)
My finished set-up - precarious, janky, but it was a start

First “knife” - just going through the motions

I bought a box of railroad spikes on Facebook Marketplace for $.50 each - little did I know they aren't really great for actual knives
Using my improved set up (I got a real anvil for my birthday) to forge the blade
Forged and blade "ground"
Testing performance- lol
Finished blade - what it was to what it became

“Knife #1” - technically #2

The ugly orgin - I don't remember what or why, but I admit I did it
Handle shaped - it was round, and wouldn't pass current standards by a mile. At least you could hold onto it.
I used to finish my handles with hardware store flooring finish. Also those grinds are gross, but again - I learn by doing, even doing wrong
Final shot - hands of a backyard blacksmith for sure

Railroad Spike Dagger

Dagger and guard made from railroad spikes, sweet amazon leather kit - lol
I decided to make a scabbard to hold the dagger
Some Hobby Lobby "pleather" for a handle wrap
Rough shaped (same as final shape back in those days) - I had ignorantly purchased a bar of stainless steel and made the pommel out of it (learned a hard lesson with that one)
In its scabbard
Decided to have a metal spacer on top of the scabbard
Finishing the handle and scabbard with the classic hardware store stain and finish
Finished dagger in its glory
New List Item

Olin S. - Baby Bowie

Design for the "Baby Bowie" I made for my oldest. Looking back there are so many design choices I wouldn't make again
Done forging and grinding - but no fuller yet
Fuller ground in with an angel grinder and rough fit up of the handle bits.
Handle put together, but still very rough not to mention this blade is about 1/4" thick.
Finished product
Another finished shot.

Lily S. - Poniard

Forge in action
First attempt at a dagger grind, this whole thing was still 1/4" or better thick.
Side view
First attempt at casting some of the "spacers" for the planned handle.
Handle all laid out prior to fit up.
Finished poniard - I learned that you should grip the blade instead of the guard when peening the tang - caused a gap between the guard and the blade.
Concept (by my daughter) to the finished product.

Zach S. - Kris Knife

Rough forging done.
Blade ground and guard prepared
Again - design basics and started using more exotic woods. I think the handle on this one is ebony.
Side view - trying to get that "Coffin" shape symmetrical..
Decided to shorten the guard and rough pommel.
Finished kris knife - slowing getting better.

Hank B. - Child’s Sword

"Blade" and guard rough forged and layout lines on teh
Guard refined a little
Guard fit onto the "blade". As this was for a friend's son, the blade was very rounded and really just sword shaped.
Hand sewing some pleather over the handle wood. Still living in an Amazon/Hobby Lobby/Lowe's world.
Time for glue up.
Finished product. I remember struggling to decide on the pommel design, but ended up with this.
Final glamour shot.

Year One - “Learn by doing”

First forge made from a marketplace freon tank

Lining the inside of my homemade forge

Instructions I used to make my own "T-burner" from parts I sourced at my local hardware store

Initial burner test

Changed from a bell top to a "T-burner" for better airflow

It's alive! - first forge up and running

This incredibly large stump I helped cut down became my first anvil stump

I notched the stump to have a place for my railroad track anvil I had won

I used some packing foam to help keep it in place and reduce the ring (proof of my green status)

My finished set-up - precarious, janky, but it was a start

I bought a box of railroad spikes on Facebook Marketplace for $.50 each - little did I know they aren't really great for actual knives

Using my improved set up (I got a real anvil for my birthday) to forge the blade

Forged and blade "ground"

Testing performance- lol

Finished blade - what it was to what it became

The ugly orgin - I don't remember what or why, but I admit I did it

Handle shaped - it was round, and wouldn't pass current standards by a mile. At least you could hold onto it.

I used to finish my handles with hardware store flooring finish. Also those grinds are gross, but again - I learn by doing, even doing wrong

Final shot - hands of a backyard blacksmith for sure

Dagger and guard made from railroad spikes, sweet amazon leather kit - lol

I decided to make a scabbard to hold the dagger

Some Hobby Lobby "pleather" for a handle wrap

Rough shaped (same as final shape back in those days) - I had ignorantly purchased a bar of stainless steel and made the pommel out of it (learned a hard lesson with that one)

In its scabbard

Decided to have a metal spacer on top of the scabbard

Finishing the handle and scabbard with the classic hardware store stain and finish

Finished dagger in its glory

New List Item

Design for the "Baby Bowie" I made for my oldest. Looking back there are so many design choices I wouldn't make again

Done forging and grinding - but no fuller yet

Fuller ground in with an angel grinder and rough fit up of the handle bits.

Handle put together, but still very rough not to mention this blade is about 1/4" thick.

Finished product

Another finished shot.

Forge in action

First attempt at a dagger grind, this whole thing was still 1/4" or better thick.

Side view

First attempt at casting some of the "spacers" for the planned handle.

Handle all laid out prior to fit up.

Finished poniard - I learned that you should grip the blade instead of the guard when peening the tang - caused a gap between the guard and the blade.

Concept (by my daughter) to the finished product.

Rough forging done.

Blade ground and guard prepared

Again - design basics and started using more exotic woods. I think the handle on this one is ebony.

Side view - trying to get that "Coffin" shape symmetrical..

Decided to shorten the guard and rough pommel.

Finished kris knife - slowing getting better.

"Blade" and guard rough forged and layout lines on teh

Guard refined a little

Guard fit onto the "blade". As this was for a friend's son, the blade was very rounded and really just sword shaped.

Hand sewing some pleather over the handle wood. Still living in an Amazon/Hobby Lobby/Lowe's world.

Time for glue up.

Finished product. I remember struggling to decide on the pommel design, but ended up with this.

Final glamour shot.

Year Two - Progress Continues

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