Bulletin

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or go to side bar and look for "Blades Available for Purchase" While your there you can check out my gallery also. Thanks Wade

The Fort

Fort Vancouver in Washington State is a very interesting place, without getting into the academics of interpretation too heavily. Circa 1820's, Fort Vancouver was built and occupied for the next 4 decades by the British/Hudson Bay Trading Company.

Of course my interest in this place is the vast artifacts recovered and documented. Also, the Blacksmith shop, with the bellows and forges as authentic as originally constructed, or at least as close as possible.

The opportunity to be a part of the Cannoneer crew that gets to fire the 3lb cannons and swivel guns is also of interest.

With some practice, study, and sweat I've been constructing some Poll Axes and Hinges. Because of the absolutely tremendous number of artifacts available at the Fort these axes can be very authentic in their reproduction.
BTW, these artifacts are available for public viewing by appointment only, by contacting Fort Vancouver National Park Service.

Fiddling with Folders Part 3

This folder is not influenced by the Sword. The blade is highly laminated, Contorted complex steel.

I have three folders made with this Gordian knot patterned steel. This particular knife is framed with Brass and Rocky Mt. Elk horn furniture.

The matching knife is my personal carry knife. These 2 prototypes are not available for purchase, But, I do have an Identical knife available for puchase. The difference...Mule deer Buck horn Furniture.

Fiddling with Folders Part 2

Again with the sword influence with folders. I used logging cable Damascus on all parts, Blade, Spring and lockback lever were all made with cable Damascus.

I used a double fuller, which is a characteristic of European blades. Brass framework is slabbed with stablized Buckeye.

This is another prototyype (You've seen it here first!) Hopefully to be available for purchase in the near future. Original prototypes are not available.

Fiddling with Folders Part 1

As with my fixed blade knives, they are also influenced by Swords.

I thought; "you know, I should extend this concept to folding knives." A Viking sword tip constructed in a folding knife. Copper and Green stablized Boxwood was my frame work, Complex composite Viking Broad sword tip constructed blade.

Pictured is the prototype (You've seen it here first!) These will hopefully be available in the future for purchase. However the original prototypes are not available.

The Hammer Finish

True "hammmer finishing" is "hand forging" your shape in steel and from start to finish. In swords, blades and horseshoes, how far can you go? All the way is the answer. If raw forging, Medevil flare appeals to you, This is Tight, Sick,or Rad or Whatever.
 

Short Sword
19.5 in. Blade, 26 in. overall

Examples that are shown have not been touched by a Grinder, File, or a Rasp. No shiny finish here. The edge of the blade and sword were dulled with a sander. The sword is mild steel fittings, ferrel, pommel and guard. The blade is 1060 steel, "medium carbon" hardened and tempered. The pommel and guard are seize fitted. The tang is nearly through 7/8s of the pommel, then pinned.
 


The handle is wood core with twisted wire hooked into notches in the wood. Tightly wrapped and I mean it doesn't move! Steel ferrels hold it in place, No glue, No expoxy,and No solder.
 

Saber Blade
32 in. at ricosso to point.

The guard, I believe is gray iron, some scrap that I thought was "Wrought" or "Puddle iron". The gray iron cracks badly on edges but adds character to this piece for me. If I make some of these, I will test it for durability. ...Future Video perhaps.


The only problem with hammer finish is getting it thin enough and not have it warp during hardening. I use techniques that prevent and fix warping of blades during the hardening process, But that's more pages than I care to write at this time.

Bayonet style fighting blade
11.25 in. at ricosso to point

Horseshoes forged from 3/8" x 1" barstock and 1/2" x 1"
Large hind shoe with caulk and wedge

Half Shoe example-Brazed in forge diamond caulk on a Warmblood shoe

Moving on to Horseshoes,
Hammer finished horseshoes are common among competition Farriers-In fact it is routine. The better you are at it, The less filing the is, and if your good you don't even need that.
Some Blacksmiths are phenominal at this, prepping your anvil and hammer, with heat and hammer control make for smoother hammer finishes.

Sparrow Cutlass Sword ~WINS~ Best Fighter Knife of Show

SPARROW CUTLASS SWORD~
X&O PATTERN WELDED BLADE OF 320 LAYERS OF FOLDED STEEL, 5160, 1095, 15N20, AND MILD STEEL, HAMMER FINISHED HILT AND POMMEL, DOUBLE COPPER WIRE WRAPPED LEATHER HANDLE. BLADE LENGTH 21 3/4“, BLADE WIDTH 1 5/16“-BALANCED AT 1 3/4“ IN FRONT OF THE GUARD-A VERY QUICK FEEL, OVERALL 29 1/4”.