This weekend, I will be mostly...

[Xunil]

I got lots done - some of it was even what I'd originally planned

Got a Damascus knife with its handle soaking in Tung oil at the moment (can take pictures tomorrow when its finished) and several others glued up. A couple of bows are almost ready to take out of the forms, and I started in on a couple of Nessmuk knives which was never on the agenda until I realised I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to make one. I listened to that urge for a good minute or so and then decided to make two instead - one Nessmuk is never enough

Did a little leatherwork (which I hate), programmed some PHP, trimmed three dozen Rose shoots and got them bundled up to dry for arrow shafts, and found a Webley Raider single shot in a Flambeu case that I bought almost 5 years ago that I forgot I had in a corner of the workshop, behind a load of Ipe, Lemonwood and Yew bowstaves. Put a scope on it, charged it up and ran half a tin of pellets through it on Sunday and it shoots great. Might sell it on - might not - not much call for five year old 'brand new' airguns I guess...

It encouraged me to explore a little more and I found quite a few other treasures like a four-core herringbone twist Damascus bar I forged a few years back for a Viking dagger, a couple of many-layered laminated Katana blades waiting on polishing and furnishing that I forged a few years back, some S30V and 12C27 neck knives and hunters that I'd left to go back to one day and never got around to, a two bladed Trapper folder in 300 layer 1095 and L6 Damascus and silver fittings (I think stag scales would work to finish it out), a reflex/deflex bamboo backed Lemonwood longbow that I started almost 18 months ago and, well, all kinds of other 'junk'.

Note to self: have a good rummage in the workshop more often...

 

[British Red]

Oh yeah, spent a great weekend with the number 1 ranked UK competitor (ROing me in the picture) and the current champion....much was learned and fun was had


Aperture Shooting by British Red, on Flickr

Red

 

[ex-member Raikey]

I got lots done - some of it was even what I'd originally planned

Got a Damascus knife with its handle soaking in Tung oil at the moment (can take pictures tomorrow when its finished) and several others glued up. A couple of bows are almost ready to take out of the forms, and I started in on a couple of Nessmuk knives which was never on the agenda until I realised I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to make one. I listened to that urge for a good minute or so and then decided to make two instead - one Nessmuk is never enough

Did a little leatherwork (which I hate), programmed some PHP, trimmed three dozen Rose shoots and got them bundled up to dry for arrow shafts, and found a Webley Raider single shot in a Flambeu case that I bought almost 5 years ago that I forgot I had in a corner of the workshop, behind a load of Ipe, Lemonwood and Yew bowstaves. Put a scope on it, charged it up and ran half a tin of pellets through it on Sunday and it shoots great. Might sell it on - might not - not much call for five year old 'brand new' airguns I guess...

It encouraged me to explore a little more and I found quite a few other treasures like a four-core herringbone twist Damascus bar I forged a few years back for a Viking dagger, a couple of many-layered laminated Katana blades waiting on polishing and furnishing that I forged a few years back, some S30V and 12C27 neck knives and hunters that I'd left to go back to one day and never got around to, a two bladed Trapper folder in 300 layer 1095 and L6 Damascus and silver fittings (I think stag scales would work to finish it out), a reflex/deflex bamboo backed Lemonwood longbow that I started almost 18 months ago and, well, all kinds of other 'junk'.

Note to self: have a good rummage in the workshop more often...

a fruitfull few days then eh....

glad it went well,...its amazing the stuff you hide and forget isnt it,....so you got some sharp projects to finish now then???

 

[Xunil]

a fruitfull few days then eh....

glad it went well,...its amazing the stuff you hide and forget isnt it,....so you got some sharp projects to finish now then???

I have sharps on the go from years ago and one I forged just this morning

I admit though, finding that four core herringbone twist really made my day and set me thinking. Will put a picture or two up tomorrow

 

[Everything Mac]

Great stuff xunil. Sounds like you had a very productive weekend. I'm quite fond of the nessmuk blade myself.

I managed to finish up what I wanted to in the forge on Sunday. Did a bit more today but that didn't go quite as well as the blade I was working on just wasn't to be. But oh well.

Andy

 

[ex-member Raikey]

I admit though, finding that four core herringbone twist really made my day and set me thinking. Will put a picture or two up tomorrow

nice one,....pics would be good.....

 

[PaulSanderson]

If im not off to Germany (still waiting for employers to decide if we fly on SATURDAY), i shall be diggin the veg plot, sowing my veg seed, potting on, helping with lambing, clearing out garage, fixing staircase hand rail, do some wedding organising, spending quality tie with the future mrs sanderson, being a domestic god...and in between all that, "attempting" to do some more work on the 3 blades that Raikey very kindly bevelled for me...thats IF I am even in the UK *groans*...

 

[Puddock]

This weekend we were mostly fly fishing.......I took this on my phone

 

[gsfgaz]

brilliant pic of the wee man , holding a braw wee broonie ...

 

[_scorpio_]

this weekend i will be mostly have a headache.
i have got myself a £200 spring loaded puzzle...

the valve seal went, and i got a replacement easily enough, but i have no idea where some of the bits go!
i didnt want that many things to come out of it, but its cleverly built so that anyone stupid enough to take it apart gets a load of bits of gun fired into their face!

 

[Xunil]

nice one,....pics would be good.....

In the darkest corner of my workshop, behind the 60 grit belts and Coleman Tilley Lamp, under the Yew, Lemonwood and Ipe bowstaves next to the steel cutting bandsaw...

... there lurked ...

... and inside, this little treasure was hiding ...

... and here is the bamboo backed Lemonwood reflex/deflex longbow I found, next to a bamboo backed Ipe reflex/deflex that I just removed from the form ...

... and a very rough Nessmuk, in the early stages ...

... and a Damascus hidden tang neck knife I discovered ...

... and a Damascus hunting knife, just out of its oil handle soak and awaiting blade etching (later today), next to a 12C27 neck knife (top) and an S30V neck knife (bottom) ...

The four core herringbone twist Damascus bar is etching right now, so I will post a picture or two of that later, and of the hunter in the above picture, once it has been etched.

Yeah, I know, I need to get out more

 

[ex-member Raikey]

ohhhhh mate,...

you have Aladins cave in your garden,,...

seriously,....how could you forget about all those lovely goodies???

i,m bashing away on a Netto belt sander using scraps of 01 and old files,....hahahahahaha

but i,m enjoying it ,..and i,m told thats all that counts,.....

i need to build me a better forge and step it up a gear i reckon,....

Thanks for sharing the pics dude,....(altho in a way i wish you had,nt) hahaha

Stu.,...

 

[Nova & Pinky]

This weekend we will be in Dartmoor checking out Ivan's place, where I'm goingt o see what goodies I can come up with in my new dutch oven

 

[Xunil]

ohhhhh mate,...

you have Aladins cave in your garden,,...

seriously,....how could you forget about all those lovely goodies???

i,m bashing away on a Netto belt sander using scraps of 01 and old files,....hahahahahaha

but i,m enjoying it ,..and i,m told thats all that counts,.....

i need to build me a better forge and step it up a gear i reckon,....

Thanks for sharing the pics dude,....(altho in a way i wish you had,nt) hahaha

Stu.,...

I bought the Webley Raider as a restocking project (I got five) and after the first four went out to their various new homes I got sidetracked by the birth of my baby daughter. After that, bowstaves got piled over the Flambeu case and the whole lot just sat there.

I have swords on the go that I started over 20 years ago when I used to be a full time bladesmith, and other stuff that I began just last weekend

Another member on here came to visit me a week or two ago and I showed him a few sword blades, among other things, that I've had 'on the go' for best part of a decade

I keep telling myself to stop making new stuff and just finish out all of the old stuff, but where's the fun in that ?



My first knives and swords were all made from recycled materials and hand filed after forging, and I still have one of them today that gets used regularly.

One of the best knifemakers I know of in America works with a very simple setup but he really knows how to get the best out of it and his output is superb, yet his kit is relatively modest.

I built my current belt grinder using scrap box-section steel for the frame, an old contact wheel, a 3-phase motor with an inverter for speed control and a backstand idler. Speed control is the single best advance for any maker using a belt grinder - it makes your belts last longer and you can run them super-slow on hardened blades without generating enough heat to risk the temper.

Enjoying making is more important than what you use to make it with. As long as you make each knife to the best of your ability and constantly try to improve and learn the rest will fall into place - I hear from others on this site that your output is well admired, so you must be doing something right

Anyway, more later once I get that little hunter etched...

 

[Xunil]

OK, as requested:

4 core twist Damascus bar, 14 inches long, 1 and 1/8 inch wide, a little over 1/4 inch thick, so room to reforge wider, longer and thinner if I want to...

And that little Damascus hunter (blade is coated in Walnut oil)...

Convex ground from the spine, a shade over 3mm thick and wickedly sharp, in my favourite 1090/L6 mix, so no weak/soft spots where the layers run out at the edge

Now, on to those neck knives...

 

[ex-member Raikey]

again,...Alladins cave...hahaha

ok ,..took a lot of that on board, i must admit to becoming a little gear preoccupied at times,..

but i would hate to lose sight of the main goal,..producing, as you say, the best with your current resources,...

as long as each one has the trademark "Raikeylove" injected in at high temperature during the heat treat then i,m happy,..

Cheers,...

that little hunter is lush!!!!

thanks for sharing the pics,....

Stu