Last weekend I was out visiting the old man and he took me for a visit to a local blacksmith and knife maker. The stuff that guy had in his shop blew my mind - a coal forge, several power hammers, several gas forges of different sizes, grinders, sanders, buffers, even an oven for tempering.
Anyway, talking to him really inspired me to make a feeble attempt at forging a knife of my own. I built a small one brick forge to heat up an old file. I meant to "borrow" an anvil from the farm but forgot it, so I had to resort to using the side of a sledge hammer instead. There are a lot of things I would do different if and when I make another one, but it was good practice. Also quick banged out a sheath made of veg tanned leather, and covered with some deer rawhide from my doe last fall.
It was a fun project. And my brother stopped by today and dropped off the anvil that I forgot, so now I can get serious with the hammer
