Cape Buffalo
Alligator attacking Cape Buffalo
This is the Folder that is next in the Series of Predator and Prey, The African set. The previous one was the Arctic with Polar Bear and Walrus. Same Knife style, the Large Hunter. Different Damascus, engraving, darker mammoth ivory, and different filework throughout. The Scrimshaw is by Lori Ristinen and everything else by myself. Thanks for looking and please leave comments.
Customized Al Mar Payara with Green Inferno Kirinite handle
This is a new color being distributed by Eagle Grips, I believe it is Green Inferno. I was sent a set of scales to try on an Al Mar Payara. It works very easily with standard belt grinders. As it heats up it tends to warp but as it cools it always comes back to straight. I ground it down to about .125 before putting it on this Payara. I would like to get some comments on the material and the color. Is it something you would carry? Thanks Kirk
Forged 52100 Thumb Dagger
This is my version of the OSS thumb dagger. These little daggers where sewn into shirts, flight jackets, boots, and any other place that was possible. They where a last ditch weapon that was hard to detect but one that could do lots of damage in the right hands. The first concealed carry weapon. I make a kydex sheath that can be attached anywhere or hung around your neck. Blade length is 1 3/4 and it is 4 1/8 over all. They are forged from 52100 bearings and the finish is a quick etch in ferric cloride to take the glare off.
This is a small fixed blade design that I call “Toad”. I just finished it using the Mokume Gane that I made at the ABANA conference in Rapid City. I used 40 layers of Copper, 20 layers of nickle silver, and 20 layers of Red brass. The copper was put between every layer of the brass and nickel silver. I think it turned out very striking. I ran it through a ladder pattern die to bring the layers to the surface. The blade is what I call Teton damascus or a laddered W’s pattern. The handle is Mammoth tooth and it is all put together with 0-80 tork head screws so I could finish the knife then take it apart and etch the hole knife so the damascus shows around the handle. It also has dovetailed bolsters and a tapered tang. Any questions or comments let me know.
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Polar Bear on Folder
Polar Bear taking down Walrus on Folder
This is the Folder in the Predator and Prey series that I did for a customer. The fixed blade is also included in the blog. They both have the same basic shape although the folder blade had to be shortened to fit in the handle. The damascus is the same as is the handle shape. The bolsters are 416 ss and I did the engraving. The handle material is interior mammoth ivory and was scrimed by Lori Ristinen. The fixed blade has a Wolf on one side and 5 Wolves attaching a large Moose on the other. They are off getting professionally photoed now so will have a better picture later. Hope you enjoy and thanks for looking.
This fixed blade is part of a set that I am working on. There is a folder that has the same handle and blade shape along with the same engraving. I made the damascus and the knife. Then I engraved the bolsters. Lori Ristinen did the scrimshaw work. The other side isn’t done yet but it will have a pack of wolves attaching a large Moose. Check back, I should have the other handle scale soon.
Silicone around seams You have to seal around all the cracks or the water from the refractory will run out
Fill with refractory It was a little tricky getting the refractory around the tube but I put it in slowly and used a a piece of strap to tamp it down and make sure I filled all the voids, particularly around where the burner goes.
Pull out tube After it dried it was easy to pull the tube out. It had soaked up water from the refractory so it peeled right out.
Finished Almost The ribbon burner is mounted. I pulled the mock up piece of steel out and inserted the burner. Fits like a glove.
Mounting ribbon burner I positioned the burner where I wanted it and make and welded in brackets to hold it.
Air and propane plumbed. The blower is installed along with the propane nozzel. I got them from Pine Ridge burners along with the burner.
Fire it up IT WORKS. There is a lot of moisture in the refractory so be careful when you fire it the first few times. The small tube on the top left side of the forge is to put a digital probe into. I fired it to 800 F the first time and the water ran out of it every where. Then I went to 1200 and finally to 1800 F and it was good to go. If anyone has any questions about the build you can comment on the blog or email or phone me.
Forge with tube installed. The back wall is already poured with the refractory 2" thick. The Quick tube is cut to length and supports are welded in to keep it centered in the forge
Tube and Mocked up burner. The piece on the right is a mocked up piece the same size as the burner. It is trimmed to fit the radius of the tube so the refractory won't run out. When the refractory is dry this piece will be removed and leave a hole just right for the ribbon burner
Blower and air adapter
I am building a new forge and will be showing the parts and pieces that will be going into it. I was given information on a new to the knifemakers kind of burner system. It is called a Ribbon Burner and I think it is used in the glass blowing industry. It is supposed to get very hot with less propane usage. I got this burner from Pine Ridge Ribbon Burners. The blower pictured above was recommended by them to run the burner I am using. It also is available on there web site. I built the adapter for it to go from the square opening of the blower to a 2″ pipe.
Ribbon burner
This is a closeup of the ribbon burner. The air and gas mix in the back portion before coming out the multiple holes in the refractory. As the forge heats up the refractory heats up also and preheats the air and gas mixer to help it burn better.
All the parts and pieces
This is a shot of all the components layed out. Blower, adapter, and burner. The 15″ pipe I am using is supporting it and the back plate is layed out on the piece of steel. There will be a window in the back to run long pieces through the forge. A 2″ high square is made to go around the hole then the forge will be layed on its back and refractory poured 2″ thick, just up to the top of the window.
Inside of forge before refractory
This is the inside of the forge before refractory. The little pieces of angel iron are 1 1/2″ and have been tacked in to hold the refractory to the sides. You can also see a pipe extending into the center. That will be the bottom and it will serve as a clean out when the flux builds up in the bottom of the forge. I will be posting more photo’s so check back. If anyone has any questions about the construction feel free to comment
Ladder Pattern Mokume Gane
This July 18-21 there will be a gathering of the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) in Rapid City South Dakota. Check out there web site for more details. It is a very large gathering of craftsmen and women from around the world, There will be demonstrators from Norway, Canada, Mexico, and Italy along with many from the US. I have been invited to do some knife related demo’s, three to be exact. Making Mokume Gane is going to be one of them that I will cover from start to finish. I will show how to lay up the billett, how to hold everything together, heating and temp control, forging once welded and finally patterning to get all those great colors to come out. This is a sample piece that I just finished in a ladder pattern. Mokume is a just like the traditional damascus but it is done with non-ferrous metals. I will be using copper, brass, and nickel silver. Also at the demo I will have all the suppliers for the materials that I will be using. If you have any questions or comments please share them with me. Thanks
