tsterling Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Finally got around to scanning in my first forging - a railroad spike tomahawk. You guys have been a bad influence on me - now I'm hooked. 20 inches overall length, the head/blade is 8 inches overall, with bocote handle, fossil ivory and desert ironwood end caps, rawhide Turk’s head wrappings (thanks to Tai Goo for the wrapping tutorials). Seems to look pretty good on the outside, you just don't see the difficulties inside the eye. Also had to make a drift and hot slitter. The hot slitter I started with was a cold chisel - learned that cold chisels don't do a good job slitting hot metal with their wide edge, then I re-profiled the edge to a more acute angle and it worked better. Railroad spikes are tough - oh, my aching arm! Might should have chosen something a little less ambitious for my first time... Thanks for all the good info on the Forum, and many thanks to Don Fogg for providing and hosting it! Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bashup Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Looks light as a feather, I'd love to throw it, it's beautiful. First forging? wow! Marcus Bishop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Damn, you don't start small, do you? Great work, especially for a first forging! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFogg Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Nice one Tom! Don Fogg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Jones Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Very nice hawk, Tom. Fantastic for a "first" forging. Phillip Jones http://customknives.com/jonesbrothers/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.Abrera Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Nice, real nice. :ylsuper: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tai Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Great job, a real tribal flair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adlai Stein Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Awesome work and an incredible first piece. Adlai Klatu Baratta Necktie! Macabee Knives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymond Richard Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Tom, I did double take on your hawk. I did one 3 or 4 years ago that looks real simular. Nice Job! Here's the one I did: Raymond Richard www.hawknknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Krantz Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Very nice!! I have got to make myself one of those Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted November 13, 2005 Author Share Posted November 13, 2005 (edited) Hi Raymond, I did a double take as well when I saw your picture! I went back to the iForge tutorial I used making my hawk, and lo and behold, your photo above is the finished example at the end of that tutorial. I liked that photo much better than the hammer-style hawk the tutorial was making, and altered my design. Small world...thanks for being the inspiration. And to all the guys saying such nice things, thanks for the encouragement. It's nice being a part of a community of craftsmen who aren't stingy with "protected knowledge." Freely distributed information and help gladly provided is something so many craft and art communities are sadly lacking. Guess the world in general could use more of the attitudes I see here on Bladesmith’s forum. Many thanks for your kindness! Edited November 13, 2005 by tsterling Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymond Richard Posted November 13, 2005 Share Posted November 13, 2005 Tom, Are you going to the hammerin next weekend? If so we'll get to meet. Raymond Richard www.hawknknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted November 13, 2005 Author Share Posted November 13, 2005 Hi Raymond - Hammerin next week? Haven't heard - where and when? Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymond Richard Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 Tom, Here's a link to the hammerin: http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30237 Raymond Richard www.hawknknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpile Posted November 14, 2005 Share Posted November 14, 2005 Hello TOM-- Glad to see your first effort. Some how it does not suprise me how well it came out. I have been following yours and others posts on THE CARVING PATH. Congrats for a nice piece of work. Chuck Bennett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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