Before and after the grind.....

[Raymond Richard]

These are ones I forged a few days ago. Now there ready to be hafted. The top one was out of 1" hex 1080 and the other 3 from 7/8" stock. The largest head is around 9"

 

[indian george]

Nice!!!!!!! Me Like

 

[PropellerHead]

Ray, those 'hawk heads are looking really nice! That ocatagonal stock really adds a nice touch!

- Mike

 

[shappa]

Ray, Fantastic work as always. It's really great to see what you do step by step.

Do you ever skip the finish grinding and finish up past it, leaving the forge marks? You forge so cleanly it looks like the grinding is almost wasted.

 

[Raymond Richard]

Tom, I've left a few knife blades with the forge finish but not yet with the hawks. There's still room to improve on the hawks but they do seem to get alittle better each time I do forge them. Its hard to get a real sharp line with the hammer. The more I forge I'm finding out there's alot more finesse envolved than brut force.

 

[Gossman Knives]

It always fascinates me how you guys can forge something like that. That is really cool. Great work.
Scott

 

[jhiggins]

I really don't like any of those, Ray. I think you should send me one so I can "get used to it!"

 

[Gib Guignard]

Not to shabby there Ray, I sure like the way the hex bar works. Gib

 

[Bruce Evans]

Looking GOOD!!!!!

Ray You are making some fantastic hawks now,make me look like a amateur Guess I need to make some more and get better at them huh!
Bruce

 

[Raymond Richard]

Bruce, I bet you haven't made one for a couple years now. Are you getting your mastersmith knives made up?

 

[Will52100]

Cool, now hurry up and finish them so we can see the finished product!

 

[Bruce Evans]

Ray,I think you are correct on that one.Yes I am working on the Master Smith judging knives,man I hope they are good enough.
Bruce

 

[Raymond Richard]

Will, I'm working on them. I got the small one with the spike thats simular to a jackhammer bit hafted last night. Hope to get it finished today if I can squese it in. Got an inshop forging demo planned for today so I'm also going to have to get ready for that.

Bruce, I bet I could have picked 6 or your older knives that would pass the test. I'll be at Blade this year!

 

[Sweany]

Looking good Ray ! Where's the double bit hawk to go with the double spike?

 

[Raymond Richard]

Sweany, Its in your head right now! Did do one about 3 years ago when I first started doing the hawks. I'm sure I'll be making one sooner or later...

 

[John Andrews]

Ray, those are great! I notice you finish forge closer to finish than you give youself credit for. No doubt, you be a hawk man! I was going to ask, have you ever tried one of those flapper wheels for finish grinding, before buffing those hawks? They work really good getting into the curves and doing concave surfaces. From the looks of your hawks, you don't have much finishing to do. The flappers work pretty good on hardened steel, too.

 

[Raymond Richard]

John, When I bought my Hardcore grinder 5 years ago I got most the bells and whistles including the small wheel attachment. I think it was a couple years after if got the small wheel attachment that I used it. It really comes in handy on the hawks.