- Joined
- Feb 28, 2009
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February 24 through the 26, Master Smith Joe Keeslar taught an ABS course at Haywood Community College on his "Brut de Forge" style knife. I had the priviledge of attending the course. This was my first time forging and I must say it was the most fun I've had in quite some time. Here is a picture of the rough forged blade.
This was also my first time using a real grinder and my first attempt at doing a hollow grind. I struggled in this regard and had to get help from Joe. Grinding was done on an 8" wheel.
The blade material started as a 1" x 1/4" 1084 bar. Unfortunately, I do not know what type of wood the handle scales are, but the liners and pins are copper. The copper liners are epoxied to the wood, but there is no epoxy between the liner and the tang. The pin holes in the handle scales are tapered and the peening of the copper pins holds the scales to the tang.
Others have discussed Joe's philosophy regarding the Brut de Forge style, but I haven't heard mention of his intergral, upset guard, which is a key element to Joe's Brut de Forge knife.
This knife is far from perfect and most of the decent elements were achieved with considerable assistance from Joe (i.e. I'd screw something up almost to the point of no return and he helped me salvage it). All things considered though, I'm still quite proud of my first forged knife. During the three day course, I also managed for forge out two more blades to the same point as shown in the first picture above.
It was a real pleasure to take this class. Joe was a fantastic teacher. Simply watching him forge was both entertaining and inspiring. His teaching style matches my learning style perfectly. I hope to take his handles and guards class some time in the future, once my skills progress.
This was also my first time using a real grinder and my first attempt at doing a hollow grind. I struggled in this regard and had to get help from Joe. Grinding was done on an 8" wheel.
The blade material started as a 1" x 1/4" 1084 bar. Unfortunately, I do not know what type of wood the handle scales are, but the liners and pins are copper. The copper liners are epoxied to the wood, but there is no epoxy between the liner and the tang. The pin holes in the handle scales are tapered and the peening of the copper pins holds the scales to the tang.
Others have discussed Joe's philosophy regarding the Brut de Forge style, but I haven't heard mention of his intergral, upset guard, which is a key element to Joe's Brut de Forge knife.
This knife is far from perfect and most of the decent elements were achieved with considerable assistance from Joe (i.e. I'd screw something up almost to the point of no return and he helped me salvage it). All things considered though, I'm still quite proud of my first forged knife. During the three day course, I also managed for forge out two more blades to the same point as shown in the first picture above.
It was a real pleasure to take this class. Joe was a fantastic teacher. Simply watching him forge was both entertaining and inspiring. His teaching style matches my learning style perfectly. I hope to take his handles and guards class some time in the future, once my skills progress.
