Do You Forge Hawks ?

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith

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For all those who can forge a decent hawk, I have some handle material to share with you.

I have some of the curly maple that Bill Moran had turned down into 1.5" rounds. I will cut these into eight 18" pieces. I believe this is from the tree that fell in Frederick ,MD in the 1970's. Bill had it cut, dried, and had these turned into six foot dowels out of one board. He said that tree had the best curly maple he ever saw. These have been dry for thirty years. Bill never used it all up. I won't either, probably. I want to share with some of the more accomplished makers.

This year Bill Moran and I will send one piece, free and postage paid, to the first eight smiths who post their project ideas on this thread. ( I think this would make Bill happy). This is my Christmas gift to eight of you.

Give a brief description of the metals, forging procedure and style you plan on doing. Any tips you want to pass on would be good. This thread will (hopefully) be a learning guide and source of encouragement and inspiration to those newer smiths who have been wanting to try a hawk.

It would be nice if you could post at least two examples of hawks you have finished previously.

Eight pieces available:
Stacy
 
Hey Stacy,
I would like to take you up on your offer. I have only made one hawk(from a ball pien).....I have a customer that is wanting one...and I've been wanting to make myself some kind of hawk. I got a drift about a year or so ago that has been calling my name too.;) I would use this wood for my own hawk and do some silver wire inlay.
Hope this qualifies me.:D
Thanks
Mace
 
Stacy i would sure like to get in on this. I will make another wrap around hawk with wrought iron and a cable bit. Bills work was the first custom knives i had ever seen in a book and he was a big influence on me. I do not have a picture host. If you would be so kind i could send you photos to post for me.
Here is a link to a hawk i am near finished.
Thanks for your consideration it is truly a very good jesture on your part and your right i would have made Bill happy.
Regards Bob
http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=7936
 
mace, B Finnigan, Robert
Send me a PM with your shipping address.

mace - I've seen you swing a hammer, and know your work well. I have no doubt that you will forge an excellent project.

As the smiths that get these handles make their hawks/axes it would be great if you could post photos and procedures.

I have the urge to get out the drifts and make a rasp hawk this weekend. For those who haven't made a hawk before, it is an easy way to start. Take a farrier's rasp (most don't make great knives - too low carbon) ,and a piece of 1095 (or any good edge steel). Wrap the rasp around the drift ,and forge weld it together with the bit (the HC steel) in the joint (to create the cutting edge). Weld this sandwich up well, and forge out the shape. Drift the hole to final shape. Done right it is fun, fast, and leaves the rasp teeth around the heel, but has a good sharp edge. You can water quench the edge to get a shaving sharp hawk.

At the Blacksmiths Guild Hammer-in this May, I won a tomahawk kit for a whole tribe ,in the steel in the hat drawings. It was a four foot wrought iron wagon wheel rim and a two foot piece of old spring steel. Enough to make dozens of hawks. If there is a smith who is learning, and wants to make a hawk, I'll cut a kit out and ship it to them for $20,post paid. I'll cut out five kits. These are for novice hawk makers. (they will not have the Moran handle material, but will have some good wood to work with) The fine print is that you have to make a hawk and post a picture of it.

Five hawk kits available:
Five curly maple handles left:
Stacy
 
Stacy,

Please allow me to speak up for the newbies who are doing the 'hawk/hunter/utility collaboration and say that we'd love to have a piece for our project. We're still deciding on designs, but at this point I thin it's pretty certain that there will be a damascus 'hawk (likely pool & eye pattern) and two matching knives. We've discussed various handle options and one was curly maple. Nothing would be better IMO than having some of Bill's maple to work with.

If designs end up changing (or if I've spoken out of turn for the group here) we'll happily give it back to any 'smith who wants it. Scott Ickes is the coordinator of the project, so I'd guess that it should be sent to him.

Thanks,

-d
 
deker said:
Stacy,

Please allow me to speak up for the newbies who are doing the 'hawk/hunter/utility collaboration and say that we'd love to have a piece for our project. We're still deciding on designs, but at this point I thin it's pretty certain that there will be a damascus 'hawk (likely pool & eye pattern) and two matching knives. We've discussed various handle options and one was curly maple. Nothing would be better IMO than having some of Bill's maple to work with.

If designs end up changing (or if I've spoken out of turn for the group here) we'll happily give it back to any 'smith who wants it. Scott Ickes is the coordinator of the project, so I'd guess that it should be sent to him.

Thanks,

-d
Click to expand...

Having a part of Bill Moran become a part of our project would be an honor!

Ickie
 
Rob and Scott,
I would be glad to send some of Bill's maple handle material for the collaboration. I will send a hawk handle and several blocks of Bill's select curly maple handle material. It's the same batch he used for his 50 year knives. I'll send it to whichever of you two you want. Send me an email.
Stacy

Four handles left:
Five hawk kits:
 
bladsmth said:
Rob and Scott,
I would be glad to send some of Bill's maple handle material for the collaboration. I will send a hawk handle and several blocks of Bill's select curly maple handle material. It's the same batch he used for his 50 year knives. I'll send it to whichever of you two you want. Send me an email.
Stacy

Four handles left:
Five hawk kits:
Click to expand...

Biill's maple will be incredible for the collaboration project! As a person that has never made a hawk and has great interest in doing so, I would like very much to take advantage of one of your hawk kits if one is available. I will up hold my end of the deal to post pictures. :)
Eric
 
Oh dear........that means we have may to figure out how to forge a couple of blades for the collaboration that kinda look like Bill's and that is no easy task......I know from very frustrating personal experience:eek: :D
 
bladsmth said:
Rob and Scott,
I would be glad to send some of Bill's maple handle material for the collaboration. I will send a hawk handle and several blocks of Bill's select curly maple handle material. It's the same batch he used for his 50 year knives. I'll send it to whichever of you two you want. Send me an email.
Stacy

Four handles left:
Five hawk kits:
Click to expand...

I sent an email through this forum site. I've never done that before, so I hope you got it. Let me know one way or the other if you got my email.

Ickie

p.s. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
 
Mace, Bob, Scott, Brent - handles will be on their way.
Bill Buxton - I'll cut you a longer handle, email sent.
Eric - one kit being cut.

three handles and four kits left

Stacy
 
I'll take one Stacy,

I have a hawk order due by Christmas. Wire inlay pipe hawk. Bill would be happy. :)
 
Stacy,
Are we allowed to vote here? If so I would like to vote for Stuart Willis please:D I don't know his address , but I'm sure you could find out. Quite a talent that man has with hawks! Surely a suitable candidate for some of Bill's wood!
Matt Doyle
 
I'd like one too. I got a piece of damascus that is akeing to be made into something. Bill's maple would look great with it.

Larry
 
Mark and Larry - send me your shipping address.
Matt - I'll hold the last one for Stuart. Get his shipping address and send it to me.

Handles gone, four starter kits left.

Note to the potential kit recipients:
I'll bet one of the hawk makers will help you do one if you are a newer forger and aren't sure. Check around and see who is near you.
Stacy
 
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