Forging How To Pommel?

[Robert Hankins]

Have a design stuck in my head of a Bolo type blade but I want to add a personal touch to the Pommel.
Always loved the look of a RR Spike head in that sort of teardrop of solid steel.
If you were to do a Pommel in that shape thru forging how/when would you start and then proceed to make it work? Starting with bar stock.
My instinct tells me to do that first then forge the blade.
Don't have a pole vice so maybe heat and bounce the end off of the anvil...No clue.

Want to do this piece for my Dad as he is getting up there in age and it will be some of my first work out of the forge.
Thanks for the help so far as the journey begins AGAIN!

 

[mete]

It's called upsetting. Various ways to do it depending on length of piece ,where you want it upset [center or end] etc. For a short piece set it on the anvil and hit the end. The thing is to keep it straight. If it starts to bend over straighten it before proceeding.

 

[Don Hanson III]

You could forge weld a couple pieces of the same stock to either side of the end of the tang for you pommel, forge to shape or grind, could even use damascus. This maybe easier than upsetting.

Don Hanson

 

[Wild Rose]

If you like the look of a RR spike why not just cut the head off one and use it as your pommel??? Ignore if it's just the shape you're after - then do as Mete said upset it - don't need a pole vice any good solid bench vise will work