Forging in miniature

[tryppyr]

I've mentioned elsewhere that I tend to say my scrap steel to use making miniatures when the mood strikes me. Yesterday I removed about a half inch swath off the blank of a chef's knife I'm working on. I looked at the piece and thought "this will make a great miniature scimitar." Then I started thinking about how I would do the bevels and handle... and it hit me.

I wonder if anyone forges their miniatures.

Of course it would involve using smaller tools. One of Zaph's Atlas forges, for example, and small ball peen hammers instead of the big multi-pound metal movers.

And then I woke up from my daydreaming, and decided to put the question here. Does anyone make miniatures by forging?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yes, some of us do. I forge small pieces of W1 round wire ( piano wire) into 3" sword blades and tiny bowies. Of course, all of the real shaping is done with files and sandpaper.

I use a small ball peen hammer and a jeweler's anvil ( like a cutler's anvil) to forge with.

 

[SinePari]

The skill involved with forging such small pieces is amazing; a true master of the medium... I own a black powder nipple pick that was forged from tig tungsten, has beautiful decorative twists throughout the piece.

I'm looking into producing / forging miniatures for this very reason. In particular, mini anvils, hammers, and tongs... In limited quantities I'm sure there is a collectors market. Look at miniature anvils, the insane $$$ they fetch.

I've been impressed by that little miniature in Stacy's sig since day one... I'm looking forward to more information in this thread... subscribed.

 

[nighthaxan]

I've forged quite a few of the miniatures I've made over the years. The only real trick is getting it from the heat to the anvil fast enough. One solution was to use a propane torch for the heating, and a and a pair of needle nosed pliers.

 

[fast14riot]

Yep, most all of mine are forged. The hawk and belt knife I gave away last year were forged from scrap. Like mentioned, I use a propane or mapp torch next to a small anvil and get a couple good blows in before needing to reheat.

-X