Let's see your yard sale/flea market finds

pullrich said:
Check out what I found today in suburbia. I'm so stoked. I'll need some more parts, I guess.

DSC00675.JPG

1
Click to expand...

Nice score Pullrich, a wheel hub or a wash tub and you're forging ;-)))

Best regards

Robin
 
Pullrich, far out , you have the blower off off a rivet forge. Here's a page from 1942 Buffalo Forge catalog. Look down to rivet forge and see if that isn't it. They were made to take apart for transport. .....Randy

buffaloforge.jpg
 
church&son said:
Pullrich, far out , you have the blower off off a rivet forge. Here's a page from 1942 Buffalo Forge catalog. Look down to rivet forge and see if that isn't it. They were made to take apart for transport. .....Randy
Click to expand...

1942?! Good stuff. Hard to tell what is what, the blower I have is model 700 but looks like Buffalo Series 43 AND the Rivet series had model 700s. Wish they had pics of each type. Plus the blower crank sections seem askew from the flapper circle. Whatever the case, probably doesnt matter, I'm either going to have to find matching stand and forge or just cobble something together myself some day. The place to hold coals seems straight forward, an old BBQ like you show in your blog. I'm more puzzled by how to mount the heavy blower on a sturdy stand. All these questions but the critical one is what my suburban neighbors will think about all the crashing and banging and plumes of smoke.
 
All these questions but the critical one is what my suburban neighbors will think about all the crashing and banging and plumes of smoke
Click to expand...
. They'll move after a while. Our rooster crows when I hammer.

Here's two pics of Graftons forge set. Champion, but basically same thing. Maybe he will chime in with some knowledge. There is complete one on my way to realjob I pass twice a day that the lady uses as a planter. I've offered to build her a new planter of her choice in exchange for it, but she ain't having it. These rivet forges fold up for travel so they are hard to see in junkyards, look like an old metal box......

graftonforge.jpg
graftonforge2.jpg


Also the I Forge Iron site has a ton of info on old forges... http://www.iforgeiron.com/
 
Yeah that one above is mine. Looks better now as I took a wire brush to the rust and flaking paint then painted the whole thing with high temp spay paint. Fixed the wooden handle on the blower too. I was just looking for a blower when I came across that set. I believe it was a military model by the looks of the handles and such, but not sure.

Pullrich, it looks like from your photo you could bolt that arm easily to something like a 4x6 post. Make up a washtub forge and have fun. The washtub design is probably better than the rivet forges anyway if you are looking to make knives.

It takes a little longer to heat things up with the small air outake or tuyere on the rivet forges. This is most apparent when heating up an entire blade for quenching. Not a huge problem but one I am learning to deal with. The more time I spend with it the more I find I am "getting to know my forge."
 
Last edited:
I turned my blower forwards and the plow iron became hot, dented plow iron with a soot covered idiot cussing at it.

Still fun though. The great thing about starting with junk is if you mess it up it is just different shaped junk. Nothing lost but time and charcoal....
 
Here are my three most recent finds at estate and yard sales.
Yard Sale Finds 001.jpg
The large knife at the bottom is 23 1/2" oa. Paid $6 for it.
Yard Sale Finds 004.jpg
It was made by Village Blacksmith of Watertown, Wisconsin.
Yard Sale Finds 002.jpg
The Forgecraft Butcher is 11 1/2" oa. Paid $1 for it.
Yard Sale Finds 003.jpg
The Chicago Cutlery knife is 9 3/4" oa. Paid $.50 for it. Used one just like it for 30 years as my primary hunting knife with custom made sheath.

Howard
 
Nice finds Howard. All of our kitchen knives are old flea market/yard sale. Nothing like them. Also they make good "restoration" projects with old/new sheaths....Randy
 
Thanks Randy. I think the large knife at the bottom was manufactured to be what we called a corn knife there in the Piedmont. The point was rounded. It is great steel and will take a razor edge.

Howard
 
I love that Gerber. You made a nice score.

Also very impressed with the forge find. I have been looking for one myself for a while. I love sales!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top