No, mine is bigger......

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Haven't done a really large knife for 4 years and been thinking about making one for a couple months now. I hand forged this blade Saturday. Before I got done with the forging I was already thinking, this is one big blade. Anyway the blade is 17 7/8" and its 5160. I was wanting to use stag for the handle but just couldn't find a piece that would work so I went with stab. zebra wood instead. There's an ironwood spacer right after the guard. Wrought iron was used for the fittings. I put a heavy piece of wrought iron on the butt as a counter balance. This knife is a little blade heavy but really not bad. Blade itself weights about 37ozs.

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Jumbo waiting for his butt cap to be made.

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An attempt of a self portrait. After a half dozen attempts this was the best shot.
 
So, is that your entry into the next cutting competition??? :eek:

Geez, Ray... I'd say just shy of becoming a scimitar!!!!! And you wonder why your arms ache these days! :D Get a power hammer!

Nice work! :thumbup:
 
Kevin Jones said:
That's impressive, what a Bowie.

You hammer entirely by hand?
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Kevin, Yes, this monster was forged by me with hand held hammers. I did get a press a couple years ago and had it less than 3 weeks but then the old man in this thread started a fire and burnt everything up. I got the press to save my hands and wrist. Here's a picture of this blade after forging sitting on the anvil that was used. The flat part, the face, is 16 1/2". The only thing to touch this blade when this picture was taken were hand held hammers.

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Raymond Richard said:
Kevin, Yes, this monster was forged by me with hand held hammers. I did get a press a couple years ago and had it less than 3 weeks but then the old man in this thread started a fire and burnt everything up. I got the press to save my hands and wrist. Here's a picture of this blade after forging sitting on the anvil that was used. The flat part, the face, is 16 1/2". The only thing to touch this blade when this picture was taken were hand held hammers.

PDRM0418.JPG
Click to expand...

It's good to hear that some are still doing it "Old School".
And impressive that you are able to product the quantity of beautiful knives you do in the historic way.
Bet the shoulders, elbows and wrist feel the effects many nights and mornings.
My hats off to you sir. :thumbup:
 
the possum said:
Yeeeeeeeehaw!!
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possum, Thought you would like this one.

Kevin, The hand forging is what I enjoy the most from being a bladesmith. Normally when I forge a blade I know the size but shape comes as I'm forging it and its usually a surprise. Once I have the blade finished I'll design the knife around the blade. Refer to shop drawings:

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I had sent this picture to Wayne Goddard since he really loves big knives. This was Wayne's reply after seeing this picture, you know its a big knife when you have to find an appliance box to trace the blade on.
 
Super Sick!!!
 
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