Southeastern Fall Family Camping Hammer/Grind-in

Hi, name is Carl, haven't posted on this forum before. Now I've got friends over here and thought I throw in a comment or two about the family hammer-in at Trackrock last weekend.
We had a grand time, made some good friends, and burned some forge fodder.
All you that didn't make it.....we waited for you ....like pigs at the trough! Missed a special time.
I really enjoyed getting to meet and work with all you folks. Learned more than I thought (head's still cranking on ideas, makes it hard to sleep.
Yepper Chuck, that forge of yours kicks it out. Gonna have to start calling my right arm "Chihuahua" for a while (truly hairless).
Mark brought in an experience for all of us, never worked a charcoal (in this case coke) forge before. It can only get better. Now you just got to get Deb to post pics of her "first". Chek your Email.
Sandy taught us all a thing or two about leather and attitude, can't say thanks enough.
Jerry, Rick, Mike, Pat and all the rest, it was really good to meet and talk with you guys. (I can't be back up there for at least a week or so!)
I'm sure I'll be better prepared for the next one.
 
Here are a few pics of the hammer-in. This one is Carl(Crex) making some chainsaw chain damascus.

HillbillyChuck
 

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This one is Mark(Gouge) forging on his cool portable anvil with his homemade charcoal forge. I think the anvil went home with Crex on a trade.
 

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This one is me making a small blacksmith knife. Thanks Crex for the coaching and the supply of sewer rods.
 

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This is a pic of some of the group that was there. Seated guy in the foreground is Sandy Morrisey, a truly top notch sheathmaker, the two guys to the left I can't remember their names or who they were. The guy seated in the background is my dad(pff) behind some of his very nice knife collection. The woman on the left is Carls wife, sorry again I forgot your name, too. The woman on the right is my sister Trish.
 

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This is the good view at the campground. The anvil is a Haye-Budden that the owner of the campground just had settin' in a shed.
 

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This is Carl's chainsaw chain damascus cookin' in the forge. Thanks Carl for taking these pics and to Mark and Deb for setting this whole thing up.
 

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Wow, looks like you folks had some fine times!!!
Thanks for the pictures Chuck!!!
 
Thanks Chuck. Excellent job on comentaries. My wife's name is Karen and the other gentlemen in the pic with your dad were Jim (Hat)a visitor, and Frank (from the back) He's part of the family that owns and runs the Trackrock Campground. He was extremely accomodating, providing an extra anvil and forge and all sorts of other things. I got to talk with him later and he really wanted to learn to forge, but unexpected duties got in the way. I promised to hook-up with him later (maybe early next year) and teach him some of the basics. Good guy.
Framk and the rest of his family said they are really looking forward to hosting our next hammer-in. They also promised weather, good or bad....depending on the Good Lord's will, would also be there.

It WAS great fun wasn't it.

Where you at Gouge?
 
I also am wondering were Gouge is.Since he set this up I was wanting to hear from him....
Has anyone heard from him?
I guess I need to try calling him if I can find his number in my very organized:barf: paper work:confused: what a mess...Hey I make knives,I aint no book keeper:eek:
Bruce
 
Chuck,my friend---thanks for showing us those pictures! I copied them on my scanner and they will be posted in my shop! I thoroughly enjoyed every one there, especially your Dad, as we have both been on this old world for a long time and have a lot in common. I have not heard from Mark and Deb but I think they were going to vacation a bit before returning to Virginia. Carl and I have e-mailed back and forth a bit and hopefully I can convince him to spend some time with me in the shop. That man is so talented it is a treat to be around him. I feel fortunate to have made friends at the hammer/in and will be glad to see all of you again! Sandy
 
We got in later than we had originally planned. We ended up spending a couple of days with my Father and took the long way home stopping at all the lttle flea markets we could find.
Deb has now been bitten with the forging bug as much if not worse than me.
We both had a great time and really enjoyed getting to meet everyone.Thanks to Carl for the great demo and the excitement of seeing some chain-saw damascus being made.That was impressive to say the least.The campgrounds were very nice and the people that owned it were very nice to us and provided a very nice pavillion with electricity and even ceiling fans.They even broke out an anvil and forge for us to use as we wished.
Sorry for all those who could not make it.Hopefully next time
Oh and I finally got my TROUT!!!

Thanks for everything guys

Mark
 
I would like to thank Mark for bringing this together.And thanks to Carl,Karen,Chuck,Pat,Deb,Jerry,Mike,Sandy,Trackrock Campground,The campground was Beautiful!My son and I were impressed by all the talented artisans,And ya'll were nice people to boot!Jerry,It was a real pleasure talking to you,Now I'm really hooked on knifemaking!Sandy,You are a hell of a leather craftman,And a hell of a nice guy!Carl,Your show in tell minitures were awesome!Pat,Thanks for the mini knife show!I was fancinated by some of the history of your knives!Chuck & Mark,Keep hammering!I see some beautiful knives being made by both of you!Deb,The soup was killer!Mike,Thanks.If I forgot anybody,Thanks for the great time!Looking forward to the next one!Rick. :D
 
Oh yeah, my son is still raving about Deb's Brunswick Stew. We may need to get a recipe on that. That allowed on a knife forum? :)
 
Jerry!
We don't need no stinking recipe........We know the cook!
It was good though wasn't it! I think your boy also had a shine on them brownies (not alone in that).

Rick,
Sorry I didn't get you and a lot of the others digitized for infamy (might be the better thing, "by association" scars don't wear off easily). I got a little busy and a lot distracted, besides I'm no photographer.
I did mention a group pic at one time - scattered like the morning's first covey, they did! - Karen said they must of thought I said group hug or something. Anyway, enjoyed meeting you and your son, just can't figure why you guys are so hammer shy (must be a Jerry H. thing) hehe.

Mark - name list - post - please.

Later,
Carl Rx
 
Jerry---In the Brunswick stew recipe you should emphasize the fact that you stir it with a Hossom knife. That is what gave it that wonderful taste! Sandy
 
Hiya Sandy!

When I first read that last post I thought it said to stir the stew with a 'possum knife. I thought....what the heck is that?

I gotta get more sleep. :)

Was good to meet y'all, for sure. Next time I'll bring a differnet selection to show.


Regards,

Pat
 
Hi again Guys,

I also wanted to give a special thanks to Sandy for the hospitality to have a group of us come over to his fine home for the sheath making demos on two seperate occasions. I learned a great deal, especially that I will have Sandy make my sheaths.

P.S Deb wants to know who blabbed about the possum

Mark
 
To think I missed this last year, If you guys do it this year please count me in.
Gus
 
I'm sure trying real hard to be there this year. Gus told me I could sleep with one of his nanny goats:)
 
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