Still more photos from Ashokan 2007

[Chris Meyer]

Here are some additional photos from Ashokan 2007.

Here is Master Smith Kevin Cashen sitting at his microscope just before his Metallurgy through the Microscope lecture.

Kevin’s traveling scope.

Ric Furrer gave a lecture and demo on Making Wootz and crucible steel. This is Ric.

Ric’s crucible and some other stuff.

Ric’s 15lb Wootz billet.

Some of Ric’s ingots.

One of Ric’s meteorite Damascus knives.

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[Chris Meyer]

Master Smith Don Fogg gave a presentation on Sharpening. Here is a photo of Don with one of his large, very sharp, knives.

Some of Don’s sharpening gear.

This is one of Don’s knives in progress, which he passed around during the lecture.

Don was followed by Howard Schechter, who gave a fascinating lecture on straight razor sharpening and sharpening stones for them.

Here is Howard with one of his razors.

And with one of his sharpening stones.

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[Chris Meyer]

Rick Barrett gave a demo on Folding and Welding Steel. Ric Furrer ended up assisting him as a striker. Here is Rick Barrett forging.

Rick pounding the steel with a sledge hammer.

Ric Furrer striking for Rick.

Next, Master Smith Burt Foster showed us how he clays and heat treats a blade to get those stunning hamons on his blades.

Burt with a blade all clayed and ready for heat treating.

Here’s the blade, fresh out of the quench. It’s not even etched, and you can already see the hamon.

After all the demos were finished on Saturday night, Journeyman Smith Mace Vitale took the time to show Zach Zembko (age 15) the proper way to forge a knife. Kudos to Mace!

Mace and Zach at the coal forge.

Zack forging.

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[Dan Pierson]

Good pics Chris!