Track Rock Spring 2015 - Sat pics

[bonafide]

Day two of the Track Rock 2015 Spring event .. Saturday.

Just giving an idea of the area we're spending the weekend. This is on the road toward the campground .. and we're looking towards the 'hollow' where the campground is located. I was told by the owner, Frank, they have 450 acres and it borders the National Forest land.

Looking back towards to area where the last photo was taken.

Did I mention the Barn in itself is a walk thru time? You could spend the entire day checking out stuff hanging/sitting all over the place.

Mr. Bradley and his table of art work. The man is a true master of Blade Smithing. He's a local from the area and has been making knives for 40 years.

These are 'spine file work' sample blocks from Mr. Bradley. The attention to detail is incredible.

More items from the Bradley Knives table

Lunch is served! Smoked Pork BBQ!

From the request of a close up on crex's miniatures cabinet ... no-go on opening it, but here's some close ups.

More of crex's knives/leather

Iron in the Hat table. Attendees donate something to the table. Raffle tickets are sold and the proceeds help fund the cost of event

Oh yeah .. homemade jelly?!? Get you some of that!

Not a bad view to spend your lunch break.

Allen and Me got some 'hammer time' by forging some 'Curly Qs' on a few of his upcoming WAS Knives blades.

Judy aka 40point Knives onlooking!

Judy aka 40point Knives swinging the hammer with some crex tutoring

So .. when I think 'Blacksmith' .. this dude is has The Look. The leather apron, The Beard of Power, the whole sha-bang!

This lady was doing metal sculpting. Very cool stuff that makes you go, 'wow!'

Allen went back at it .. this time forging a mini-nessmuk

This guy is Mark from Goatnhammer in Atlanta. He talks and dresses a bit funny, but man can this dude whale on an anvil with incredible precision.
http://www.goatnhammer.com/

[video=youtube;qr-1LKUaI90]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-1LKUaI90[/video]

We finished out the day with some Judy-made empanadas and store bought German Chocolate Brownies! Yeah, come on!
Cant wait for the Fall Track Rock 2015 event!

 

[Gusbuster]

I'm hungry!

 

[MajorD]

Looks like an outstanding weekend! Thanks again for the pics.

 

[Uncle_P]

Thanks for bringing this event to us Bud.

 

[Mistwalker]

Really cool posts Bud! I would like to make it to the autumn hammer in

 

[CAD]

Thanks for the awesome pictures !!!


Chris D.

 

[hasco]

Thanks again Bud! That looks so fun. Great job documenting the experience!!

 

[SA Condor]

Looks like such a great education and lots of fun!

 

[Tankerwolf]

Wow! This was a great event!

First off, Track Rock should change their directions page to say that if you are in an RV then follow these but if you are in a car then be prepared for rally racing inspired roads with views that almost make you swerve off the road. Probably one of the most fun roads I've been on since living in Germany.

Second, sometimes the words thank you just don't seem to portray the gratitude felt. The people here were some of the nicest people I have met in a long time. Crex, Andy, Allen, Tom, Donny you guys are awesome and thank you so much for everything. My wife was so happy that she made a knife I couldn't help but picture her looking like Tom Hanks in Castaway. "LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE CREATED!!!" They went straight in the oven to finish off when we got home. My son ended up coming home with deer antlers, a mini scimitar from Crex and some wood from Tom. I got a forging lesson from Donny and a handful of wood from Tom. I can't wait to make something nice with that wood. Just being able to put faces to names and talk with the people here was the best part.
I'll admit that I don't own a Fiddleback or a WAS knife but after talking with them and seeing the commitment to quality and the dedication they put in to making knives, I will have to remedy that situation. Both myself and my wife are full time students with no job to speak of so that may take a little time but all good things come in time.

Honestly I feel a bit guilty because I have that feeling that we took so much more than we could give. If there is anything you guys ever need don't hesitate to ask and I look forward to attending more of these events in the future. Take care.
Greg

 

[moogles]

It truely looks like it was a grand time. What I would give for one of those empanadas right now.. I don't even know what it is, but it looks delicious and it's fun saying empanada. Empanada

 

[catalystman80]

Thanks for the photos Bud, I'd love to go someday just to observe everyone's skills and stories.

 

[willic]

It sure looks like a BUNCH of fun!!!

 

[Fiddleback]

Man, this has got to be on par with Blade Show IMHO for a fun knife related weekend. The scenery, food, and comraderie are not able to be matched. Jan and Donnie are two of my fabvorite folks and I get to see them at these. I'm hoping to get them to come to some GA Guild meetings soon. The next two are in N. Ga (Scott Davidsons in May, and my new shop in aug) so maybe I can get a lot of the trackrock folks there. Tankerwolf, you and your wife should definitely come to the meetings.

 

[crex]

Great pics Bud! Thanks for posting and sharing your comments. Was really glad that all of you that made it up.......well.....made it up.
It's like I tell everyone, it's not how many show up but the quality of the experience. You see, I'm going to be there no matter what, and I always have a good time. My good friend Mark Williams and I were determined to keep this simple, fun and free when we started the event 14 years ago...yeah....this was #28. With the generous hospitality of the Alexanders Owners/Operators of Trackrock Campgrounds (Greg you had it right first time), we have been able to sustain our original concept. Only it has gotten a bit larger than we envisioned - not a bad thing, just a bit more taxing (read that - I seldom get to forge much at these events anymore).

Lot of learning going on which is always good:
Allan knows a bit more about O1's air hardening characteristics and gravity testing, but still studying on the technical issues of altering the geometrics of a ballpeen.
Miss Judy and Miss Jennifer did their very first forged blades - both ladies did very well - hope they will follow up with finished pics.
Lots of others got to try a little forging as well. All good.

Side notes on the pics:
Dennis Bradley is an excellent knifemaker, but grinds most of his blades (he does forge on occasion). Beautiful work.
I would have opened the Miniature Case if you'd asked, Bud. Just didn't know, maybe next time - Blade Show maybe.
Clayton Reese (local) did the BBQ, I think everybody got enough to eat.
Santa Claus at the forge is Scott Garrison - he teaches a lot of kids (he had a head full of hair until he dropped some tongs in front of his forge).
That's my other girlfriend, Ruth Simmons doing the copper smithing. She just keeps getting better and better.
Mark Hopper (tall Englishman in vest) is an accomplished smith and very close to getting his Mastersmith certification (English version - much more complex and demanding than ABS). He may talk a little funny, but he's easier to understand after tipping a few pints.
>>Little miffed that I didn't get at least one of those empanadas, maybe next time.<<

All said, a very lovely time with a lot of new, used and abused (couldn't leave you out Andy) friends.

 

[Mark Williams]

I'll see ya'll this Fall.

 

[crex]

Now that's the best news yet!
Good to hear Brother. Folks this is my long lost partner in the Trackrock HI Criminal Conspiracy. (More Mark's fault than mine that these ever got started)

Got your pm and contact info and will call when I get in range of a signal - in the woods again this week.


Oh yeah.....Fall event date is set for the last weekend in Sept (around the 25th I think).