Wrought Iron, the Tennesee Stud, etc.

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
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The other day, when I was working on the san mai dagger for Mark, I also welded some real slaggy wrought iron wagon wheel onto the spine of some W2. Just a butt-weld. I did it for kicks as I'd never done it before and was thinking I'd make some kind of Norse/Viking age knife since that is a traditional construction.

Here it is along side the dagger in progress.. the wrought/W2 is the one of the right obviously:

IMG_0468.jpg


But then I was driving home this weekend from a long trip and was listening to some Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The song was the 'Tennessee Stud'.. I don't know why my mind works the way it does, but that song got me to thinking about my wrought iron/W2 butt-weld billet.. and then I started thinking that maybe an Arkansas Toothpick might be a better idea... 'I never woulda made it through the Arkansas Mud if I hadn't been riding that Tennessee Stud'. So I came home and made one. At least my interpretation...

It's an 8" blade clay quenched with copper s-guard featuring 'battle scar' file work. I have to admit that I was inspired by Fisk's Relic Bowie for the battle scar idea. The wood is Claro walnut with peened, semi-domed copper rivets.

You can see how almost impossibly slaggy that wrought was.. with that big line running through it. But the weld came out perfect.

This is probably my favorite knife I've made so far. All of my other 'fighter-like objects' pale in comparison to how this one feels. The spine at the guard is just a hair under 3/16" and distal tapers to almost nothing at the tip. I should get a photo of that profile. The balance and hand-feel make me wanna fight.

wrought_toothpick.jpg


toothpick_detail.jpg


This one will be going to the classifieds sometime today if there is any interest.



And just for the heck of it.. here is a couple others that I've finished... both commissions....

A little hunter with redwood burl and 1084.. wrought iron bolsters with natural weathered texture left in tact.

redwood_hunter.jpg


And a deba paring knife made with my wrought/nickel/1080 combo. The ferrule is something new for me... copper sheet cold forged and wrapped and riveted through the spine.

deba.jpg
 
I really like the look of all 3 knives!
I agree with Mike about the second one. The shape looks really good and I like the combination of the materials you used.

By the way, nice photos too.
 
thanks folks... if I was going to make myself a little hunter, it would be that one right there.
 
Very nice, Scott. I've never tried welding any wrought to steel. Did normal welding temps work alright or did you have to go hotter than normal?
 
Thanks folks! Looks like the little hunter is stealing the show. I do like the lines.. and it's a heck of a cutter too. Flat ground almost completely to the edge.

I think I photograph my knives too soon for posting. I see something that is bothering me.. and it was pointed out to me on another forum. I was going for a bigger than normal handle.. because I wanted that feel of power of really being able to control the blade. But it does need a little shaving under the guard I suppose. Still.. this is one you have to see. I may have it with me at the Badger show whoever might be going....

Gary... you have to weld wrought hot, hot, hot. Yellow, almost white sparking hot. And good soaks. And then it just welds itself. Especially the slaggy wagon wheel stuff. I really like doing these spine butt-welds. A heck of a lot less work than laminates (although not so dramatic). And I might have fun with doing some composites with oppositely twisted wrought bars. I love this stuff.
 
ScottRoush said:
Gary... you have to weld wrought hot, hot, hot. Yellow, almost white sparking hot. And good soaks. And then it just welds itself. Especially the slaggy wagon wheel stuff. I really like doing these spine butt-welds. A heck of a lot less work than laminates (although not so dramatic). And I might have fun with doing some composites with oppositely twisted wrought bars. I love this stuff.
Click to expand...

:)It's always nice when a plan comes together! Good job! I have some wagon wheel iron but so far it has only been for handle fittings. With this kind of motivation, I may have to try some laminates. Thanks. :thumbup:
 
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