Grafton, all the iron came from the same horse drawn turning plow. All the butt hardware and the rivets were cut-offs. Haft is a piece of White Oak from cleaning the yard, there is a pile drying in the barn. Rawhide was some I done last winter, killed with a muzzle loader. I made the copper tacks from grounding wire.
Wade we don't even want to open that can of worms BUT I was there
Brad that's as good a compliment as I've had, thanks
Chapnelson, I've thought about that a long time and maybe that 'smith simply didn't know how to weld. I don't know but I've seen several pictures of medieval axes with rivets. Maybe easier to change out a broken blade, especially during the Bronze Age. A broken Bronze blade meant re-pouring it. I'm becoming more fascinated with that era, the overlap of the bronze and steel age.
... What I really enjoy about your work is the looseness and spontaneity in the hammer work. It shows really well. Some folks might call it crude,… but since there’s “continuity” through the whole package, it all ties together great! Sometime, I think I need to loosen up a bit myself. The continuity shows solidity or, “crystallization of concept“. We need to see more of that. It's so important. It all looks so sincere, well thought out, well intended and intentional. What I don’t like so much is, when a blade looks forged with hammer marks etc,… but the guard, fittings and handle are all shiny and polished. Those kind just don’t show the continuity like yours, and the overall package doesn’t tie together as well.
It’s loose, but in some ways extremely tight and that's a good thing.
My guess is that you either have some kind of formal training in the arts,… or you are just extremely talented,… and a natural.
Keep up the good work! Very refreshing…
There are a lot of people living in my head, some might be edumacated and talented. I'll ask.
Kydex wishes it will be rawhide when it grows up. When I'm bored I count the hooks and loops on velcro just to make sure they match. QUIET or I'll throw a boot sheath at you.
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