Metal Mashing Mayhem: The North Carolina Crew

North Carolina blacksmiths, Shelby Mihalevich, Bob Brandl, and Charlie Lionheart Ellis spent last week working with me in Knight Forge Studio. Though much shenanigans were about we  managed to get a lot of work done. Here is a little of both:

Video: Mad Times at Knight Forge Studio

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Metal Mashing Mayhem: Friday KNIGHT Open Forge - Full Moon Seax

There was a special Friday Knight Open Forge event at Knight Forge Studio on December 5th. Jimmy Howe catered an oyster roast serving up 4 bushels of oysters for about 35 guests. We also had delicious chili with a little Mediterranean flavor fusion provided by Cristina Juhasz. My wife made a rockin' oyster stew per special request by Billy Ridgell (missed you buddy) and Mary Blanchard made hot dogs for all the little ones. Guests came from as far as Maryland, the Asheville, North Carolina area, Edisto Beach, Charleston, St. Matthews, Summerville, Waggoner, and locals. We will be hosting another catered Friday Knight Open Forge event again soon. "Like" my FaceBook Page to keep up to date with what is going at Knight Forge Studio.

Metal Mashing Mayhem: Friday KNIGHT Open Forge - Leafing It

Tonight was the first Friday KNIGHT Open Forge. About 12 people showed up including my cousin Brooke and her husband. Cory Huff, a local farrier, also came out and demonstrated making a cobra out of a rasp. (A picture should be here but I was too involved to take any. I plan to designate someone to handle that task in the future.)

I plan on doing this every Friday night unless something unforeseen requires that I cancel. Once a month I will be doing a special demonstration to be determined each month.

This is my demonstration leaf.

This leaf was made by Seth, a guy I met at Earthfare.

Friday KNIGHT Open Forge
Every Friday Night at Knight Forge Studio
7:00-10:00

Every Friday night guests and I will be forging anything from leaves to animals to swords, almost anything we dream up in steel.  Whether a novice or master, collector or budding interest in metalworking this event is for you.

Sooke Mountain Chopper Demonstration

Sooke Mountain Chopper

This is not my typical blade shape but I will be making this size chopper in full tang with canvas micarta with brut de forge style. I will be making 9 more. Some will have a clip point but all will have the big belly like this one. The price is $475, $525 with a sheath. If you would like one place your order now and call me about delivery time. They will be numbered 1-10. 1 is already gone..

Blade: W-2
Taper: 8 1/2"
Thickness: 5/16"
Handle: Canvas Micarta

Knight Chin Bowie

This is a new knife that Taiwanese ABS Master Bladesmith Jimmy Chin and I recently made. This is the first collaboration piece that we have done together as well as the first knife Jimmy completed as a Mastersmith. Jimmy received his Mastersmith rating on May 29th. He is the first ABS Master Bladesmith not only in Taiwan but also in all of Asia.

Jimmy made the damascus. I forged, ground and heat-treated the blade. Jimmy polished and etched the blade. I made the guard and the handle. This is my version of a southwest bowie. This is the largest Damascus Bowie I have made.

This knife has already cut two people - twice.

Knife Stats

Blade Width: 2 1/4"

Blade Length: 13"

Handle Length: 5 1/2"

Overall Length: 18 1/2"

Jimmy Cloud Pattern Damascus: 15N20 and 1084

Handle: African Blackwood with silicon bronze guard

Price: $2000 - SOLD

Dark Knight Prototype No. 1

This prototype knife incorporates some design concepts I have been working on for the past couple of weeks and putting some variations of it into play. One of the concepts was to make a blade that has a non-reflective surface without a costly treatment that couldn't be repaired. What I came up with is illustrated in this knife. The other concept was to make a handle that had some texture with a little more grip and not use G-10 or Micarta. This handle is curly maple, which works well for this technique. Desert ironwood also works well. I started using this technique on sculptures about 15 years ago. I decided to try it on knife handles this year at the Blade Show using ironwood.

I didn't intend it, but you can see a very sinister face in the pattern on this blade.