OK, I'm ready for Nashville & the TN Classic. Got my 2pc Shrew CH, Winston 3pc fly rod, arrows, camping gear and 20 some odd knives all packed. Just have to finish up my regular 3 day work week before boarding my flight south.
Last minute additions---so I'm testing the waters on being an Associate Sponsor, knives look good but how do guys really know how they are built? Decided to forge up my Keeslar style hunter as I normally do with just my hammers and no grinding to show the basic form of forging before a grinding wheel comes into play. Forging shapes the knife & grinding refines it for me.
The progression from 1080 1" bar stock to an all forged form...hopefully to turn into something like the knife below. I don't think a lot of guys understand that the forge is what makes the knife for me. Hope this helps explain my style. That knife blank has not been ground to shape. The tang is long and tapered but I'll probably shorten, widen, and thin it after I decide if the knife is to be a skinner or thin caper. The blade is tapered to the tip and the edge is forge to about a quarters width. The next steps are to decide on final shape of blade & handle. The neat thing about forging is I can change this knife shape numerous ways. Just thought ya'll might like to see the starting point...Tippit