Hi yall. I'm the new guy so I thought I'd introduce myself with some of my skills. I am very much an amatuer knife maker, limited mainly by equipement. My forge is a cinder block on top of a steel plate with a hole and grate in the bottom and is fired by scrap hardwood. The metal and handles are made from scrap materials that most people through out, or leftovers from other projects. I lack a belt sander, but manage. The handle scales are usually made from old hardwood I get from shipping crates. I've been told its ash, but all I really know is it is hard to work with. I also have a small pile of rail road spikes I shape into knives and wrap in leather.

Dec 09 Blades

Bear Claw Hunter

BTW, I sell this stuff through http://thompsonblades.deviantart.com/

Thought I'd throw in a pic of my favorite knife so far. It was made for my cousin for Christmas, which is why its not in the other pic. He needed a good hunting knife. Hardwood (ash?) handles with copper tube rivets and treated with polyurethane for durability. I liked the way the stains looked on the blade, so I left them.