Got some new stuff for sale over at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1221437-Stonehaven-Fighting-bowie.

Check it out.

Oh and follow me on instagram #stonehavenknifeworks.

Well i finally got(made) a grinder that's worth a crap.  I had originally started making a three wheel KMG clone-y thing but the tracking just sucked.  So i scraped that and finally after allota probing from James we came up with this.



I have to give a big thank you to James helm for this grinder.  Had it not been for his shop and overall patience with my stubbornness i probably wouldn't have this so James to you :cheerful:  Alright enough of that sentimental shite.





Thought it was a pretty cool idea to have a moveable platen,  Granted this design does not lend itself to be tilted, but with some minor tweaking it could be done.  However for my purposes i don't foresee any problem.  I just need to put a ceramic platen on and we're good to go.



And last but not least a big thank you for such a simple tracking idea Mr. Joe Calton.  It's the best tracking means I've seen on a two wheel setup, and its great Because it's so elegant in its simplicity..

1st All Day Knifemaking Class Extravaganza

Hosted at the shop of James Helm of Helm Enterprises.

It's going to be an all day affair as participants will forge their very own custom knives in one day.

For the beginner and experienced alike. 

Class will begin at 8 a.m. and run until 10 p.m.

Bring snacks - 1 meal and drinks will be provided 

Cost of the class :$200.00  (all forging materials will be provided)

Space is limited so please reserve your spot.

Payments will be due on 1-11-2014

Class will be held On February 1,2014

Your instructors for the class will be :

James Helm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjrAg8QD_Wo 

Tobin Nieto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aznSUPBorf0

Joshua Kaback

(Apprentice Smith)

Class registration for the spring is gonna begin soon,  so i wanted to be sure you could sign up easily.

https://www.swschool.org/community/sculpture

This may be a little late as well, this was the piece i donated to the kniferights.org auction this summer.

I give you the witch finger. 

41.75 OAL
blade - 1084V 15 "

Grip is ornyx horn with a steel spike on the end.  The display is a cedar block burned and polished with cow vertebrae for holders.

I can honestly say i do enjoy building forges.  However i usually run into the problem of using a shell form with metal that's to thin and consequently makes it difficult to weld onto.  These are the parts and project for the week - build a non weld forge.  I know there are other tutorials out there, but i wanted to try and make the forge with only home improvement type material.  As it stands i have parts for the shell, the burner is something that make take a bit of work, though i may only buy the burner flare from High temp tools. We shall see  but for now here is what i have so far.

First thing to do is burn the galvanized parts.


And here's one with a welded burner holder.  Just need to wool it up and coat it.

more to come.

Got a couple of them heat treated today.

Might be moving up the road soon so i was getting the shop in order.  It made me realize i have a lot of blades i need to get done.

Steel Heat Treatment: "Elements of Tempering, Normalizing, and Annealing...

Been a bit busy the past few weeks but i found this and it is a great wealth of information.  Bill your hammer is coming along :-)  An thank you so much for you no what.

Stonehaven Knifeworks and helm enterprises are proud to announce Helm Haven hammers for sale.  The StoneHaven portion (me) will focus on dog head and cutler hammers, while the Helm Enterprises. portion will have assorted blacksmiths hammers. 

The first batch of cutlers hammers are already gone.  The larger hammers, made of 4140, are just south of 3.5lbs and the smaller, which are 1045, are approximately 1.5 lbs.  All future hammers will be made of 4140.  Hammers will be made to order so please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery
The cutlers hammers are priced :
Large hammers between 3-5 lbs are $125
Smaller hammers under 3lbs -$95
Prices include shipping in the continental USA

This is my new personal hammer to replace one that was stolen.  Future cutler/doghead hammers will resemble this style.

The Helm Crosspein Hammer.

Blade_Forger.wmv www.taliesinpewter

After going through a bit of a depression after my favorite and custom tools(hammers/tongs) were stolen outta my truck got back to hammering a few out yesterday.

These are coming along quite nicely.  still need some finish work, but almost there.

Little preview of whats to come.

Hello Everybody,

            I hope this post finds everyone having a merry Christmas.  The time has come to make an announcement.  I will be offering two classes in simple knifemaking beginning January 23, 2013.  There will be two classes per week on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6 – 9 PM.  The classes will run for eight weeks with a small break the week of March 4 for spring break.

            Classes are $300 per person, at the end of which each person will walk out with a custom EDC(every day carry) knife of there own making. Classes will be limited to 8 students.

            The class itself will cover:

1. Understanding of different steels and there uses.

2.  Learning to forge in both charcoal and propane forges

3. Hammer control and simple tool usage

4. Ergonomic and aesthetic knife design

5.  Simple grinding and sharpening.

If I may, a little background on me.  I am self taught and make no claims of being a master, only that I am a competent blade smith.  I have been forging knives almost exclusively for the past ten years.  It is a driving passion, and this passion has led me to devour many books on the subject.  The book knowledge I receive I put to practical use by taking it outside and using it at the forge.  This class is designed around helping those who have no experience and also those who may be looking for a different way of bladesmithing. 

If you have any questions please post them in the comment section.

Thank you

Tobin Nieto

Payments can be made by

Check / M.O. or paypal. 

Sign-up begins 12/17/12 and ends 01/18/13

Last day to pay is 01/23/13

 Here are some pics from the last class.

It's always good to have satisfied customers.  Its also great to see people using the tools you make.  I received this email today :

Mr. Nieto,

 

My name is Chris Dillingham and I bought the above knife at the gun show on the 9th. I am in the Army and wanted to take it through some paces to see how it would perform. It is an excellent knife! I dug holes and pried wood apart also and the knife held its edge buetifully and still shaves hair. I have only two small issues: I wish it had a lanyard hole and the handle is a little to smooth, so keeping a grip on it gets difficult when chopping and changing the angle of the cut. Thank you for making an outstanding "UGLY" knife that holds up to what I put it through.

 

Thank you again,

 

Chris Dillingham

SFC, USA

Combat Medic

 

PS. Feel free to use comments and pictures in your blog

 

 

 

Barring a couple of minor aesthetics,( which i  welcome the feed back)im glad you like your new knife Chris.

And as G.K. Chesterton said," a thing worth doing is worth doing Badly". Which is why i make "ugly" knives.:-)

Had a great run at the gunshow.  We were having a raffle for my daughter to raise funds for her choir trip to new york, and we did raise some cash.  This is Art he is the gentle man who won the "beast".  The blade is forged 1084 10" long x 2 1/4" wide.  The tang is forged 51/4" into a re-purposed hickory hatchet handle.

Congratulations to Art and thanks to all who entered.

Have a table at the Gun show at the San antonio Expo center behind freeman coliseum.  Well be there tomorrow , DEC 9, until 4:00.

Come on down and take a look.  I'm also raffling a "beast" of a chopper at the show.

The WARTUSK is truly my first fray into the tactical sphere, and i have to say it's a great honor knowing some soldier will receive my knife. 

Over bulding a knife for added strength was something new for me.  Often times i'll try to make a knife as light as possible seeing as i have a fascination for 18th century cutlery( back then most EDC's were rather thin). 

For the specs:
Blade :  6"  (11 1/2"OAL)
Steel  :  1084 (differentially heat treated)
Handle : Micarta ( with flared brass tube)
Sheath : Kydex w/ teklock

Time permitting i might just make a few more of these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aznSUPBorf0&list=HL1347063211&feature=mh_lolz

sorry cant load the video here.  This is part one of a series on how i make a half tang scalper.