Working knife

It's that time of year in our country when folks are getting their wheat planted and plans are being made to buy calves to run on the grass. I get to build a few of these castrating knives about this time every year for those that buy calves and have to pre-condition them.

I use 52100 for the steel in these knives. It holds an edge very well, yet can be sharpened with a steel at the pens. I have watched my guys get as many as 100 head between sharpenings.
A three inch cutting edge, and four and a quarter inch handle.

I have an extra one, minus the sheath, if anyone is interested, or a sheath can be added with about a six week wait.

Tom Thumb

This bit is a good transition from a snaffle towards something with a little more control. 1018/nickel damascus with nickel silver letters. The mouth piece is mild steel. The buckles are out of the same billet.

I will mail a hand made knife to the first person that can tell me the guy's first name that ordered this bit.

Comment or E mail your answer please.

To my friends outside the continental U.S., I will only promise that I will do the best I can to get it to you.

No family please. Sorry mom.

WE HAVE A WINNER! Thanks James, it will be to you shortly.

Black leg shot

Kim Goldsmith  http://www.westernlifephotosonline.com/ was kind enough to send me these pictures. I was the shot man on this branding and "accidentally" gave Scott a black leg shot. He was kind enough not to beat the hell out of me.

Priceless!

Start of a mouth piece

First, I heat then beat down the ends of 5/8" round rod, then drill 3/8" holes.

Working down the mouth piece on a belt grinder. I wished I had a lathe and new how to use it.

Ready to drill pin holes.

I insert some stainless tubing in pin holes. Nothing is worse than a rusted together bit, and horses don't like the taste of WD 40.

 I lost a lot of pictures between the next steps, so I will try to describe it.

I use a hack saw to cut one ring, heat it, bend it around, put the other side on, bend back, and then weld.

I should finish this bit in the next couple of days. A damascus Tom Thumb style bit.

New pistol

I bought a new pistol yesterday, mainly for the high capacity magazine. Reloading in the bushes when shooting wild hogs is nerve racking to say the least. Hogs will kill you back and then eat you.

I carried the pistol with me this morning, thinking I would get a chance to try it out at cans at some point today, but spotted three hogs rooting up the edge of a hay meadow, and couldn't resist. First shot ever out of a new gun results in a kill, that doesn't happen very often.

Since it has started cooling off, the hogs have been moving. These destructive beasts cost farmers and ranchers a lot of money every year in lost crops and pastures.

Other gun stuff I've been sent;

I posted the next simply because I found it funny as hell.

Ranch Rodeo 3

Wild cow milking

Tom and Bubba

My team. I am so proud!

The all girl team getting it done.

Won buckles

I think this is the last of my won buckles for the year. I hope the kiddo's are happy with them. Good or bad, they can't win one like it anywhere else. The banquet is in October, and I am sure I will have pictures of the hard working young people that receive these.

These buckles are made out of drops from spurs I have made. Waste not, want not!

Bulls and broncs

Actually, calves and shetland ponies.
There was a big turn out of riders, both boys and girls. I'm glad there is still a lot of interest in rodeo.

Ranch rodeo pictures

A few that my daughter took Saturday night. I will post more in the next few weeks.

Here is her web site;  http://www.photojkc.com/-/photojkc/default.asp

Scott winning the magic carpet ride check

  

The buckle winners

Kenny winning the top hand award

The next three are Kyle and ole gray getting one caught

A big crowd and good weather, I'm glad I was a part of it.

Spurs and news

Finished spurs.

If nothing else, they are different.

News;
peta losing makes me very happy. I found this on the Drudge Report.

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/calif-judge-tosses-out-peta-lawsuit-against-california-happy-cows-ads

Not that this will slow them down, these people never quit. They will find another court, and some other hard working people or organization to attack. I would like to know what it cost  the California Milk Board to defend themselves against this absurdity. I would find some way to get it back.

Close to home

This is a few miles west of my house. It is a pretty neat place to take visitors, nobody believes there used to be a college stuck out here.

Sorry about the sideways picture, and not being able to straighten it up.

In the news;
 I think there will be wars fought over water in the future.
http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/ag-water-demand-putting-pressure-supply-17-62987

Protect your water rights, the government wants control over it. It is really the only tool they have to control some one like me.

On the bench

A customer asked if I could make a spur band that looked twisted. I told him I'd try.

I took some 3/8 round rod, heated it to red hot, then twisted it. I beat it out flat and started finishing. I sent him some pictures to make sure I was on the right track, and he was impressed enough to order another set.