Forging damascus

Back from the sheath maker. Murph did a heck of a job on it. I sent this to soldier Tom Nix's dad today, so he can send to him in Afghanistan.

I spent friday afternoon forging damascus. These are some pictures Kim took while she made one of her rare appearances at the shop. I will add more photos in future posts, all the way through the finished product.

The stack. This is either 1080/nickel, or 1080/15n20. I was working both at the same time. I stack the steels in an alternating sequence, bring to welding heat, and set the weld with a hammer and anvil.

I bring it back to welding heat, then on to the press, where I make sure everything is welded, and squared up.

I will show more in future posts. I finished these 2 billets today, and they turned out real good.

Another day on the ranch

We sent a load of heifers to the feed yard this morning, Sorting the culls out was the hardest part, most everything we have left would make pretty good cows. But when you don't have enough feed, there isn't much left to do.

Horses loaded, and away from the barn in the dark. It's not a real cow penning unless you ride your horse at least part of the way in the dark.

Getting ready to sort and load. Tom, the horse, is making a pretty good hand at this sorting thingy, Still a little timid up close, but he will get there.

My helper, he sure did want to rope something.

Bottle opener spurs

I built this set a long time ago, and ran into the picture looking for something else. A lady called me from Florida after I had long forgotten about them, said she had them and ordered some other things. I find it fascinating how the stuff I build gets to where it is.

We had 5.5 inches of rain saturday night, and I took the opportunity to burn a bunch of brush piles sunday and monday. Some of these piles are 9 months old, that is how long we have been without any significant rainfall. My fireman was bored, but we got a lot done.

Shipping

I helped a neighbor ship his cows yesterday. It was a damned sad event. All 2nd and 3rd calf cows, angus cross, a better set of cows won't be found any where. He has been out of grass all summer, and had finally run out of feed, he didn't have much choice. He is an older guy, and I hope he can start over when this drought breaks, but I got my doubts  that he will. He seemed in a good humor but I could see the wind had left his sails. Neighbors like him are hard to come by in this country any more.
My children where brought up horseback, and always involved in my ranching enterprises, and I can't imagine them having a town job, but if this thing doesn't break next spring we will have to reconfigure at the very least. Jessica raises goats, that might be the answer, Kyle and Joe are pretty good hands with young horses, maybe they can take a few out side ones. I bet we make it, It just might get a little lean for a while.
So goes the industry, if it wasn't this, it would be something else.

On a lighter note, the bit, spur, and knife business is booming. Christmas is just around the corner, place your order now, or you might not get it till April!

Knife show

I will be there. This will be my first show as an exhibitioner, ever. I have shied away from the typical gun and knife shows for several reasons, most of all cause I can't sit still behind a table for 2 or 3 days. Being in a building for any thing other than sleep for that long a time is unnatural for me. If you attend, have mercy, I'm just being me.
I have a great deal of respect for the Stewart Williamson's or the Harvey Hull's of my businesses, they hang in there, answer lots of questions, and generally seem like they are enjoying their selves, no way  I would I compete with all those traders. Sorry guys, just the way I am.

This set will be there. I finished this set a few days ago. Chad Nichols stainless damascus, iron wood, and mokum'e bolsters. The fork is 1 foot long. Any of you knife makers that are not making things for the ladies are missing out. They have all the money.

Various

Top; Porcupines and Jack Russell's don't mix.
Next, a picture Kim took off the back porch. This hawk stays around the house pretty close. I wish it would get the Jack Russell.

The chair is some of Kim's mosaic art work, then, a picture of a picture of Kyle, all dressed up and no place to go.

We started haying our cows today. We are out of grass any where we have water. Our Corriente herd is having to walk a long ways to get a drink, but thats what they are bred to do. The good cattle are just standing at the gate waiting on the feed truck. It's gonna be a long winter. It could be worse, I could be a dry land cotton farmer.

Big knife

I finished this one this morning.

8.5" blade, 13.75" overall length. Axis deer handle with 1018/15n20 damascus fittings.
The blade is 5160/8670/15n20 damascus. The contrast in the pattern is a little more subtle than some of the other commonly used steels, but on the right knife, I sure like it. Most damascus makers shy away from the 5160 because they say it is hard to weld. I have had no problems, just learned to give it a little more soak time before making the initial weld.
This knife will probably make it to the Big Spring custom knife show in Big Spring, Texas on October 29-30th. All custom knives, and lots of talented makers if any one is interested in attending.