firestick
40 Cal
I made my first knife. I had made a caplock .45 out of random parts, a powderhorn from a cow's horn I got at a slaughter house, a leather bag to put it in and a few things to put into it all of which I still have. Everything was done by hand for being married with both of us going to college and 2 little boys I couldn't afford power tools or even a garage to work in. Hand saws, files... Well you get the idea. I made a few more knives heat treating them with an acetylene torch. I knew little about it all but they turned out decent and my friends who got me started on muzzleloader liked them too. As with many others life got in the way and knives were put on a FAR back burner. I have been thinking about finding something to do when l need use what little mind I have left and since I love knives l began thinking why not make a few just for fun. NO HAND work for the roughing out t his time. Basic power tools and benchtop stuff! Here is a pic of my 1st knife from 40 years ago (only one I kept) and a pic of the way one I just roughed out. Old Bowie is 13 3/4" with a blade of 8 5 /8". New started knife is 7 3 /16 made from a ferrier's rasp. Now to get a forge for heat treating it proper. Haven't had this much fun standing up for quite awhile.