Chad's stuff

Surgery 2

2012-03-09T17:04:00.001-06:00

Kyle, holding his end

Brain surgery complete

Threading the needle and ready to close

Sewing it up

Tying it off

Doctors Steve, Joe, and Chad are available for all you surgical needs. Brain surgery to hemorrhoids, we can fix you up.
We also build rockets in our spare time.

New labor laws

2012-03-09T05:02:00.000-06:00

http://doublehphoto.blogspot.com/2012/03/dol-child-labor-law-revisions.html

Double H photo sums up what is going on with the new labor laws that the federal government is intent on pushing through no matter how bad an idea it is.
This, and the fact that they are also wanting to do away with the 4-H and FFA in favor of of some kind of nationalized system hasn't gotten much attention from our regular media sources. Most people have no idea how we live here in fly over country, where their food comes from, or how it is produced.
These rules will reach a lot further than the farm or ranch. The way I read them, your kid won't to be able to mow the neighbor's lawn for a few bucks.

I often wonder what will happen when I finally decide not to give up any more of my freedoms.

Where will America's Siberia be?

Shall I dress for warm or cold weather when I'm sent to the re-education camps?

Surgery 1

2012-03-08T19:55:00.000-06:00

Sometimes we have to doctor cattle, and what we have to do just can't be done in a conventional squeeze chute. This one required a little surgery on his belly.

Two for one

Caught, and ready for the heal trap

Heal trap set

Stretching him out

John, holding his end

The doctors have arrived. I am the anesthesiologist on the right.

The actual surgery will be on the next post. Kim Goldsmith was our photographer, and was pretty brave to be around all this with a camera blocking her view.

Scrap damascus buckle

2012-03-04T18:14:00.000-06:00

I save all my cut-offs from other things I make, pitch them in a coffee can, then every once in a while I weld them all together, and make something out of the scrap.
I weld these all together using what is called a canister weld. Basically what I do is cut a length of 10 gauge square tubing, weld an end on, stuff it with scrap, fill the voids with steel powder, weld the other end shut, then heat it to welding temperature in my forge and hammer it out flat.

This buckle was made in this fashion.

It's amazing how lighting makes the buckle change. One was taken outside, one inside.

More cow working pictures from Kim Goldsmith.

Kyle and I working the alley. I'm the distinguished older gentleman... or the grouchy old fart, depending on which one of us you ask.

John cutting one out.

Joe, working the chute.

Damascus buckle

2012-03-01T19:15:00.000-06:00

I've been pretty busy the last week or two on our cattle, but I did manage to get these buckles done while I was waiting on daylight. The damascus is a mix of 203E, 4130, 1018, and nickel. I have never tried a mix like this and had no idea how it would contrast. Carson and his wife will get a truly "one of a kind".

Kim Goldsmith has been around the pens and pasture taking pictures, and was kind enough to share some with us. I intend to show a few every post for a while. She is pretty handy with a camera.

Hannah feeding Tom a cube. She has a friend for life.

Another world problem solved!

Yours truly.

The crew. John, Joe, Steve, Kyle, and Chad

Penning

2012-02-29T03:25:00.000-06:00

We have been re- vaccinating the last few days.

It is amazing how many pictures I take that either don't come out right, or didn't capture what I thought I was looking at. I've also missed lots of good shots just because I was busy. I'm certain that letting cattle get by me because I've got a camera stuck to my face would be a flog-able offense.

Kim Goldsmith and her camera have been tagging along lately. I will show some of hers when I get a chance to sort through them. She has some great pictures, and from a different angle than mine.

EDC's

2012-02-25T19:06:00.000-06:00

EDC, every day carry.
I got these back from the sheath maker thursday, and delivered friday afternoon.

All 4 knives are 5160/8670/15n20 damascus. The little knife on top has amboyna wood for a handle. The others have mesquite, with a stainless steel bolster.

I have all my wood stabilized. This process keeps the wood from shrinking and swelling, rotting, and works and polishes up a lot better. http://www.stabilizedwood.com/wssi.shtml does all of my wood.
I cut up a little at a time, as I find pretty wood, then send them a box full at a time.

Beautiful Wednesday

2012-02-22T18:50:00.000-06:00

Random pictures from today. Mid 70's and horseback is hard to beat.

Headed to the sick pen

Kyle

My seat

A bit I made and never got around to putting silver on

A fly in February! Told ya it was a nice day.

Finished bottle openers

2012-02-19T18:57:00.000-06:00

I took a lot of pictures of these, and trashed all but a few.
These are my favorite style spur, followed closely by gal leg spurs.
This style was made popular by Joe Bianchi of Victoria, Texas, and Alfred Smith of Houston in the early 1900's. They are thin and light, for wading around in the east Texas mud, as apposed to the wide heavy spurs of west Texas.

These bottle opener spurs are hand forged from 1018 steel and pure nickel. They have a 3/8" band, and an 1 3/4" shank, with an 1 1/2", 12 point rowel. The buttons are old solid silver quarters with a copper brand. The rowel pin caps are nickel silver.

Further along

2012-02-18T17:46:00.000-06:00

I got quite a bit further on my ladies size bottle openers the last two days. These spurs are made of 1018/nickel damascus, have a 3/8" heel band, and an 1 3/4" shank. The rowels are 12 point, 1 1/2".

To make the bottle opener part of the spur, I make a saw cut 1/8" from the edge, then heat it and drive a chisel into the cut.
It won't be long now and she will have a one of a kind set of spurs. I don't know of any damascus bottle openers in existence.

Starting spurs

2012-02-16T19:45:00.000-06:00

Maybe this post will help out a friend from Marathon, Texas who is trying to figure out how I make my 1 piece spurs. There are lots of ways to build spurs, and more than one way to build 1 piece spurs. My way is geared around damascus steel, but works using 3/8 or 1/2 inch thick plate.

The pattern

Drawn out, and starting the cuts

Roughed out

Cleaned up and ready to make a spur shape

These are ladies size, and therefore a little smaller than a mans. I split these 3 7/8 inches. The hangers are centered 5/8 of an inch off the end.

I heated at the split with a rosebud tip on my torch, then opened it up using the 3 tools on the vice. They are a 1" chisel, a 1/2" rod, then an 1 3/8" rod.
The reason I use the vice and the rosebud is I have had damascus pull apart at the V. This seems to lessen the chance of this happening. On normal steel it's not a problem, and a forge and anvil can be used.
I hope this helps.

Fun at the feeder

2012-02-13T18:48:00.000-06:00

Spring time. When a young man's mind turns to the fairer sex.

This is our front yard. Turkeys usually aren't to interesting until this time of year, then they get to be a lot of fun to watch.

2012-02-12T19:06:00.002-06:00

I managed to get some knives finished between cow duties this weekend. These where made using 52100 steel, and micarta on the handles. They have a 2.75" cutting edge, and are around 7" overall length. The bone colored handle was ordered, but since I can make 4 as easy as I can make 1, I will have the sheaths made and put them up for sale.

These are handy little knives to carry every day.

Random pictures from the week

2012-02-10T19:26:00.000-06:00

I managed to stay horseback most of the week. Pretty good work if you can get it.

Headed home

Find the bunny

John

This is an older castrating knife made of A2 tool steel. It did 100 calves wednesday and can do 100 more before it will need sharpening. Sorry, just had to brag a little bit.

I'm sure glad there are some young guys on the crew. These two are the best there are to work with, and they didn't seem to mind picking up the slack when I started getting tired late in the evening.

Doctorin'

2012-02-09T03:57:00.002-06:00

I've spent the last few days helping out on our wheat pasture.

The gray mare is my way around now. She's a cadillac, plus she's short and easy for an old man to get on and off of.

Oklahoma spurs

2012-02-06T18:56:00.000-06:00

Jerald Nickels, a custom folding knife builder from Perkins, Oklahoma, spent a few days at the shop last week. He brought a big piece of damascus steel that he had gotten from Alabama damascus (http://www.alabamadamascussteel.com/servlet/StoreFront ) that we managed to forge into a set of spurs.

Jerald

Starting the profile

Drilling holes

Rowels made

Out of the etch

Finished spurs

This was a very enjoyable project, along with some very enjoyable company. I kept getting caught up in what we were doing, and forgetting to take pictures.
I wished I could do this kind of thing more, as well as travel to other shops. I learned a lot just sitting and talking. It has always amazed me how free every one in the knife, bit, and spur world are with their information and techniques.

Ryan's knife finished

2012-02-05T18:24:00.000-06:00

Epoxying.

I use Gorilla Glue on my full tang knives.

Finishing the handle.

The finished knife.

All we like now is a sheath.

I finished this one today also.

This one has a little longer handle than I normally put on this style, 3.5 inches.

The re-grand opening went well. I didn't have to pull my pocket knife but once to keep people away from my cupcakes.

Re-grand opening

2012-02-03T17:26:00.001-06:00

My daughter, Jessica, is having her re-grand opening tomorrow from 12 till 5. She has a lot of neat stuff and is always looking for new artists. http://www.jsartandsoul.com/ I'm in charge of the cupcakes tomorrow, if you can make it, be sure to stop at my table.

Back to Ryan's knife. I got the holes drilled, and heat treating done.

The bolsters and stabilized mesquite wood roughed out. Now all I need to do is finish.

The heat treating on this particular steel went something like this;

Normalizing; Into an oven and heated to 1525 degrees, taken out and air cooled, back in to 1450 degrees, and air cooled, back in to around 1300 and cooled.

Hardening; Into the oven and heated to 1475 degrees, then dunked in quench oil.

Tempering; Into the oven at 350 degrees for two hours, twice.

Ryan's knife 2

2012-01-30T19:00:00.000-06:00

This is actually the third restack and draw. Drawing out simply means I am taking a short fat hunk of steel, and making a long skinny one out of it. This billet has been folded until it is a little over 150 layers of steel and nickel. It should make a real pretty knife.

Handle welded, and ready for the forge.

Welding up, and drawing out.

Squaring up and getting the width close.

The drawn out billet. It is now ready to start making a knife.

Band saw cut blanks.

Sizing the blanks. I want these 1/8" thick, and the surface grinder attachment on my ttp://www.twuertz.com/Home_Page.php grinder does the trick, best tool I've invested in in a long time.

The finished blanks. I had enough of the billet to do two. Waste not want not.
Next I will drill holes for handle pins, and big holes to lighten the handle. Grind the bevels into the blade, then heat treat.
More in a day or two.

Ryan's knife

2012-01-28T18:11:00.000-06:00

The start.

This is a stack of 1/8" 1095 steel and .010" pure nickel. I will weld the ends together, then a handle on.

Into the forge and up to welding temperature.

The forge was made by Riverside Machine, of DeQueen Arkansas. Uncle Al makes some real nice tools. I would recommend his forge and forging presses to anyone.

Drawing out the billet.

I will draw out this billet until it is around a foot long, cut it into 3 pieces, restack, reweld, redraw, then do it all over again until I have the steel and nickel mixed up enough to hopefully make a good looking knife.

I intend to take as many pictures as possible all the way through the finished product, as Ryan follows the blog and might want to change something as it goes along. You can check out his blog http://raranch.blogspot.com/ He is real handy with a camera, as well as mules!

Attention Roper;
Here are some real good things to read through until you can come spend some time in the shop.
http://www.knifedogs.com/
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/789-Knife-Maker-s-Discussion-Forums
I learned a lot through these 2 forums, as well as others. One can pick up a lot about the art of knife making through things like these before he ever picks up a tool. I wished I had found them before I started, I wouldn't have wasted near as much time trying to teach myself.

2012-01-25T18:49:00.000-06:00

I got these finished yesterday. The look we were going for was something in the old McChesney style spurs. I guess I accomplished it. These are one piece spurs with nickel silver mountings. The originals where hammered out of old car axles I think. I didn't use an axle, but I used the same type steel, 4140. It is some tough stuff, but sure polishes out nice.

I got these back from Armoralleather. He did his usual top notch job on the sheaths.

5160/8670/15n20 damascus, plain leather left handed sheath.

These two are ball bearing and 1095 damascus. the sheaths have a snake skin inlay. The little one has a pocket clip on the back side. Nice if you don't wear a belt, or want to keep it near the top of your purse.

We got 3.5" of rain at Cottonwood, and 2.5" at my shop last night. I saw one tank run around the spillway for the first time in three years. Maybe this is leading to a better summer than we had last year. This country has a lot of healing to do before things get back to normal.

Knife price

2012-01-22T19:28:00.000-06:00

Rick from Stephenville trailers asked for a price on a simple every day carry knife. These are about as simple as you can get, and cost 165.00$ with a leather sheath. I make these using W1, 5160, or 52100 steel. These knives have a 3" cutting edge, and a 4" micarta handle. These lengths can be changed to fit the customers needs and preferences.
I have a lot of these out there. They are easy to carry, don't get in the way while you are working, hold an edge well, and are easy to sharpen in the field.

I usually try to have some of these on hand, but Christmas wiped me out. I am still trying to catch up and get some things built to keep posted on the blog for sale. I guess being busy is a good problem to have.

Makers Mark

2012-01-20T17:23:00.001-06:00

I've had a call or two lately asking how to identify my spurs. Here it is, I stamp the inside of the bands before I finish bending them into a spur shape.

The cent mark goes on everything I build. The 1 pc is signifying that it is a one piece spur. The 113 is how many I have done since I started numbering them.

Here are some pictures I took yesterday around the ranch.

Drawing Medicine

Kyle and Steve are about to doctor a sick one. I learned a lesson on this one. I was so busy taking pictures that I didn't rope, and had to lope down there and be the ground crew. It won't happen again.

These calves have been through a sale barn, loaded on a truck, and shipped half way across the country to a vastly different climate. some of them are bound to get sick. The "doctorin"is done by healing the calf, and giving him a shot of what we think will cure him. In these two pictures, they have cut out the sick one from the bunch, and are attempting to walk up and catch him with out much fuss. The less they run, the less stress, and the faster they get better and start making money.

Mokume buckles

2012-01-17T18:24:00.000-06:00

Mokume is made much like damascus, you take two or three different metals, weld them together using the right amount of heat, and draw it out till you get the layer count and or pattern you want.

This mokume is made from nickel silver, copper, and brass. I buy this in sheets from Chad Nichols of Blue Springs, Mississippi. The initials are sterling silver.

I make my hangers using 3/16" stainless steel tubing, and 1/8" stainless rod. This way seems to make the buckle fit your belly a little better, and it will fit any thickness belt you want to use to hold your pants up.

Graveyard

2012-01-15T19:24:00.000-06:00

Kim and I had to attend a wedding reception yesterday a couple of hours northeast of here. On the way home, we stopped at an old cemetery north of Breckenridge to stretch our legs and found some interesting stuff.

The tombs were the first two graves in the cemetery according to the sign, both infants. Times must have been tough, there are lots of children in all the old graveyards I've visited.

These dates may not seem old compared to some places, but keep in mind, the Comanche and Kiowa indians hadn't been defeated very long, and were still making a few raids from the reservations in Oklahoma.

This was the South Prairie cemetery, probably in Stephens county, but maybe Young county, Texas.

Receiving cattle

2012-01-13T18:25:00.000-06:00

Here are three little knives I finished this morning while waiting on daylight. 5160/8670/15n20 damascus. Amboyna, spalted oak, and ironwood handles.

We started getting in some calves today to put out on some wheat pastures. These calves are weighing 450 pounds and are fresh off their mama's. we run them through the chute, vaccinate, and brand them, then turn them out on the grass in a few days, hopefully to gain a lot of weight and make a few bucks.
These little darlings came out of Mississippi, were in surprisingly good shape, and bawled for their mama's very little today. We will get these straight and out of the lot pretty quick.

The cattle, just off the truck

Getting started

The tub, a simple way to describe a cow funnel.

Bringing the cattle to the tub was my job today, when I wasn't busy taking pictures.

Branding, vaccinating, and dehorning. This is run kind if like an assembly line. If nothing breaks, we can run 100 head an hour through the chute pretty easy.

Kitchen knife

2012-01-11T16:56:00.000-06:00

This is stainless damascus, with a stabilized, purple dyed maple handle.
The lady that will receive this one cut her finger pretty bad when she was looking at the one Kim uses in her kitchen. I think we will put some band-aids in the box with it. I flat grind these knives to almost 0 thickness at the cutting edge, and they get scary sharp.

I took this picture yesterday while burning brush piles. I kinda used it to see what all the adjustment features would do on my new camera. It's different anyway.

Knives and cattle

2012-01-09T19:27:00.000-06:00

Some knives I finished yesterday. Three are one owner, mesquite/stainless handle, 5160/8670/15n20 damascus steel blade. The fourth is a left over piece from the billet with black locust burl on the handle. I will put it up for sale.

These have a 2 1/2" cutting edge, and a 3 1/2" handle. Just right for an every day carry.

Random stuff from around the ranch.

Two feet

Branding

The cut

Spurs, and a castrating knife I made

More dragging

2012-01-06T19:03:00.000-06:00

We pulled some more calves off cows in a different pasture yesterday, and again, had 2 that were not big enough to go. The objective of catching these calves is to give them their calf hood shots. We are also all riding young horses, and it gives them a little exposer to things before next spring, when hopefully it will have rained, and we will be busy with lots of cattle.

As you will notice, the camera man made no attempt to aid in the vaccinations in any way. Poor ole Joe had to dismount and grab the shots, all the while, plotting the demise of an innocent camera.

Dragging calves

2012-01-04T19:56:00.000-06:00

I made this for Col. Glenn Moore several years ago when he made Lt. Col. It arrived back home after a tour in Iraq. I'm just glad both him and the knife made it back. Col. Moore has sacrificed a lot so we can sit in our heated houses and blog any thing we want.

While we are showing old stuff, this is a bit I made for Kyle 4 or 5 years ago. I can't believe it has lasted.

Joe was about to get mauled in this pic.

I had to throw down the camera and save him.

I think they are both sick of my camera.

Not much room in these old pens.

We pulled some big calves tuesday, and had 2 that were too small to get on the truck. we went ahead and worked them before we sent them out with their mamas.

Old places

2012-01-02T18:13:00.000-06:00

Old head gate

Old chimney

There are a lot of these old homesteads scattered around our part of the world. This one is not far behind my house, and I go dig around in the area once in a while. Most of these people were farmers and stockman that droughted out back in the 1950's, and had to move to town and get J.O.B.s. I hope some body isn't digging around my place in 60 years, then blogging about it. Most of this country is still in desperate need of some good soaking rains, and some tank water. Another year of this and there will be a lot more of us in town.

Low mileage, used horses for sale.

File knives

2011-12-31T19:01:00.000-06:00

Well, rasps actually. These two were made for my horse shoer, who saves all his worn out rasps for me.

Rasps are a little tricky to make knives out of sometimes. The steel they use seems to vary a little bit, some will be good high carbon steel, and some will be case hardened, and not suitable for a knife. and it is hard to tell the difference sometimes until you have already done a lot of work. I have kinda figured it out by brands, but even then you can get a dud.
These turned out good, and will serve him well for a long time.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

the veiw

2011-12-29T18:55:00.000-06:00

If your not the lead dog, the view never changes.

The boot knife is Kyle's Christmas/birthday present. I feel sure that if we lived any where else, we would all be in prison. Me for aiding and abetting, Kyle on an illegal weapons charge, Kim for assault, and Jessica for trying to sneak us all a file. Joe would get arrested on the way to visitors day because his turn signal didn't work.

WPRA spurs

2011-12-27T19:05:00.000-06:00

These will be given to the rookie of the year barrel racer at the Texas circuit finals in a couple of weeks.

These are nickel damascus, 3/4 inch band, 1 1/4 inch shank, and a 1 inch, six point damascus rowel. The conchos are made from old solid silver quarters with a sterling date.

Got to play with my camera a little more today. Me, an expensive camera, and a 4 year old horse that hasn't been ridden in a month could have been a dangerous thing, but we made it without a wreck.

Tom

Curiosity killed the calf.

Corriente cows

New camera

2011-12-25T17:54:00.000-06:00

But first the important stuff. My niece won the big buck of the family this year. She went out by her self, sat patiently, and was rewarded with this

A 12 point is hard to beat any year.

I received a new camera for Christmas. I think Kim is tired of me bugging her for her camera. She probably thinks I'm going to drop it or something.
I got a Nikon 1, if that means anything to anyone. So far it seems simple, takes a good picture, and they are easy to download. I still need to learn a lot about editing, but I will get there if my patience allows.
These are some I took today trying to figure things out.

They are better than my cell phone any way. I will finish these spurs in a day or two, and post the finished product.
Helpful hints on editing, resizing, etc would be appreciated.

Knives with sheaths

2011-12-23T18:50:00.000-06:00

http://www.armoralleather.com/ did their usual fantastic job on the sheaths for these knives.

I love the look on these inlays. They are classy enough to wear any where, and tough enough to wear everywhere. Alligator, lizard, and snake.

I have one more delivery to make tomorrow, and Christmas is officially over at the factory (thats the way it has felt lately). I might even take Christmas day off and go ride my horse or something. I'm sure he is feeling a little neglected lately.

new spurs

2011-12-20T19:09:00.000-06:00

These are going to a young lady that just married into the ranch. We can't have her riding around on that feed store stuff. They are one piece spurs, 3/4 inch band, and an 1 1/4 inch, 8 point rowel.

I got this one back from armoralleather and delivered it to the new owner today. It will mark and cut a lot of calves, and skin a lot of deer. An easy life it won't lead.

Stocking stuffers

2011-12-17T16:17:00.000-06:00

I try to make up a few things for relatives and friends that pass through at Christmas. If they stay to long they don't get any thing next year.

These are made from Mexican coins. I knock the middle out, draw a letter or shape on, cut it out with a jewelers saw, and knock it back in. Pretty simple and pretty popular.
A college student that helps on the ranch during the summers still has family in Mexico, and he saves his change when he goes visiting.
I have a lot finished and out the door, some knives on the way back from the sheath maker, and 2 sets of spurs to finish. I wished I could show most of it, but I'm scared I will spoil a surprise. I don't think the recipient would mind, but the mamas that ordered some of this stuff can get pretty mean. I guess it will make good blogging after Christmas.

Buckle

2011-12-13T18:17:00.000-06:00

The last minute shoppers have been calling. I attempt to take care of my regulars, and one of them sent me this picture wanting his brand on two like it for his sons. I built this buckle a couple of years ago for one of his buddies.

In all fairness we discussed this project back in September while we were on a big cow penning, and agreed to touch base later, but we both forgot till his wife wanted to know when she could wrap the buckles. I will get them done, but I might have to play santy claws at their house.

finished 1 piece bit

2011-12-10T18:19:00.000-06:00

I finished the 1 piece bit yesterday.

I learned a lot on this one, and glad I built it. It gives me a lot of ideas for using larger diameter steel and will probably build one out of damascus in the near future.
Starting out simple saves a lot of time in the long run, I now know some things not to do, and some things I should have done. When I need to do a fancy one, I've got a little less chance of adding to my scrap pile.

1 piece bit

2011-12-08T17:46:00.000-06:00

I have been wanting to try one of these for quite a while. It hasn't taken me as long as I thought it would. This is my first one piece bit, I know no one that has made one, but have a neighbor thats father made one when he was a kid, and he says I'm going about it like he did.

The start. I bent the low port mouth piece into a 2ft. long 1/2in. rod. Then split the bar down the middle until it will make a 5 1/4 in. wide mouth piece.

I then split the 4 ends to make my rings, and hammered them to a 90 degree angle. The hardest part of this is keeping things anywhere close to square. there is lots of things pointed in lots of different directions, and they are all hot.

Hammering the rings in. I wished I could have gotten some hot and hammering photos, but I only have 2 hands.
I like this old time looking stuff, and spend a lot of time looking for it on the rare times I venture away from the ranch. Building one of these makes me appreciate what the old timers went through before "lectricty".

Snow

2011-12-05T18:34:00.000-06:00

I got a late start this morning. It snowed last night, and the electricity was out, so I missed my 4 am to 7 am shift in the shop. Feeding took a while. Everything slows down with just a little bit of inclement weather. I don't think I could survive any further north.
Things did go well this afternoon, and I managed to finish these.

I took these pictures this morning while feeding.

I'm already ready for summer time again, I can deal with 100 degrees alot better than I can 10.

Action shot

2011-12-04T17:09:00.000-06:00

A set of my spurs in action. I think this was taken in Reno this year. They are a pretty good excuse to follow the finals.

I finished these several days ago, but the weather has not been right for picture taking. We finally took the best of all the bad ones, and posted these two. I hope they win lots of barrel races.
These have a 3/4" band, and an 1 1/4" shank. One inch rowel.

I am whittling on Christmas. I got a set of spurs that was silver-less in a previous post to the new owner's husband last week, these are gone, and I got silver stuck on a set today, they just need polishing and
engraving. I still have a lot to do, and the clock is ticking. Can't believe I quit at 3:30 today.

Cell phones

2011-12-02T17:54:00.000-06:00

I didn't want one for a long time, but was finally talked into it. I got a bag phone because I was in and out of several vehicles every day, and didn't want the permanent kind. They were the only choices. It didn't work most places I went, and the wrong people had my number the rare times it did. Service started improving, and once, when I got my pick-up stuck in the mud I was able to call some one to come get me and started liking it a little bit.
The bag phone went out, and I was informed that they where no longer available, and that I would have to make do with the little hand held kind. These were not as powerful as the bag phone, so I was back without service most of the time, and when I did, the wrong people called. Service improved, and once, while checking yearlings, I discovered fence down and the yearlings gone. I was able to call the calvary, get them back home and not be too late for supper. I started liking it a little more.
The little hand held went out, and I was told that I was going to be using An Iphone. Now I read the paper, check cattle futures, and play a mean game of solitaire, all on the phone. When yearlings are out or sick I don't call the calvary now, I text message them.
Shipping cattle this summer, we all made sure we had each others phone number so we could call if we struck cattle or needed help. It just didn't seem right watching some of the best cowboys in this country pushing cattle with a phone stuck to their ear.

I even took this picture with my phone, then emailed it to myself.
Ya'll call me some time.

Finishing

2011-11-29T19:23:00.000-06:00

I have gotten a lot done the last day or two. I start out finishing on my spurs with a 40 grit belt, then get progressively finer, to a minimum of 400 grit. I will run some on to 800 grit if they are wall hangers. One thing I've learned is belts are cheap. Keeping a sharp belt cuts my time in half and does a lot better job. I'm kinda in production mode until Christmas, and use every time saver I can find.

Cutting the rowel slot. I cut it close with the band saw, then clean it up on the belt grinder.
I'm missing some minor steps in all of this, sometimes because I get busy and forget to take pictures, and sometimes because it's boring. Maybe I should hire a biographer, at least he could document the cuss words that it takes to make a set of spurs.

This set is almost ready for silver.

I road to the sale barn this morning with a neighbor. Lots of rough, thin cattle. You could tell that the hard to catch ones are finally getting caught. Lots of cattle that have never been out of the brush, much less in a pen and took care of. Every body is out of grass and water, and hay is to expensive. So goes a drought. Look out, it's going to last another summer, and there will be lots of broke cowboys by next fall.

splitting heel bands

2011-11-27T18:20:00.000-06:00

These two sets are 1018/nickel damascus. I forged, cleaned up, and sized the billets, and band saw cut to fairly close to final shape. I leave the bottom part of the shank uncut to give me a little more friction in the vice and give me something to grind off after I beat it into the spur shape.

Both of these spurs are ladies size, and this is my ladies size jig.

Heating to bend my bands. I like to use a rosebud tip and oxygen/acetylene on the damascus spurs, I can concentrate my heat where I want it, and I seem to get a lot less failures in my damascus. There is nothing worse than getting this far, only to have the spur pull apart at the welds.

Two sets roughed out. Now on to finishing.

Things

2011-11-25T18:41:00.000-06:00

The bottom is a key chain knife. I've made 2 of them. Kim confiscated the first.

Rasp spurs. Ropers seem to like this style, 7/8" heel band, 1 1/2" shank, with an 1 1/4" rowel.

I am back on spurs for a while. I have 4 sets to do before Christmas. I'm afraid to show to much of them, I really don't know who reads the blog on a regular basis, and would hate to spoil a surprise. Maybe some works in progress, and pictures before I stick the silver.

Turkey

2011-11-23T18:15:00.000-06:00

After several days of shirking duties around the ranch, making excuses about why he hadn't got one yet, and keeping left-overs at my house to a minimum, the greatest hunter in the world emerged from the bushes with a turkey for Thanksgiving.

I thought for a while that I would be eating mashed potatoes with no gravy, but he came through at the last minute.

Retirement buckles

2011-11-20T17:28:00.000-06:00

This buckle is going out as a retirement gift. 1018 /nickel damascus, sterling letters.

It's funny how things are ordered or sold. I built a friend a buckle like this one a couple of years ago, and some one that owns an electronics store saw it and ordered one just like it.

Word of mouth has always been my best advertising. The web site has always been just a place that some one that already knows about me goes to get my phone number. It is also hard to get updated, thus the blog. I can do most of this myself, post things as they get done, and show some work in progresses when I can remember to take pictures. I have sold more items and had more inquiries off the blog than any thing else I've tried, but it still can't beat some one bragging on, or showing off something I've made.

Some knives

2011-11-19T19:57:00.002-06:00

I finished these 2 today. The top is lacewood and mokume' handle on damascus, the bottom is black locust and stainless. It is a match to one I have shown in an earlier post and they are going to the same owner.

Ironwood, bois d'arc, and camel bone.
It's been a busy month!

Dee's reply

2011-11-16T18:56:00.000-06:00

I was pleasantly surprised this morning by a reply to my email to Ms Dee Jepsen. I won't bore everyone with the entire email, but will summarize by saying she seems to be sympathetic to my cause. She stated that she was only the messenger, not the enforcer. Also, she is not with the dept. of no labor, but is a professor at OSU, that teaches farm safety and was merely commenting on the new rules. I started to invite her to my school, there have been lots of kids through it and they all got quite an education.

Now on to important things:

Our first two calves out of our good cows. If prices hold, I'll be able to retire on these two.
We calve on this set between now and Christmas, work them in April, then ween in June. Most years we turn them out on grass until they weigh around 800 pounds, then send them to the feed yard.

A little knife I finished yesterday. 2.75" cutting edge, 7.25" overall length. The wood is black locust that I bought from Mike928, a follower of this blog. Good stuff Mike, it left for a good home this morning.

Kyle's deer for 2011. He hunts about 15 minutes every year and gets something like this. I guess it helps that he cowboys all day every day on the ranch and knows where every thing hangs out, and what time they get there.

Child farm labor

2011-11-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

Dee

I recently read an article where you stated the farm labor laws needed to be changed. Why? We are doing just fine as far as I can tell. Has there been a big increase in injuries or deaths to children helping their grandpas and uncles on the ranch that I haven't heard about?

I paid my own way through most things as a kid working with horses, and my children worked horse back and hauling hay as they were growing up. It instilled one heck of a work ethic in them. It taught them how to be real men and women, and the value of a dollar. It is a big boost to a kids self esteem when the neighbors ask them to work, not because they are cheap, but because they are good hands. I look forward to my grand kids helping me on the ranch, and I'm smart enough to teach them how to work safely, just as my grandfather taught me.

We are not all as stupid here on the ranch as some in the government believe. Please leave us alone.

Chad Cunningham

10693 cr 452

Cross Plains, Tx 76443

P.S. Might I suggest solitaire on your computer if you need something to do, instead of thinking up these asinine rules that don't do any thing but make things harder on a parent and rancher.

This is an email I sent to a Ms Dee Jepsen. She is with the dept. of labor, and, or, the dept. of food, drug, and biological engineering. Either way I am sick of the government treating me like I am stupid. It seems there are more rules every day, that help nothing or anybody.

If you haven't heard of the new rules they are proposing for farm labor, you should, hell, your kid won't even be able to mow his grandma's yard. Ridiculous!

tp://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/11/15/department-of-do-not-labor/

This kinda sums it up better than I can, after all I'm stupid, just ask the government.

WIP

2011-11-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

Knives in various stages of handle installation. For these, I'm using Gorilla glue between the wood and steel, and 2 part epoxy between the wood and pins. I've tried every epoxy known, and the Gorilla has never failed me. A few of the others have. You just can't have any gaps between the wood and steel, but I really shouldn't have any way.

5 of a 10 knife order. Amboyna burl on 4, mesquite on the middle. These knives are 6" overall length, with a 2.5" cutting edge.

2 are 5160/8670/15n20 damascus, the middle is 1095/nickel.
I finished 2 more this afternoon, and should finish the other 3 tomorrow, unless something goes wrong. Then its off to the sheath maker.

Corrientes

2011-11-10T18:50:00.000-06:00

We have collected quite few corriente cows over the years. We keep most of our heifers from the roping pen, watch the sale barns and papers, and pick them up cheap two or three at a time.
These cows will average about 900 pounds, live on almost nothing, and raise a calf as big as they are. They can cover a lot more ground in a day than any other breed, and will. They don't hang around the water or feed ground waiting, they get out and hustle.
I put angus bulls with mine and get a good calf, most end up in the feed lot with the rest of our calves and do just fine.

Heat treating

2011-11-09T19:21:00.000-06:00

Heat treating knives. If I don't get this part right, all the pretty you can put on one won't do any good. All it will be is a hunk of steel with a piece of wood glued on.

I put the blades in my oven and heat to a specific temperature(1550 degrees for this particular steel). When temp and time have been reached I dunk them in the bucket of oil on the floor.
The oil is formulated for this purpose, and most important, has a high flash point which reduces the chance of my bucket catching on fire. Automatic transmission fluid works well, but I've set the bucket on fire more than once. And it ain't easy to put out. Motor oil doesn't work well, but some of the vegetable oils do.
I then put them back in the oven for a 2 hours at a specific temperature(350 degrees for this steel) to temper them. Tempering makes them where they are not as brittle.

These are the ones I did today. Still a long ways to go before they are a knife. And yes the shop cat is always in the way.

Just stuff

2011-11-06T18:11:00.000-06:00

I came up with these meteorite pieces, and can't wait to try them in a billet of damascus. It may not be the best knife, but it will be a good conversation piece. I have some petrified dinosaur skin I might use for handle material on one, if I can figure out how to cut it.

Some pictures from the game camera behind the house. Not many people see two headed turkeys.

The hunters feed was a big success. Lots of people in town. I sold three knives in the couple of hours I was there, not a bad saturday for Cross Plains.

Deer season

2011-11-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

But first, important stuff like spurs. Made from farriers rasps, old silver quarters for conchos.

Deer season starts in the morning. Traffic on our dirt roads has been dangerous for the past 2 days, lots more silver cans in the ditch, make sure the dogs stay home, count cattle sunday and monday and check for bullet wounds, direct lost hunters to the road they missed a mile back, and answer the question,"what do ya'll do out here".
It's really not that bad( except for the traffic, slow down, it ain't the interstate). Cross Plains put on a big hunters feed tomorrow at noon, and my chamber of commerce bigwig daughter has set me up a booth to sell my knives from. 11 am - 3 pm, how bad could it be? She also informed me that I am now a member of the COC, even though I actually live and work in the big city of Admiral. I will put my foot down when she tries to make me attend one of those meetings.
http://www.jsartandsoul.com/, http://www.photojkc.com are her businesses. Take a look, she's pretty talented.

Rodeo spurs

2011-11-02T18:35:00.000-05:00

I get to build rough stock spurs once in a while. I don't consider it a specialty or anything, I think I'm just a maker who listens and builds exactly what they want.
The top is a set of 1 piece bareback spurs that will be at the NFR in December. I will bet he has the only one piece spurs there. 10 points to anyone that can name him!
The next will be at the NFR in a couple of years. These are welded. I'm not sure I can forge these and keep a clean line and straight shank on these skewed ones.

A cold front is blowing through. Might be a good day to hang around the forge tomorrow. I have a lot to forge, spurs, buckles, and knives, all on the Christmas list. It's coming fast.

Back from the show

2011-10-31T19:11:00.000-05:00

Got back home from the Big Spring Texas knife show last night. For some reason I feel like I've run a marathon. I really didn't do any thing but stand behind a table and talk a lot.
This was my first show on that side of the table, and I did not have a clue what to expect, but everything went well, sold a couple, got to meet a lot of knife makers I only knew by reputation, visit with some I already know, and eat a lot of banana pudding. Yea, the food vendor was surprisingly good. As one who has lived on rodeo hamburgers for a lot of his life, these little things are noticed.

Ready for a show

2011-10-27T19:45:00.000-05:00

I got these back from Armoralleather. Dwayne did a heck of a job as usual.

The next is my personal favorite. I might make one for myself some day, right after the cobbler makes his kid some shoes.

This has a 3" damascus blade, 4" handle with paper micarta and stainless bolsters.

Hay

2011-10-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

I dislike very little in life, but I hate hay. There is something backwards about it. We put it inside the barn when it's 103 degrees, and take it back to the pasture when it's -3. It should work the other way.

My view all day today. At least I finally got old enough to drive.

The days first disaster. My cowboys didn't stack it right, and I was driving to fast.

A lovely job of stacking, I'm sure you will all agree.
Hay in our country is worth more than gold this year. No body in Texas has made any at all. We are luckier than most, this came off a little sub-irrigated spot that we didn't graze all summer, and it should see our horses through the winter. The indians called february the month the babies cry, everything will be crying this february.

Awards banquet

2011-10-23T18:42:00.000-05:00

I attended an awards banquet for the Turkey Creek Rodeo Club play day series last night. I went mainly for the bar-b-que, and because Neva shamed me into it, and got called upon to present the buckles to the all-around champions of each age group. I did make the buckles, and it was worth all the effort just to see these hard working kiddo's get their year end prizes. These kids are the future, and I think the future looks just fine.

These are some spurs I made this summer for Josh Gibson, horse trainer and ranch rodeo contestant extraordinaire. These are one piece spurs, one inch band, and a two inch heart shank.

Around the ranch

2011-10-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

It's been a hard luck week in the shop. Snapped the handle tang off a stainless steel damascus blade trying to drill pin holes in the handle. Drill bit binded just right and ruined what should have been a a pretty expensive knife. I quenched a kitchen knife this morning in oil, put it in the tempering oven, ran off and had a piece of pie with the neighbor, came back in 2 hours and the blade had a slight bow in it. Not enough to really hurt any thing but I wouldn't feel right about selling it. I guess Kim will get another for her kitchen.
Been getting ready for the knife show, here are 14, I have 13 more on the way from the sheath maker. When it is all together, I will get some good pictures to post.

These are some I took while riding and looking the other morning.

finished billet

2011-10-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

First, some spurs I finished Sunday

1 piece, 1 1/4" band, 2" shank, 2" 20 point rowel. These went to a pre-conditioning yard in Roscoe, Tx, where they will see a lot of use.

This is a surface grinder attachment for my Wuertz grinder.http://www.twuertz.com/Home_Page.php It has cut my damascus making time in half.( no more hand grinder for this old man) I am a one man show and need all the help I can get.

2 billets, ready to start knives.

more forging

2011-10-17T19:01:00.000-05:00

I bought my forge and press from Riverside Machine in De Queen Arkansas. The forced air is the only way to go for forge welding.

Drawing the billet out with a 55 pound hammer. I will cut this billet into 3 pieces, re stack, and do all this over again, a couple of times.

Forging damascus

2011-10-15T18:45:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-13T19:15:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-11T18:54:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-07T18:53:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-05T19:36:00.000-05:00

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

2011-10-02T16:46:00.000-05:00

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.

Rasp bit

2011-09-30T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is the start, just a plain old horse shoeing rasp.

After the band saw.

Ready to weld. I missed a few steps in between, the biggest is drilling holes, but it is boring any way. I use a step drill bit for the round holes, and my band saw for the tear drops.

The finished product. This one sure ought to make one go whoa. With a long shank and a high port, he won't have many runaways.

rose bowl spurs

2011-09-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

These spurs went to the head coach at TCU. These where the first 1 piece gal legs I did, and I was a little nervous about how they would turn out. They are big spurs, 1" band, and 2.5" shanks, with 2" rowels. I have a set of these to build for a cowboy in Stamford with his brand on them.

Cell phone pictures. I should probably leave the photography to the professionals. These where taken from the hay barn off highway 36. the top is looking north west toward east Caddo Peak. Second is heifers hoping I was the feed truck. The grass is usually not this color until thanksgiving, this whole country looks like over grazed february.

Ranch pictures

2011-09-25T18:34:00.000-05:00

We got out and looked around this afternoon. these are a few pictures we took on the Admiral place.

A shot from the hill, looking north east. My shop is to the left in the picture.

Angel, my bulldog, cooling off.

Kim's longhorn cow. The purpose of her longhorn herd is to let them die of old age, get their heads, and mosaic them. They do turn out pretty. She allows me to put an angus bull with her cows and keep the calves.

I hope this bunch of cows survive the drought. It's gonna be a long winter for them, with no more feed than we have, but they will probably run out of water before we run out of feed so it won't matter. We are luckier than a lot of cattlemen in the area. There are a lot that are desperate to sell or ship now, and the sale barns and slaughter plants are completely full of east Texas cattle. Fire ran most of them out of grass, and it is causing lots of big runs at the sales. Thing can always get worse, and they will.

Kelley spurs

2011-09-24T18:50:00.000-05:00

These are one piece spurs using 4140 for the steel. The 4140 is a little harder to forge than some of the other steels that could be used, but it is a lot stronger. These are ladies spurs, and I was able to thin the bands down to reduce the weight, and not worry about them bending out of shape when being used hard.
The font I use for the silver name is lucinda hand writing. It is probably the most popular thing requested on my spurs.
It was back to the mid 90's on the ranch today. Our cold front didn't last long. We are just about out of grass, and will be feeding hay in a week or so. We can usually manage to make it through Christmas in most pastures without hay, and don't hay at all in some. It's gonna be a LONG winter. It could be worse, I could have been a cotton farmer.

Random

2011-09-22T18:36:00.000-05:00

A cold front blew through today, dry for the most part, as usual. Temperature did not get over 75, it felt so good I pounded out damascus all afternoon.
I changed my picture to a set of spurs I made for some republican ladies to present to our esteemed lt. governor, Mr. David Dewhurst. I understand he is into cutting horses, maybe he uses them some.

Either way, I'll bet he is the only lt. governor in the U.S. with a set of damascus spurs.

Some cowboy jewelry, made from a mexican coin.

A set of rasp spurs I made for Jarred Smith, bareback rider extraordinaire.

These snakes are left over pieces of spurs. waste not, want not.

Ranch rodeo september

2011-09-20T18:25:00.001-05:00

http://www.photojkc.com/-/photojkc/gallery.asp?cat=166831&pID=1&row=15
This is a link to my daughter, Jessica's web site. Lots of fun photos of a local ranch rodeo a few weeks ago. Look around the rest of it while you are there, she is pretty talented.I built the buckles for this and had lots of equipment on both horses and contestants.

Hogs

2011-09-18T18:50:00.000-05:00

A good morning running the hog traps. I had 7 this morning, and got 2 outside this trap.
These destructive beasts have become increasingly harder to trap. They have gotten a lot smarter, probably due to hunters keeping the big ones to sell, and turning the little ones out. Those little ones will never trap again. I hunt hogs 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can't tell I have made any difference at all. There is no telling how much money they cost me every year in lost pasture and torn up equipment.

A bit I made back in May. 1018/nickel damascus shanks and a low port mouthpiece. This was supposed to be a set of spurs, but the billet ended up too short, and I had to find something else to build out of it. I heat colored it just to see how it would look, and kind of liked it.

Hand forged

2011-09-17T19:17:00.000-05:00

This is a set of spurs I did a while back, just to see if I could. They are forged from 4140 steel.
The biggest mystery to me has always been; how did the old masters forge the bottle opener into the shank?
Here is how I did it.
I forged every thing to shape, leaving 1/2 inch between the band and the 90 degree turn on the shank, made a cut with a hack saw about 3/16th's back, heated, and drove a chisel in the split rolling it under for the bottle opener look. I hope I did Mr. Bianchi proud.
The concho/coin screws on to make it easy to get leathers on and off.
These are for sale. 425.00$ plus shipping.

Knives and buckle

2011-09-17T18:51:00.000-05:00

Some of this week's work.

The top one is a knife I have already shown, it is back from armoralleather with a new sheath.
The next ones are 1084/15n20 damascus, 2 inch blade, 2, 2.5, and 3 inch handles, with amboynia(sp) burl and spalted oak. I will put pocket clip sheaths on these. I have sold more of these than any style I make.
Another won buckle. The bull riding will be held on October 1st in Cross Plains, Tx. I might try to win it myself!

pictures

2011-09-14T19:11:00.000-05:00

#1 & 2 is a 1095/ nickel damascus knife and sheath. 6 inches overall length.
#3 is stainless damascus, with a pocket clipped anaconda inlayed sheath. 5 inches overall length.
#4 is 5160/8670 damascus. 5 inch blade with axis antler handle.
If you see one you like, email me. If it is not available, I can build one like it.

This is a cell phone picture I took this morning. Things are bad when briars on the fence rows are droughting out. I have never seen this happen, nor has any one I have talked to. Lots of our trees are shutting down, almost like it is late fall. It's gonna be a long winter.
Things could always be worse, I could be a wheat farmer with no insurance.

IGBSM Spurs

2011-09-11T17:52:00.000-05:00

We had our annual http://www.igbsm.org/ meeting this week end, and I took these to show off. The igbsm is a bit and spur makers guild that I am a member of. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a long time, and got to meet some people that I have only known through forums or reputations. I had lots of fun and learned a lot. The guild is doing a lot of hard work promoting this art form, and I look forward to a lot more years with the guild.
These spurs are 1018/nickel damascus, 1 inch heel band, and a 1.5 inch roper shank. The buckles and rowels are also damascus. James Jaggars, of Putnam Texas made the straps.

wildlife

2011-09-04T17:57:00.000-05:00

This guy was on the porch eating toads this afternoon. Who knew toads had so much blood in them.

The fire at Fort Davis.

Turkeys and a hog from the game camera last spring. The feeder is behind the house and is quite entertaining at times.

Military build

2011-09-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Cell phone picture that I had to send to the new owner, so I thought I would post it here as well.
This knife is 13 inches overall length, with an 8 inch cutting edge, and 1.5 inches wide. Brass guard and canvas micarta handle. I used 52100 for the steel.
This knife is headed for Afghanistan, and I have been promised that I will be the first knife maker on my block with a confirmed kill.
Ssg David Murphy, a heck of a knife maker from Conway Arkansas, has agreed to build the sheath for this one, as I have no idea what a soldier really needs. Private Nix and I are extremely grateful.

Dry

2011-09-01T19:24:00.000-05:00

Here is one back from the sheath maker. Back in the mail tomorrow to it's new owner.

It is dry. Eastland and Brownwood, to the east and south of us are implementing some pretty severe water restrictions, and Abilene to the west is not far behind. I sure hope everyone enjoyed their green lawns, and hope they don't wish they had all that water to bath with by this time next year. Yes, next year. Unless we get a hurricane through here to run some water, this drought won't be over with this year, and maybe not next year.
February and March will be brutal on what livestock is left in this country, especially for the folks that depend on wheat or oat pastures for winter feed. Those that haven't made feed arrangements might not get much. The feed mills in this area are already running 1 month behind, and it is just September 1st. No one can afford to feed 125.00$ round bales for very long. There is lots of alfalfa passing through, it is expensive, but a better deal than grass hay.
I always wanted to live in historic times, and I guess I do!

Won buckles

2011-08-28T19:02:00.000-05:00

Finished 4 of the buckles. Woke up at 2 am, at the shop by 3, and decided I would get as much done as possible while it was cool. I took a short hog hunting/water checking break at daylight, but then right back on them till they where done. Insomnia does have some benefits. Come to think about it, I need a nap.
I will do damascus, with a little less writing for the next 3.

Handmade

2011-08-27T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is the start of some won buckles I am building for a ranch rodeo coming up on September 10.
Probably the question I get the most as a knife, bit, and spur maker is where do I buy my blanks. I don't. Every thing that comes out of my shop started as raw materials. It is completely hand made.
The buckle above is getting a hand filed border, and will get nickel silver lettering.
I will show them as a finished product in a few days.

Knives for sale

2011-08-23T18:50:00.000-05:00

These knives are made from W2 tool steel, with micarta handles. They have a 3 inch cutting edge, and are 7.5 inches overall. Both are flat ground and are razor sharp. The sheaths are custom made by http://www.armoralleather.com/ .
These knives sell for 165.00$ plus shipping. Email if interested.
I have lots of area cowboys using these every day, the horizontal sheath keeps them handy, but out of the way, and the W2 steel holds an edge, yet is easy to sharpen in the field.

Kitchen set

2011-08-21T19:16:00.000-05:00

I finished this kitchen set yesterday. It is 12 3/4" overall length, with an 8" cutting edge, 1 3/4" wide. The handle is Bois D'arc wood and a mokume' bolster.
The Bois D'arc was cut from an old fence post that a friend saved me when doing a clearing job. It had probably been in the ground for 60 years. It is some amazing stuff.
The damascus is stainless steel I get from http://www.chadnicholsdamascus.com/ . I have never been disappointed in any thing he has sent me, always consistent, and heat treats the same every time. I have tried making stainless damascus a few times and it is tough. I will stick with making the high carbon stuff for a while.

Ranch rodeo

2011-08-16T18:56:00.000-05:00

Kim took these pictures at our last local ranch rodeo. I thought they were great so here they are.
1st is Kyle on his gray mare. I wished she was my gray mare.
2nd is Steve Goldsmith, steak cook extraordinaire, holding one across the line.
3rd is me doing what I do best, standing around talking to Rodney.
3 inches of rain this weekend. It didn't break our drought, but it sure made everybody feel better.

hammer time

2011-08-13T19:33:00.000-05:00

Brice Bowden was by the shop today and took this video with a cell phone.

I am taking some 1084/15n20 damascus down to knife making thickness. This billet has already been forged out, cut and re stacked 3 times, for a total of 180 layers. It should be some pretty stuff when a finished knife.

Knives this week

2011-08-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

This weeks work so far. I should have finished these this evening, but it was just to damned hot! 107 inside, in the shade, with a big fan going.
The 2 plain knives are made with 52100 (ball bearing) steel. It is currently my favorite steel besides damascus. I have never tried a steel that I could get this sharp. It also keeps the edge extremely well.
The little knife is made from 2 different billets that were a little small, so I combined them. 1080, 1095, 15n20, and nickel in the mix of steel. the handle is spalted oak.
Lots of cow work this week, moving things around, sold some good cows and some calves to light. It's going to be a long winter, we will have to start feeding way to early. Drought, it ain't over just because it is approaching september and cooler weather. Probably won't end next year.

used spurs

2011-08-07T17:11:00.000-05:00

I built this set a couple of years ago for a well known steer wrestler. He had bent a hanger and the silver need a little attention.
These spurs have been all over the USA and Canada rodeoing, even the NFR. I have even watched them on TV on several occasions.
It makes a maker feel good that the stuff he is putting out is used and well thought of.

longhorn

2011-08-06T17:56:00.000-05:00

One of my rare water holes that has any water in it.
I took this picture with my phone yesterday, and there is something I like about it.

How I make damascus spurs

2011-07-30T19:13:00.000-05:00

The first picture is how these spurs start out. 1018 steel and pure nickel stacked to 2 x 2 x 4".
Next, into the forge and up to welding temperature.
I use a forging press to draw out the billet, usually to about a foot long on the first draw. I then cut this into 3 pieces, re stack, and do this all over again. The more times I cut, re stack, and re weld, the tighter the pattern. On the last weld, I size the billet to 1/2 thick to start the spurs.
Fourth picture is the billet cleaned up, and ready for the band saw.
I cut my spurs to fairly close to final shape, split the bands, then use progressively bigger round bars to forge the spur bands into spur band shape. I finish the inside and stamp my mark before final shaping with a heel band jig.
I finish the outside, like any body else, using sanding belts and polishing wheels, except that I soak these in acid to bring out the damascus pattern.
Add silver, and I get the finished spurs.
This is a pretty simplified version of the process, but I am sure you get the idea. For any more information or comments on this process, feel free to contact me any time.

Drought

2011-07-25T19:08:00.000-05:00

It is as dry as I have ever seen it. And not just here, it's state wide. The sale barns in our region are running at full capacity, Coleman has been selling 5000 head a week, Abilene 3000, evan the smaller sale's pens are full every week. If my mental calculations are right, there have probably been 100000 head of livestock sold in the last month in our region alone.
Lots of cattle heading north. I'm just glad they aren't all being turned into hamburger, this country will have to rebuild someday and maybe they will sell us a few back.
The good news is, we will survive. I should be able to carry over 160 head of mama cows and 100 heifers, barring a fire or other natural disaster. Fire is really no threat because there is not much left to burn.
Hay is pretty much non existent, it can be hauled in from up north, but I can't feed grass hay to cows and make any thing at all for what that cost. I did make a deal on some alfalfa, it is better any way.
Water, there is none if you depend on tanks. I have some pastures I haven't run a cow in in better than 2 years. Most have wells, but we ran those dry too. We are running every thing where we have good wells, and thats not much country.
It will change, and we will be wishing it would quit raining someday. I just hope it does it before it's to late.

longhorn buckle

2011-07-25T18:17:00.000-05:00

Carbon steel damascus, sterling silver ut longhorn.
Dick, I did not capitalize ut on purpose.

More knives

2011-07-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

The top picture are castrating knives. (If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand)
Next is a push dagger I made from the handle end of a rasp.
The next three are little damascus blade knives. Some of these get pocket clip sheaths, and some get neck sheaths like the ones shown here. The overall length on these 4 is about 4.5 inches. I carry the bottom one every day. Its the handiest thing I own.
A variety of handle material, paper micarta, spalted maple, buffalo horn, and mesquite.

Knives

2011-07-22T17:12:00.000-05:00

Just a few I've made. The top one is an A2 tool steel, axis antler and oak.http://www.armoralleather.com/ made the sheath. Dwayne and his crew do a nice job on any thing I send them.
The next two are 1095/nickel damascus, and mesquite. I made the damascus and cut the mesquite here on the ranch.
Kitchen set, stainless damascus, and then a little knife that has proven quite popular. I usually put a pocket clip sheath with these.