Student's Knives 2011

[Oldknfmkr]

Thanks texasranger. Gage and I went "junking" one day last week during his spring break. Picked up a couple of things for his new smithy. His skill is at the point that he needs his own place to practice.
Our first priority this summer is to get his smithy set up at his house. I built him a gas forge this winter. He has a 120# anvil that needs mounting and many other things built. They have an old chicken coop that is enclosed and will give Gage a dry 12' x 20' work space. Unfortunately his Dad injured his shoulder at work  a few months ago and faces more surgery, so he hasn't been able to help with the smithy set up. We will get there eventually.
Mike

[voyageur1688]

 he has talent that shines brightly already. The middle knife with the hook is similar to the ones I make. I think theres pics of one of mine somewhere here on the site, but aint sure where. I do twists in the handle going back from the spine for grip, then curl it forward and add the hook which makes a good hand guard and also works as a great pot hook. make sure he sticks with it as he has the ability to be a top notch knifesmith.

[Shiloh1944]

Very nice. How long has he been forging blades? I assume he is high school age. If so, great talent for such a young age.

[Oldknfmkr]

Shiloh1944,
Gage became my student in summer of 2010 at age 12. He was big for his age, 6'-5" and 290#. We worked 3 days a week, 6 hours a day. He had forged his first knife at the end of that summer.
These knives were made by him during the summer of 2012 at my forge. We got his forge set up this summer at his house.
Mike