So Busy I Haven't Had Time To Post!

Things have been very busy since I posted last, busier than I can keep up with!

Since I last posted I've been to the International Blade Show again and got to catch up with Brian Brazeal who showed up to do a basic forging demonstration and workshop using clay (you'd be amazed by how many bladesmiths these days have never picked up a hammer and beat steel with it!).
I caught up with and got to pick the brains of Master Smith Chris Marks and learned some interesting/crazy things about forge welding damascus. And I met a slew of interesting new people, including a group of Russian smiths and engravers who do incredible work!

After that I headed out to Kansas to help out the Badger Blades guys in their forge for a month and a half and in the meantime I finished my personal blade (center-front in the picture) and a bone handled Seax (back-right in the picture) both of which were made from the same billet of damascus that I forged back in December.

After Kansas I headed to Pennsylvania for the usual shenanigans at Pennsic, then on to the Maryland Renaissance Faire where we're currently heading for the final weekend this weekend.

I've had very little time to work on anything so far this faire season accept to finally put a handle on the piece that's in the left-rear of the photo. That is a forged 5160 blade that I made back in March or so that has been wandering around the country looking for a handle and I just happen to find the perfect piece laying in the scrap pile on the floor of the shop here. From there the rest came together very naturally from things laying about. The handle for that one is elk antler and leopard wood.

During my time here at MDRF I work the booth on the weekends and during the week I work for William Lloyd of Lloyd Studios where I make scabbards, stands, and handles for some of his pieces. Since I only have mondays to myself I try to do a little forging but so far it's been limited to making new tools that I need for other projects. Mostly tongs, punches, drifts and such.

Soon my time here will be done and I'll be moving on to the Louisiana Faire where we have a full-on forge and smithy right in the booth, so that's always fun and productive.

Now that I remembered I have this blog, I'll try to post on it a bit more often ;)

And remember, have fun!