Knives & blacksmithing and more

[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[Olafur]

Only those slain in battle can enter Valhalla (old Norse paganism, Icelandic "Ásatrú") and there, they battle all day and party and drink all night.

However, I am sure they will make an exception for you - how could they resist your knives?


Your work is amazing, love the flowers!

Pictures from your shop and tools would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Man, that's some beautiful work, real art - I sure hope you are training a bunch of proteges to follow in your footsteps.


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[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[JeremyBurke]

Jeremy....I would love to hear someday, that you and your sons would venture there and do that. I know you would really enjoy it.

Junebuggy, I showed your pictures to my sons. My middle son (5) wants to go to the school as soon as he is old enough. My oldest (8) son wanted to find the pine cones for the handle like you made. Both of these answers are nearly exactly what I expected. My youngest (3) wanted to play on the log.

 

[Smokenarrow]

I have long been interested in both art and knife making. You truly have a talent that is fading with generations. I hope that you can pass your knowledge onto a young person that can keep your tradition alive. These are some great examples of your craft.

 

[RedRabbit]

Wow those are beautiful. keep up the great work.

 

[Mike.ASC]

Greetings sir, your knife making skills are in a elite league. It's always great to see work from the top craftsman in different fields.

 

[Junebuggy]

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[schmoldty]

do you sell these?

 

[Junebuggy]

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[Ainsley]

Some very nice work! It makes me apprehensive to post any of my blades!
I've only been at it for about 5 years and haven't done much since my son was born over two years ago... So I'm sure I'm out of practice. I use a stock removal technique but I'd love to try forging.

The large knife on the left and the small one on the right were my first knives, both were made from old files.

the knife on the left in this picture is the largest I can make based on the size of my heat treat oven:

 

[Junebuggy]

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[Yarz]

These knives are beautiful! I wouldn't want to use them, since they are more like art! I also wish I had the time to learn a skill like this.

 

[Bryan Burns]

I'm truly awed by your talent Junebuggy!
You say you're closing in on retirement. Would that be as a smithy, or have you always done blacksmithing as a hobby? Either way, you should consider writing a book. Easier on the joints you know

 

[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[redvalkyrie]

"52100 ball bearing steel."

Wow, that sounds like an incredibily hard steel to work with just based on my limited knowledge. Can you tell us more about it?

 

[candikid]

Beautiful work, I could spend an hour watching either one of your photos/knives.
Also interesting that your wife is Norwegian; where in Norway is she from?
Edward

 

[Junebuggy]

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[Junebuggy]

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[vintage nut]

O1 great steel. I have recently been using A2 a lot, mostly because I have a kiln so I can heat treat it myself, and it's a lot less messy than oil hardening steels. It also makes an incredibly good blade, and mirror polishes very well.
My fixed blade edc is O1 though.

you can never have too many tools

 

[superfragl]

Junebuggy - that is a beautiful work!!!
Here`s my latest one.

 

[Junebuggy]

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[superfragl]

Junebuggy,
I bought the steel billet from a blacksmith in Alabama, I wish I could forge it myself. Hopefully one day I will be able to do it.

 

[broncorick]

Patterns are also made by repeatedly folding and hammering in the Damascus fashion. Japanese swords are made (were) that way and even some gun barrels (do not use with modern powder). Gives some strength due to lamination effect but also can lead to rusting and breakdown. Parkerizing can also give some pretty patterns

 

[Pstychologist]

Wonderful work.

If I may make a suggestion based on your desire to pay it forward and the obvious interest many here would have in acquiring one of your blades; consider making one knife for the board here and we'll figure out some sort of fundraiser drawing for one lucky winner and the charity of your choice gets our money.

 

[Amitygravel]

Junebuggy ,

Beautiful knives and photography too.
Here's some of my recent stuff.
All smaller stuff.

 

[Junebuggy]

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[Amitygravel]

Thanks Junebuggy !
Getting ready for the Blade show in Atlanta the first week of June.
Not as a table holder but to go spend big chunks of money for materials.
Will keep things updated.
Please continue to show us your work AND THE SHOP please !!

 

[8comm13]

Junebuggy, beautiful knives! Also to everyone else that posted their's, they are all very nice. Wish I had the talent to do that.
Now a question for Junebuggy and the others that make knives. How or maybe I should ask what process do you use to sharpen your knives both when new and to resharpen after use? Wet stone, belt grinder or something else? Thanks.

 

[Junebuggy]

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[vintage nut]

I'm actually going to differ with you on this one. I do nearly all my sharpening on one of my belt grinders, usually the small one. Couple quick passes on a 400 grit belt, and then strop it on leather loaded with white compound. Under two minutes to take a knife from dull to popping hairs like a razor blade. I haven't found any difference on how long it holds an edge after sharpening, and for the last two years I have sharpened my edc spyderco like that and it still holds an edge just as well as when I bought it.

With the rest of the blade acting as a heat sink, one or two light passes isnt enough to get the edge hot. I have done a ton of sharpening like this, and I have never seen any color change, or experienced any performance decrease

you can never have too many tools

 

[johno]

Junebuggy that is some beautiful work, I've actually made Damascus steel back in the 70s when I was a silversmith ( I sorta strayed a bit) so I have some idea what's involved.

I'm curious about the patchwork looking pieces how is it done?
Are you adding and forging solid pieces to the Damascus, somewhere along the forging work?

By the way the handles are about as lovely as the blades.

 

[Junebuggy]

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[8comm13]

I use only oil and wet stones. I also use what's called an Edge Pro. It works very well. Honing/sharpening on stones was probably the hardest part for me to get figured out and it simply comes thru practice. Stay away from any mechanical device that runs a belt across your knife (in my opinion only). I cringe when I see folks use these devices below on personal carry knives....anytime you see an orange color where the blade meets the sharpening component (in this case a turning sanding belt), you are losing the tempering in your blade...sharpening should never include heat.

I would consider using this for garden tools only but I'd never use one on any knife blade I make.

Junebuggy - I have an Edge Pro. I guess I just need to practice with it more to get the hang of it. I just don't seem to get my knives as sharp as they should be.

I'm actually going to differ with you on this one. I do nearly all my sharpening on one of my belt grinders, usually the small one. Couple quick passes on a 400 grit belt, and then strop it on leather loaded with white compound. Under two minutes to take a knife from dull to popping hairs like a razor blade. I haven't found any difference on how long it holds an edge after sharpening, and for the last two years I have sharpened my edc spyderco like that and it still holds an edge just as well as when I bought it.

With the rest of the blade acting as a heat sink, one or two light passes isnt enough to get the edge hot. I have done a ton of sharpening like this, and I have never seen any color change, or experienced any performance decrease

you can never have too many tools

vintage nut - What belt grinder do you use? Is it the type that use a 1" belt that I see for sale on some of the knife supply sites?

I guess this is one of those questions like what tool mfg is best LOL!! I have looked on line and watched a few videos on sharpening and I see people using everything from the Edge Pro to small belt grinders with very fine grit belts to bench grinders with paper wheels. Maybe I'll stick with what I have and practice, practice and practice.