8/1/2007
Gunsmithing business has been unusually slow this summer, but that has given me more time to work on knives. I have taken in several gun projects in the last week and will need to get on them. I should be able to get the guns out in a respectable amount of time by following my schedule of two days per week on guns and the rest on knives.
I have been working on a new model knife, but have been stalled on the fittings. I have been trying to put a browned finish on the guard and ferrule, but have had problems getting the finish to some out even. I made the fittings out of O-1 steel and I think the alloys in the steel are affecting the ability of the finish chemicals to work. I am now on the third brand of chemicals and they appear to be working better. Hopefully, I will get this knife completed soon and I will post pictures of it on this site.
I am also working on a new camp knife model. It has a 10” southwest Bowie style blade, a double guard, and a micarta handle in my version of Moran’s ST-23 handle design. I should have this knife completed in the next couple of weeks.
I have been working on several knife orders, including a gunstock pattern folder. This is the first gunstock pattern that I have done. I will post pictures of it, when completed.
I will be attending an engraving class at GRS this month. The class will be taught by Steve Dunn. I already have all of the engraving equipment and I am really exited about learning more about how to use it. I have been practicing engraving on my own, but I am not at a point where I want to market my engraving. Hopefully, I will be more confident in the quality of my work after this class and I will soon be able to offer engraving as an option on my knives.
One of my recent firearms projects has been on one of my own guns. I purchased a Ruger Super Redhawk, chambered for the Ruger .480 cartridge. I intend to carry this gun in a shoulder holster while hunting. I am not a very large person and cannot comfortably carry a large revolver. This gun originally had a 9 ½ inch barrel. I removed the barrel, cut it down to 5 ½ inches, ground the remaining writing off of the barrel and then bead blasted it. I then installed a rifle ramp style front sight. This work makes this revolver much easier for me to carry and the 5 ½ barrel length is long enough to take full advantage of this huge cartridge. I think that it looks great with the three tone finish and it appears quite intimidating when looking at it from the muzzle end.
I will not be able to post a newsletter on September 1st. I will post the September newsletter around Sept. 15th. I’ll let you know why, and what I have been up to when I write this newsletter. Thank you in advance for your patience.
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