Spots

I traveled to him at his home in Virginia. I was his first student in 2 years and quiet possibly his last. He is getting on in years, and no longer does large classes or seminars, and its very rare he trains people at all. I'd be happy to teach what I learned from him though if you want.

Idk about the Army but I was issued an OKC-3S as a Marine. I used it a lot too. Opening MRE's and general field use. Never once needed it to kill someone.

Btw. Your age is showing when you make a statement like that. Instead of saying "going to the station to fill up my car, vehicle, etc" you made sure to make mention of a 67 Mustang. Thats a mark of someone immature looking for attention. If thats the case, strapping on a knife will get you the attention you seek from both sides of the law. Make sure you can back it up, both by knowing the legalities of carrying a blade when your speaking to the law, and how to use it if you get confronted by someone who has hurting you on their mind. Otherwise it will only serve to bring you much grief and woe.

Man that is sweet. I love your work GT. We need to get you in the forge, Id love to see what you could do with a mix of old and new.

Legalities aside, why do you feel a knife is a better weapon than a cane, tire iron or ball peen hammer? Any melee weapon is going to make self defense a messy, upclose venture. Have you had any training on the use of a knife in a self defense or combat situation? Have you had any self defense training at all? I carry a big knife every day, but a good sledge hammer handle (or a 24 lb sledge hammer) walking stick, cane, or baseball bat is probably a better weapon if you haven't trained with a knife. Knife work is gonna be gory, bloody and violent. And most importantly, you have to mantain postive control of your weapon, otherwise they will stick you with it. If you must carry a knife, practice drawing from your chosen carry postion. Over and over. Until its a heartbeat. Otherwise, the likelyhood of you bringing it into play in an ambush (the most likely type of attack) is zero. It'll still be hard after you've practiced depending on the situation. And on top of all this, remeber a knife is a deadly weapon. If you use one in self defense, its likely it'll be confiscated, and you will face all the same legalities as using a handgun, so make sure it is life and death if your gonna use it.

What burger king was it? And if you want pm me the managers name. I enjoy making myself a pain in the ass. I bet he only invites me inside once. I can't stand rude people, especially when they are the ones in the wrong. You should went in like you said. Maybe he woulda heen stupid enough to hit you and then you could own a burger king.

I had the opportunity to train with Col. Dwight Mclemore this weekend. He is the authoer of several books, including Bowie and Big knife fighting systems, Bowie knife advanced techniques, the fighting tomahawk, and several others. He was a gentleman, a gracious host, and an amazing teacher. We trained on big knife fighting, double knife, hawk and knife, and discussed Gladiator and Viking armor, weapons and techniques. I have learned a great deal, and got to train with a real professional. Here are some pictures of the group. Hawk and knife draw practice Debrief and knife discussion Live steel slow sparring with my dad. He has a Windlass primitive bowie and I have a Randall Thorpe bowie. They are sharp Viking style helm and shield with hand forged axe and viking sword Mirmillo Gladiator armor and gladiud

This is a short video of us working on a knife together.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn9bIR4tifM&feature=youtu.be

Head blade products. Used them while I was in the military and still use them for my head when its summer time.

If this has already posted my apologies. Just thought it was cool we got a mention in the article in a good light. http://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/gun-owners-clubs-diverse/2014/09/18/id/595593/

76 was 12yrs before I was born. Thats about the time my old man started putting together the blacksmith shop though.

I have 2335 post and 11,884 profile views. I thought I was kinda dull

Thanks for the compliments guys. I go back and forth between wanting extremely clean ground blades and leaving them as forged. To me the performance means more than looks. This is a very large chunk of properly heat treated high carbon steel. It should be more than capable of any large chopping or cutting chores or abuse. Its intimidating in its sheer size, but the smaller one thats my edc is far more dangerous because its quicker unless your just a brute of a man. I like the heft and power of the blade, but its gotta be 3.5 lbs at least. Heres a little different size perspective. I'm 6'1 for reference

So this weekend I had some free time and decided to make something that is total overkill. Its the biggest bowie I've ever made and up there with the biggest I've ever seen. Its 3/8" 5160, 14.5 blade, 20" overall with a threaded through tang, oak handle and a nut welded to the pommel for a good strong tight fit. Guard is mild steel and about 4" long. I still need to finish sand t he handle and tong oil it, but other than sharpening and a little clean up the blades gonna stay forge finished. Tang drawn out Tip hot cut with a hanmer and chisel Finished product Laying next to my TGO passaround bowie from 2012 and my edc bowie with a 10.5 blade. And with my edc 10.5" bladed bowie and a case large trapper for size reference.

This is the best way. I just got this sheath from Two Drunken Celts leather. Its a small blade cover sheath with a stud to keep it from sluding through the belt. You simply slide the knife behind the belt or for concealed you slide it in the waistband at about the 4 o clock postion vertically. This is one of my bowies for reference. 10.5" blade. This is one Ill be carrying often from now on.

  1 x 30 harbor freight belt grinder from 80 grit to 400 grit. I dont need an axe to shave, and I have done sharpened with a file or big whet stone, but the grinder is the fastest and easiest.

Considering the source thats one hell of a compliment. My work is tough and built to be as unbreakable as possible, but looks rustic and unrefined, while yours is beautiful and the fit and finish looks superb

Hahahahahaha. Yeah a free Saturday once a month that doesn't get taken up by shooting or riding my bike. You need to come out again soon man. The weather is getting about right I need to do that. Find a commercial camp axe of equivalent size. Or I may just do another pass around lol. Ill get it on a scale shortly and find out. Feels like 2.5 lbs or so. Thanks for all the compliments guys [emoji106]

This pc crap is getting very old. I was hoping Popeye would got the other way and get more badass with age

I hike with a fullsize ILBE which is also my bug out bag. That way I'm used to carrying it in the woods. Though I have a lot of time under an ILBE in the Marines. I can strap this to the side, and have almost as much chopping ability as a fullsize in a much smaller package

So what does an enterprising mountain man do when they need a camp axe on a budget? Well, for me I fire up the forge and make one. Wrapped and welded 5160, 3/8" thick. Made from an old leaf spring, the handle is an old busted mattock handle I had laying around, and the wedge I just forged out from scrap. Handle is about 28". Should make a nice addition to the hiking pack [URL=http://s535.photobucket.com/user/tnplowboy07/media/axe_zpsc506f219.jpg.html][/URL]

Throw it over the hill. Nasty, smelly critters. Its about time for me to start running trap lines for them again.

Keep it sharp. If you need help on that, look under my topics, I have a large write up on sharpening. Keep it oiled, even being stainless it will eventually rust if you don't oil it. Don't use it for a prybar, screw driver, etc. Other than that you should be good to go. Keeping a knife sharp is the number 1 rule of owning a knife to me. A sharp knife makes everything easier and safer.

If you don't know that a 2 x 4 is 1.5" by 3.5" or that an 8" block is 15 5/8 by 7 5/8, you should probably leave it to a professional. This is a bogus suit from a money hungry state. What complete bullshit. And mike, car tires is a bad example. You take 5 different companies 31 x 10.50's and they will all measure different when mounted on identical rims with identical pressures. Also, good luck with pressure treated lumber. It might leave the store at 1 5/8 or 1 3/4 thick and shrink to size or smaller. Also, how will they now reference 5/4 deck boards? This is just as bad as people who have never shot a firearm making gun laws.

Im on Tapatalk right now with no issues