Pineapple Capbox by Shane

Here's a progress update on the capbox for a long barreled Hawken rifle that Shane is currently working on. The box has been all hand engraved with a pineapple finial and the owners initials scripted across the lid.

Wrought Iron Belt Axe by Brad

This is one of Brads hand forged wrought iron belt axes. The head is forge welded from 18th Century wrought iron with a high carbon steel bit welded in to the cutting edge. The curly Maple haft has been hewn by hand and hand fit to the head, inletting the ears on the axe head into the handle for added strength and rigidity.

Forging a Pistol Barrel

Recently Brad has been working on a hand forged wrought iron pistol barrel. The barrel started it's life as a flat bar of iron and has been skelp welded into a useable tube. In these photos Brad is working on forging the octagon flats on the barrel and jumping the breach to increase the rate of flare. Next up the barrel will be ready for boring and reaming before proofing.

"Fiddlehead Turn Screw"

A little while back Brad purchased an original antique tool from another collector who had it labeled as a "Gun Tool". It was a fairly simple yet interesting tool that appeared to be blacksmith made for use in the field. The design of the tool seemed obvious, with a "blade" on one end for screw turning and a "tail" on the other to offer leverage in turning, as well as doubling as a weighted tool for knapping the flint. Brad thought it would be fun to refine the original design of the tool to be somewhat more artistic and of gunsmith quality, adding in a bit of decorative work and whitesmithing. As many of you are already highly aware, art imitates nature in many circumstances, and the symmetry in nature has provided inspiration for artisans for centuries. Through sheer circumstance, Shane took this photo of a "Fiddlehead fern" while out hiking through the Pennsylvania woods this past Spring. As you can see, the inspiration from nature is obvious. So we nicknamed the new tool the "Fiddlehead Turn Screw". "Everything you can imagine, nature has already created" ~Albert Einstein~

Sea Serpent Fire Steel by Brad Emig

This unique Fire Steel was inspired by an original example currently in a private collection. It is entirely hand forged from a bar of 18th Century Wrought Iron and completely whitesmith finished, in order to capture the creative nuances present in the original. This process also gives the wrought iron a unique texture and sheen that is recognizable to the material. To further expand on the creative and decorative appeal, all surfaces were tastefully hand engraved and a brass eye was incorporated into the design. In order to insure sustainable service, the piece has been carburized and heat treated using 18th Century technology throughout.

18th Century style Cutter

Here's one of Shane's hand forged knives, this blade being forged from high carbon spring steel with a through tang design for added strength and rigidity. The knife is capped on the back with an iron pommel and features an iron cross guard with a turned bolster, and finished off with some light aging.

Albrecht Rifle by Brad Emig

Brad recently finished this left handed rifle, built in the style of Andreas Albrecht and based off of his work from his earliest years in Lititz, Pennsylvania. The rifle features a custom wrought iron barrel, a reworked Chambers lock and a Curly Ash stock. All other mounts and hardware for the rifle were crafted by hand. The trigger guard and side plate lug were cast here at the shop, the buttplate is hand swaged, the pipes, muzzle cap and patch box were also hand swaged and rolled, the trigger, trigger plate, lock bolts and tang screw were all hand forged, all wood screws and springs were made by hand as well as the two piece rear sight. While this rifle isn’t highly decorated, it’s a great example of early period workmanship that represents early building technology.