Forged Forks

[pondoro]

What am I missing here? Do you really need a torch to twist a coat hanger?

A table fork and a toasting fork. Both done with a propane torch only.

Both of those are a bit thicker than a coat hanger, the long one is 1/8", the short one just a bit less. I'm an old man but even as a young stud I'd have struggled to twist the thicker stuff (cold). With a long enough lever to twist it cold it would have kinked. And it was an interesting experience, to make the twists look uniform the metal had to be hot enough. You'll see they are not completely uniform. I expect with a forge and/or more experience I could have gotten better results.

 

[LRB]

Wick did you weld the tine end with a torch? That is impressive!

No welding. Using 1/4" cold rolled bar, I split both ends with a saw and shaped them out from there. For the tines, I bent and hammered the split to a T, then shaped the tines as I wanted, then bent them into prongs. The heart handle curves are bent and shaped, then through riveted to the main shaft with a 1/16" iron rivet. Takes a little time and care, but not as hard as you may think.

 

[coloradoclyde]

...there is this original example of a 3rd century Roman spoon-fork from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Perhaps this pattern was copied to very limited examples later on in the 18th-19th century?

Nice example... :applause:
But, we can't make any 18th or 19th century assumptions...
Even today they are only popular with backpackers and the fast food industry... they are ergonomically unfriendly, and remain little more than a novelty.
I've yet to see one in a cutlery store.

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

I have also tracked down later examples of inuit spoon-forks, the nelson knife (which is off topic, but getting closer), and civil war spoon-forks that were made from I think a stamping process? But I am looking for a bullet-proof example to nail you with. I already placed a request through The Smithsonian...not letting you have this one Clyde :cursing:

 

[coloradoclyde]

But I am looking for a bullet-proof example to nail you with.

I hope you find it..... :thumbsup:

Try the patent office...

 

[coloradoclyde]

Also keep in mind that an example, is not proof that it was in use...A one-off made for royalty for example...
Often surviving examples are a testament to their rarity and not their commonness .

 

[Rifleman1776]

Nice project, especially with simple tools.