S.F. Bay Area Muzzleloaders: New Group Forming

[coehornboy]

Hey muzzle loading friends in the San Francisco Bay Area...

Please join us for the first S.O.O.T. gathering, to be held on Thursday, January 5, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., at the Blacksmith Shop at Ardenwood Historic Farm, located in Fremont, CA.

What is S.O.O.T.? The Students Of Olde-Tyme Technologies (S.O.O.T.) is looking for individuals that are interested in forming a guild of artisans, craftsmen, and students to help each other in the sharing of knowledge from ALL historical eras.

The goal of S.O.O.T. is to have quarterly show and tell meetings, well as workshops, publish a newsletter, and develop a forum wherein local individuals can network with one-another. Some classes will be held on-site at the blacksmith shop, while others may be elsewhere dependant on the nature of the information being shared.

THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. :nono:

Please feel free to private email me, and I'll be glad to send you a flyer about he event in PDF format.

Thanks

Charlie

 

[Walks Alone]

Thanks for the news. Always good to see a new group forming to promote the old ways, especially in one of my old stomping grounds.

I ran with a small group for a couple of years in the late 60's that used the old outdoor spot and stalk archery ranges in the mountains above Chabot in the Oakland Hills for both matches and meetings. Wonder if they are still around?

 

[sequoia]

Hey Coehornboy,

Sounds like a great idea. I live ine the north bay.
Send me your email address so I can send you mine for the flyer.
:thumbsup:

 

[coehornboy]

FYI: My email is now in my profile

 

[Gary]

My uncle is also interested. Traffic permitting, we'll be there.

 

[Gary]

It was a terrific night. Scott, the blacksmith and his helper, Paul (apprentice), hardened two swords in a special forge made by Scott. Afterwards, they used copper blocks to temper them. I was there from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and it was quite an enjoyable evening. Let me post some pics and a better write-up later.

 

[Gary]

OK, we met at Ardenwood Forge and blacksmith Scott and his shop lackey, Paul had fired up the coals and demonstrated how to harden a sword. Now, I've seen Hershel House and others harden knives but when it comes to a sword, that's a pretty long object and to heat the blade poses some real problems.

No problem at Ardenwood Forge since Scott built himself a special blade forge. Wood framed and firebrick lined, the bricks are held in place with concrete. A large air pipe runs down the center to feed fresh air to the coals. The starter coals were originally heated in a pot bellied stove and then transferred to the forge for firing up the other coals. After the coals were good and hot (and enough folks were present), a hand forged Norman (1066) style blade was placed in the forge and heated until it was the same color as the coals. It's important to keep the heat even as you don't want to burn the metal (something I'm very good at). When the right color is attained, the blade is withdrawn and quenched in oil.

I asked about the Roman practice of quencing in the belly of a Nubian and Scott explained there may be something to the thickness (viscosity) of blood as it would cool metal slower.

After allowing the blade to cool off in the oil, it is very brittle and prone to breakage unless it is tempered. Fine emery paper was used to wet sand one side of the blade until it was shiny. This allows the bladesmith to see color changes when the blade is tempered. To perform the latter, Scott and Paul sawed some copper blocks (1" wide, 4" long by 1/2" thick) which were attached to a long piece of iron. Three such copper blocks were made and heated up until red. While two were kept hot, Scott would take one and place it lenghtwise on the blade near where the tang is. The block was parallel (and not perpendicular) to the blade. Scott would apply some water (via a rag) to the blade and wait for it to sizzle. That told him that the heat was being transferred. He would keep the copper in place until it started getting cool. At this point, Paul would pull a hot one out of the forge in exchange for the cooled one. Scott would continue heating that same portion of the blade until it started changing to a bluish color. If there was still heat in the copper, Scott would slide the block down a few inches to begin tempering a new section of the blade. This process continued until the entire blade was tempered.

It was a fun demonstration which lasted from 7pm until 10 pm. Some folks left earlier. SOOT organizer, Charlie (Coehornboy) explained that the idea was to develop a network of hobbyists/artisans/craftsmen with old skills and to share them (via internet or seminars). We had folks who were bladesmiths, hobbyist gunsmiths, a clockmaker, leatherworker show up (about 14 in all including Scott, Paul & Charlie). It was fun, loosely run evening and well worth attending.

I'll post pics later in the picture forum.

 

[coehornboy]

Thanks, Gary. :bow:

A website with info is in the works, as well as a schedule of classes/demonstrations/workshops for the coming year.

The next gathering is set for Thursday, February 2, 2006. The forge will be in full operation, and we will have a hands-on class on blade sharpening!!

I too will post when I have more info. :v

 

[coehornboy]

Hey All:

The February SOOT gathering will be on Thursday, February 2nd, 2006 @ Ardenwood Historic Farm, at 7pm. The forge will be running, and we will have a casual class on knife/blade sharpening. Please bring a blade or two and whatever sharpening stuff you have at home. The idea is to not only show some of the different "fancy" toys that are available for sharpening, but to also show you how to best utilize the stones and tools that you have at home.

Feel free to bring something for show n tell. Tell a friend!!

See you there. Send me a private email if you have any questions. My email is in my profile.:v