Forging a BOWIE KNIFE from a RUSTY SPRING

In this video I show the complete process of forging a large Bowie knife from a rusty piece of leaf spring, and top it off with an S guard and antler handle harvested here in the great state of Alaska. Want to send me a sticker for my cabinet or something you would like to see used in a future video? Send it to:
Matt Duncan
Mystic Mountain Forge
P.O. Box 441
Soldotna, AK 99669

[@Little_River_Forge]

My goodness that is beautiful, it has “that look” you know . ❤ great job

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thank you, I appreciate you watching!

[@bluenomad5728]

I honestly love the log splitter power hammer you have rigged together it’s amazing work good job on the knives 🗿🗿

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@tonyspencer9350]

Well done. I really appreciate the fact that you show everyone that you can forge a beautiful knife with minimal tools. True old school. I forged my first knife out of copper when I was 5, at 18 I was asked to apprentice under a master knife maker. No truer magic than the first time you see hard steel move with your hammer.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! That is awesome, I wish I had the opportunity to do the same, maybe one day, I knew the first time I swung a hammer I was hooked. That's the main reason I do KZbin is to share my joy for the craft, maybe I can pass that on to someone just starting out and help them get into it.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

A master class in hand forging! Great job!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thank you my friend, I greatly appreciate it!

[@bjornronaldson6017]

I love the profile of your Bowies! They are classic, elegant and well executed. Thank you for sharing!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@Miki59]

a successful design. worthy of a connoisseur. Compliment. Greetings from Austria.👍

[@mking3219]

Well done sir,and thanks for the slow cooker idea!

[@dougtroutman5695]

Very nice work, you do a great job.

[@geraldstamour1312]

So much with so little! Knife turned out dope AF!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@y-notforge8913]

..Outstanding knife Matt.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@juliantaylor1849]

Just beautiful

[@codyhelm1396]

This knife is sweet! Awesome job and craftsmanship.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@sebastianventer2420]

Love your style, great knife! Keep it up man!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@xxxxxponchin]

Awesome! thanks for sharing and take care 👍

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!

[@tatersdomergue6463]

Top grade work

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@gonzalez519]

If you want to heat up the metal faster you should use MAPP Gas (Yellow canister) instead of Propane (Blue Canister) unless you’re doing for the sake of not having to stock two different gases. I realize that Propane can be used for smaller grills so it serves double purpose. Nice knife by the way.😎👍

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thank you! I appreciate you checking it out! When I made this video I was in Alaska off grid and it was easier to stock propane, now that i am back in Oklahoma at my old forge I will be upgrading both my torch and gas.

[@SchysCraftCo.]

Very nice job . forge on keep making. God bless.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thank you my friend, I appreciate you watching!

[@SchysCraftCo.]

@@Mysticmountainforge no problem at all.

[@FireCreekForge]

Very cool Bowie!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@danielduncan745]

I need that to brave the wilds of Tulsa!

[@Mysticmountainforge]

I know right lol!

[@simonsparks5738]

Fantastic

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@jaquigreenlees]

I've looked at all the entries for this contest, Yours got my vote. Simply, to me your entry hold true for the rugged bush knife that is what a Bowie is more than the other entries. Not that they are bad knives, they just have decorative features that don't hold true to what a Bowie should be for the most part. The 2 without other than yours the scale is wrong, they are much to large a blade for use as a knife, a machete or a cleaver maybe. I would buy any of the entries, most for display as a collection piece.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thank! I appreciate you watching!

[@Hisdudeness799]

Bravo.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I appreciate you watching!

[@paulwiggins183]

Interesting that you don't spend much time with the high and fine details... this is good for beginners.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

I was hoping to make several videos here on the channel showing builds that were beginner friendly, now that I have quite a few of them done. I will be making more complex builds soon. I appreciate you watching.

[@tatersdomergue6463]

A heavy wire wheel on your angle grinder will clean scale off super fast. If you want to save yourself some time

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks for the tip, I will have to get one for sure. Thanks for watching as well, I appreciate it!

[@tatersdomergue6463]

@@Mysticmountainforge just so you know, I watch your video to bring back hope and joy because I like making knives and you do the kind of work I try.to.do. it cheers me.up! Also, I use those little disposable plastic condiment cups you get at Five guys and other places to mix up my epoxy resins. Easier to mix em up in there and pour them out too

[@Mysticmountainforge]

@@tatersdomergue6463 that's awesome! I'm really happy you enjoy the videos, it's viewers like you that keep me motivated to make more videos, I will use the cup idea as well, it would help immensely on hidden tang knives especially.

[@uzairhaji3176]

Awesome project. What is the music at the end - last minute?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! I believe it was a song by River Foxtrot I found on Epidemicsound.com I don't remember the name though sorry. I appreciate you watching!

[@danielduncan745]

Oh yeah...MINE! Lol

[@noway9081]

Beautiful knife. Does it hold an edge well or is it a pain to sharpen?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! The type of steel it is made from(5160) holds a fantastic edge and is really easy to sharpen using any sharpening stone. I appreciate you watching!

[@Duckrabbit_Forging]

Beautiful knife, love the blued finish, but would it kill you to turn on some lights mate? /j

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks! When I made this knife I was off grid in Alaska, I ran my whole shop and house off of a generator and some solar panels. I only had one light in my shop because anymore would blow the breaker on the generator, that is why it is so dark, I apologize for that, but at the time it was the best I could do. I have since moved back to Oklahoma to care for my parents, I lost Mom in July so now it is just my Dad, but my shop here has grid power and all the lights I could ever want. I appreciate you watching!

[@Duckrabbit_Forging]

@@Mysticmountainforge forging off the grid in Alaska is so cool, I get only being able to run one light lol. Best wishes for your mum.

[@brentphillippo8156]

What are you using to stain the steel black?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it! I use super blue gun blue, you can get it at Walmart in the sportsman's section. Just apply it to clean steel, wait 30 seconds then rinse in cold water while scrubbing it with super fine steel wool, repeat to make it have a darker finish.

[@Bearblades]

How did you get the blade so black?

[@nateblevens8166]

Is it a flat grind knife

[@rangered2010]

What did you put on the guard with those Q tips?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

I used super blue cold bluing solution. You can find it in the hunting section at Walmart. Thanks for watching I appreciate it!

[@greatsoutherntrendkill8117]

Did you quench the guard

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Nope,the guard was made from mild steel. I appreciate you watching.

[@dragonguytattoo]

What oil did you use to quench… canola oil?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it! Yes I use canola oil for my quench medium.

[@dragonguytattoo]

@@Mysticmountainforge Awesome thanks man.

[@pablomyerspy]

How did you get that black color?

[@Mysticmountainforge]

I used super blue gun blueing solution, you can pick it up in the hunting section of Wal Mart, or order it online through Amazon, as well as at many other locations. Thank you for watching, I greatly appreciate it!

[@pablomyerspy]

@@Mysticmountainforge your awesome, thank you 💪🏻

[@garethbaus5471]

Your anvil rings a lot. I realize that a ringing anvil can indicate that it is made from decent quality steel with no major voids, but it sure can be painful to listen to in real life.

[@Mysticmountainforge]

Yeah it did, I no longer use this one, It was the one I used when I was still in Alaska, I moved back to Oklahoma after my parents health started to decline and I'm back to using my cavalry anvil, it's substantially heavier and I have a chain around it so it doesn't make a ring, it's a lot better on the ears now. I appreciate you watching!