Forging a celtic/viking blacksmith's knife using no power-tools

In this video I forge a Celtic/viking inspired blacksmith's knife in the simplest manner possible. The starting stock was 1" x 1/2" 5160
Filming by my awesome fiancee Kristy Spiegl, and my good friend Nathan Davies.
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for backstage updates! @samtownsbladesmith

[@wc8435]

Hi Tom. I liked the way you used simple tools to make the blade! Good tools help, but talent is still 99% of the process ... Greetings from Brazil ...

[@loganmaurer7191]

Very nice video. Not only is it a beautiful blade, you explained each and every part of the process, for those who wouldnt really know what youre doing.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Logan Maurer thanks mate, I try to be instructional with my content. Thanks for watching!

[@rickywilliams6033]

I’m learning a lot from you. Please keep the good stuff coming!

[@TheWoodsroamer]

I’ve watched this video several times. Bladesmithing without power tools is a distinct form of art that very few can accomplish. You are a master PS Enchanting music.

[@minimaltrace]

So incredibly nice to see someone that not only can, but also takes the time to do things without grinders and other powertools. Very nice work and i would love to own such a blade some day.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate! While for the sake of production i do use grinders snd such in my day to day, i like to keep tradition alive. Thanks for watching!

[@zhookeeper]

Catching up on your back catalogue of videos. I'm loving it! Great close up view of techniques.

[@mixmage]

Thank you so much for this video, I’ve got my forge set up in an old coach house with no electricity. I have a treadle powered forge and grinding wheel, everything else is hand tools. I’m practicing making blacksmith’s knives and this video really helped. I’m taking notes! Keep up the good work! Thanks

[@danielcrawford7315]

Very nice work there sirSir and lots of hand hammering that didnt go without notice. I personally love the old style of this type of build. Blessed days sirSir, Crawford out

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate!

[@nathandunning7150]

Good to see hand filing the blade. Unlike everyone with their fancy 3 x 72 inch $3000 belt grinders. It takes real skill and patients to file blades & to get the result you did with this knife.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

I have a 2x72, and as a professional bladesmith I can't afford to file every knife I make, but it is certainly important to know the skills!

[@buckvanzyl]

good on you Sam....love your work...great video...

[@robreid2365]

This is such a great video. I'm just starting out in blacksmithing after years of metalworking and welding. I am really looking forward to having a try at one of these knives. Also, the Forgecast podcast is excellent. You, Alex and Nils do a great job of explaining things in a way that is easy to understand and feels like good friends hanging out and chatting about their passion. Keep up the great work!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks Rob, we really appreciate the support! I'm glad you're enjoying the show. This is an awesome craft to get into, and I look forward to hearing how you go!

[@patrickbailey5909]

Very nice Sam love the detail in the video. Between these videos and listening to the podcast I have learned more in the last 3 weeks then the last 2 years of scrounging around KZbin. Thanks brother for sharing!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate, and cheers for watching!

[@lostmypicks]

Great video. I'm new to this and have made a few of the classic rr spike knives. These look like a great next step

[@Lukiman60]

Marvelous work.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thankyou!

[@ieatcaribou7852]

Great job, I really like how it turned out and how you took such effort on the sharpening job.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate, if it's worth doing it's worth doing right!

[@110665]

really nice work!!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate!

[@harperdevil9913]

Beautiful brother!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate!

[@jacobpannell9652]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@andrewhahn1983]

I greatly approve of your drawing across the wet stone, making sure to go the whole length of the sharp portion

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Andrew Hahn thanks Andrew, I actually learned my sharpening technique from a 17th generation Yoshimoto bladesmith by the name of Murray Carter, he has some excellent tutorials on youtube

[@fearthespear4242]

Great job man

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate!

[@kugaheeenan6627]

Thank you it was very helpful.

[@francescodesantis6679]

good job sam!!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate!

[@lucasbarber3412]

Absolutely awesome work buddy.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate!

[@lucasbarber3412]

@@SamTownsBladesmith you gained another subscriber

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

@@lucasbarber3412 thankyou, welcome!

[@dennisobrien3618]

Sweet! Reminds me of one of the best (IMHO) videos about this style of knife by Swallow Forge. Regarding the magnet, I've had good luck sticking one to the off side of the anvil from where I work, just above the waist. It deadens the ring decently, especially the higher frequencies, and stays in place well. Keep up the nice work.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks! I have now started sticking it almost exactly there, the ring is still loud, but manageable. I am going to get ahold of some heavy chain and wrap the neck when I get a chance, should mute it a bit better. Once I have a dedicated stump for each anvil the securing should also deaden some ring.

[@dennisobrien3618]

I've gone through those same steps. Putting some rubber mat approx. 6mm thick under the anvils also helped quiet mine.

[@leeknivek]

if you can find some junk old bass speakers, ones with a neodymium "rare earth" magnet, those will stick very well and they are fairly common if you know where to look. once the voice coil is blown, the speaker is no good anyway - i have a couple, i use one as a magnetic bench vise it is so strong. just be wary of where your fingers are!

[@pepsihatman]

Man, learning so much from you. Thank you for explaining what you are doing. Going to try the edge of the hammer to draw out the material this weekend. It really seemed to move a lot, especially when you flattened it back out.

[@isaiahfrank4839]

I guess Im randomly asking but does someone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the password. I would love any assistance you can offer me!

[@myleszayd4712]

@Isaiah Frank instablaster :)

[@isaiahfrank4839]

@Myles Zayd Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@isaiahfrank4839]

@Myles Zayd it did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much you saved my ass !

[@myleszayd4712]

@Isaiah Frank glad I could help :)

[@danielcrawford7315]

On another non related note... I noticed a couple of comments on anvil ring. If I may be so bold, if you choose to take a few minutes, check out Black Bear forge sirSir. John is a great guy w a really good video on quieting anvil ring. At the very least on his anvil it made an outstanding difference. That said, it may not be of any great issue to you. If not then forgive me, but I would be remiss if I didnt at least offer up information, as you offer up information to us and we appreciate your time and efforts without doubt. Blessed days sirSir, Crawford out

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thankyou for the comment, I alway appreciate feedback. I have been subbed to John for a while and I plan on quieting this old girl sometime soon, need to make a new stand first! Thanks for watching!

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@SamTownsBladesmith yes sirSir. Mr. Roy and Mr. John are 2 of my most go to guys. As such anything i can do to help any of yall good creators is my goal to help repay all yall give to us. Blessed days sirSir, Crawford out

[@j.r7872]

EXCELLENT!

[@ieatcaribou7852]

Looks great. I‘m looking forward to working with 5160, I use 1080/84, RR spikes, old files and rebar (for decorative things) but I’ve heard nothing but good about 5160 for blades.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

5160 is great stuff, a bit tough under the hammer, but well worth the effort! It won't get as hard as say W2 or 1095 but it's plenty good enough for hunting/skinning knives. Where it really excels is in big chopping knives and swords!

[@ianfinrir8724]

I don't want to pretend I know more than you, but here we go, I was told that when you quench a blade you should move it around a bit to keep bubbles from forming in the blade which will keep that area from hardening. That said, a very beautiful knife and I hope to be able to make one like that one day.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

While it's true that moving the blade can help with the leidenfrost effect, oil is not as susceptible to a bubble jacket forming. I was also doing an edge quench, which makes it fairly difficult to move the blade without potentially warping it due to uneven cooling on one side or the other. Thanks for the feedback mate, and thanks for watching!

[@danielcrawford7315]

@@SamTownsBladesmith interesting note on the quench. Didnt know that. Also seems to be a higher viscosity oil than say vegetable oil or whatnot. Blessed days sirSir, Crawford out

[@Insanelas]

amazing

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thankyou

[@odinallfather4560]

Another great video Sam, giving me a list of projects longer than my arm here lol

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Haha all to the good mate

[@dbomb1947]

Lovely work and a beautiful end product. I'm really curious to know how you welded the rebar onto the blank with no power tools?

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Haha good spot! You know I didn't even think about that, as I weld up all my billets to handles in batches and just pulled this one off the rack! Thanks for picking that up and thanks for watching!

[@FirePantsFabrication]

Good one. I think you could get a bit more ferric in your bottle.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Fire Pants Fabrication haha yeah needs must

[@simplecrafts8109]

Neat👌👌

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks!

[@louisaziz1235]

Beautiful job. Old school from start to finish. A question, if you don't mind... Why is this type of knife referred to as a ''blacksmith knife''. Thank you.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

This style was typically forged by a local blacksmith as a utility knife as it required no handling.

[@Irishtomq]

Well done! I think I would rather a narration than music.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate! Unfortunately with my current setup narration isn't possible, but it's definitely an avenue I'm exploring. Thanks again for watching!

[@sherribothma6394]

That looks awfully familiar to the one you gave to Ash

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Sherri Bothma the same design, a very old one at that!

[@paulorchard7960]

Nice Sam, did you start with new steel or known scrap? Reason I ask is because I have a heap of used industrial lawn mower blades I believe are 5160, will need a lot of drawing out to get to size but what the hell, I have the time, maybe not the energy!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

This one was forged from known sup9, a 5160 equivalent, but there's nothing wrong with scrap!

[@paulorchard7960]

@@SamTownsBladesmith Thanks Sam, I will will beat it into shape and copy your knife!

[@paujeppesen6567]

Very nice work. But please Tone that Anvil down

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

It has been well toned down since then

[@allanwagner4570]

really nice work i would buy one of those do you sell them??

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

I actually have a couple for sale, check out my Facebook page for more info! Www.facebook.com/samtownsbladesmith

[@allanwagner4570]

Sam Towns, Bladesmith Yeah I don’t do Facebook Nice work though

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

@@allanwagner4570 fair enough, what platform do you prefer? I also host an etsy store and an instagram page,

[@aster_nova]

How long did this take? It's really impressive and pretty :)

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate, took me about 3 hours start to finish

[@aster_nova]

@@SamTownsBladesmith Wow!!! I would have said 6+ hours, at the least. Dang!!!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

@@aster_nova it's all a matter of practise!

[@bf90rono]

Great video but dunno why you felt the need for BG music....i would rather have without, let the hammer and the surrounding make the music.

[@jeremiahadams9577]

No music next time. Thanks.

[@sergeyw-l2098]

Are we just gonna ignore the fact that a bee hit the hot metal and fell to the floor rip😢 1 like = one prayer for the bee

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Haha the moth was fine, he flew away after the camera stopped rolling. The anvil isn't all that hot! Thanks for watching!

[@sergeyw-l2098]

Sam Towns, Bladesmith I’m relieved good vid keep it up

[@whome6764]

Normalizing 😐

[@janegnew28]

when people make a flat out bold statment that thcy[DON,T USE OWER TOLES] they need to know how to define the word [power]--- because [FIRE] is the greatest power in the world ,with out fire we would still be in the stone ages

[@fuzzball130]

www.reddit.com/r/iamverysmart

[@kristyspiegl8791]

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/power-tool

[@ChefMeetsWood]

Bro. Your anvil hurts my SOUL. It’s so loud. Glue it to a stump with silicone. Then soak your stump heartily with linseed oil. Also, nice blade!!!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

This was almost two years ago, she's significantly improved now

[@ChefMeetsWood]

Sam Towns, Bladesmith I just had to give you shit! Keep hammering

[@villain1409]

I had to stop watching this @ 2:10,because of the horrible music, over the hammer action. In all honesty i would rather listen to the to0ls only,rather than listening to some one else taste in music.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks for the comment mate, in my more recent videos you will notice I no longer use music, we all get our start somewhere! Thanks for watching

[@villain1409]

@@SamTownsBladesmith Ok,thank you. I will watch more of your videos as they did lo0k interesting.