BLADE SHOW 2017, Price Announcement

In spite of my best intentions to get an early start on getting ready for the Blade Show, I find myself pushing hard to get a good showing ready in time, as usual.  I have two tables (26R) again this year, and if I can get everything finished up in time I will have them overflowing.

I wanted to drop a quick line to say that I am going to be raising the prices on my forged work after Blade.  This is something I've contemplated for a while, and it's overdue.  It has nothing to do with my victory on Forged in Fire.  My prices have been pretty static for the last couple of years (although the Price Guide has been in need of an update, the prices I have quoted to customers in correspondence has been consistent).  I make working pieces, nothing fancy, but there are several factors behind it.

For one thing, the dollar don't buy what it used to when I started out.  :)  Materials cost more, shipping costs more.  For another, I have become a more-established maker.  I'm not an unknown factor, I have some very good repeat customers for whom I am grateful.  As a craftsman establishes a reputation for producing good work, they tend to charge more than their juvenile efforts brought.

And that is really where the main reason comes into play: I make a better product than I used to.  I have spent a great deal of time, effort, and aggravation trying to make a tool that will serve its owner well for a lifetime.  I have had very positive feedback from customers who have used the heck out of their blades and have been quite happy with them.  The only thing that really seems to aggravate some folks is how blasted long it takes me to get their blade finished and to them sometimes, for which I cannot blame them. 

So the main reason is not inflation or fame (such as it is; a guy at the junkyard recognized me from Forged in Fire the other day!), but for an improved product.

I'm trying to get my mid-tech/stock removal line to a feasible production level to meet customers' desire for my more popular designs, and their prices will be more in line with my current work.  Most of the designs are based on those that I've forged a lot, though as time goes on I hope to introduce all new designs into the lineup.  I have a big list of things I want to do with the mid-tech line!

I'm not yet sure how much the increase will be.  I am making working tools as simply as I can figure out how to while delivering excellent performance and ergonomics.  I don't need to charge what makers building knives with a high degree of embellishment do. 

If you already have an order with me, your price will be what I have already quoted you.  Any inventory left after the Blade Show (and there always is inventory left, I take a *lot* of inventory!) will be the same price it was at the show.  I'm still not taking new orders for forged work unless you are active duty military, law enforcement, or first responders.  But when I do take new orders, or when I make something that is not intended for a particular customer, it will be more after Blade 2017 than before.

Ok, enjoy some pictures of what I have in progress for my tables at Blade 2017!

All forged blades are 80CrV2 steel and will receive various cord wraps for handles.  All stock removal knives are 3/16" 80CrV2 and will have TeroTuf handles.  The stock-removal tomahawks (I pick up the blanks tomorrow from the waterjetter) are 1/4" 4140 and will have TeroTuf handles.

Small forged blades:

 

 

Large forged blades:

Mid-tech Little Roks:

 

 

Mid-tech Benghazi Warfighters:

Mid-tech mini-parangs:

This variation on a sinuous bush sword will be my donation piece for Knife Rights:

And this post-nuclear barbarian sword, with a 21" blade and 33" overall length, will be my centerpiece.

 

Hope to see as many of y'all as possible at the show, and hope the rest of y'all keep your eye on the website to get your hands on what comes back home with me.  :D  Thanks!

Tantos and Bush Swords

I had a couple of finished up tantos go out to a good customer recently.  He's been waiting for the shorter one for a while, and picked up the longer one, which I had forged as a demo of using my power hammer dies, when I posted as available on Instagram.  The shorter one is forged from 80CrV2, with a 9 1/2" blade.  The longer one is 5160, with a 12 1/2" blade.

I did a bit of a variation on my usual wrap with these, matching a wrap I had done on a chopper for him last year.  Over a foundation of neoprene is an underlay wrap of white bleached hemp cord, with tan paracord for the overlay.  And, of course, tan Kydex.

 

He sent me a video of him hacking up a large pumpkin with the longer tanto.  Made short work of it.  :)

And this bush sword was one that I had forged a while back and had the customer disappear on me.  It was kicking around the shop for a while until another customer bought it as his first custom blade.  It's forged from 5160, with a blade length of around 15" - 16" and an integral socket handle. 

 

I had made a Kydex sheath for it, but the customer also got a leather sheath with baldric rig for it from fellow knifemaker Luke Swenson.

 

Nice little detail on the leather, Luke!

 

And a couple more bush swords in 80CrV2 steel, with integral socket handles, black paracord, and 16" blades.

 

 

 

And black Kydex.

 

Forged in Fire, Season 4 Episode 3, Katzbalger

This is the last of my FiF stuff. It's dominated my week, but now I need to get back to working on Blade Show inventory.

A washed-out look at the push knives I did for the first challenge. They can actually be seen better in the reflections.

The katzbalger in its hideous glory:

My second take on the guard. Didn't like how the first one fit, so abandoned it before I finished out the quillions.

And my second take on the handle since I ground through the side into the channel for the tang on the last day. So many things had to be done several times on this that I named it "der doppleschwert".  The pommel was forged from a piece of pipe with the end cap oxy/acetylene welded on. The TeroTuf of the handle fits down into the pommel and the flared tube rivet goes through pommel, TeroTuf, and tang.

And finally, a YouTube video featuring myself and fellow FiF champion Tobin Nieto (season 2, episode 8, Cutlass) reflecting on the show, our experiences with it, and answering common questions and criticisms. It's as long as an episode of FiF, but I think it's both entertaining and informative.

Forged in Fire, Season 4 Episode 3: Katzbalger

#awesomeandhandsome

 

#snackbreak



Forged in Fire, Season 4 Episode 3: The Katzbalger

The preview for my episode:

https://www.facebook.com/HISTORY/videos/10154209843551184/?pnref=story

FORGED IN FIRE - KATZBALGER

Tomorrow night!  (Tuesday, April 18, 8:00 CST)

Here's the episode description:

"For the first time ever, the competitors are challenged with creating not one, but two blades in the first round. With double the pressure and double the work, the bladesmiths are pushed to their limits, which leads to another first–a hospital trip. After a grueling second round, the two remaining smiths have just five days to create an iconic 15th century combat sword–the Katzbalger. Which bladesmith has what it takes to burn through the obstacles in their way and become the next Forged in Fire champion?"

T-shrits available for pre-order!

To quote Yogurt from "Spaceballs", "Moichendizing! Where da real money from da picture is made."

We are taking pre-orders for Helm Enterprises T-shirts, featuring artwork by the talented Matt Dyck @mattdyckstudios and printed on heavy cotton by Texas Special Tees @texasspecialtees. Modeling for artwork done by Tobin Nieto @stonehavenknifeworks

Color will be orange on black.

Prices, shipping not include:
 
Small - XL: $15.00
XXL: $20.00
3XL - 5XL: $25.00

If interested, send me an e-mail at helmforge@gmail.com with "T-shirt" in the subject line. Please include the number of shirts, sizes, and your shipping address. Thanks!