It was noticeable that the gas forge noise in the background was not as intrusive as usual. Your videos just keep getting better. Well done John and thanks for sharing your skill.
You're right to place it's origins in Eastern European countries, my grandparents had one made of wood, but the handle was axe shaped and the stick ended in a metal spike, it was used as a medium cane. It was acquired by their parents so it was quite an old item. This is in a town called Loznica.
In Romania is called “baltag” and was used by the transhumance shepherds for centuries. Nowadays you can buy them as souvenirs but are made entirely of wood.
I’ve always watched till the end and wished that it wasn’t over. A shepherd’s axe is on my to do list… once I’ve become a real blacksmith of course. You inspire me sir!!
Thanks you for this video... :-) Many people don't even know it and not even some Czechs. I have my wooden Wallachian axe after my grandmother. :-) I wish you good, long health and send you greetings from the Czech Republic.
Another great video John. I don't blacksmith and have no intention of ever doing so, but watching your videos has provided endless hours of entertainment for me.
Don't think your videos ever to long for myself, At sometimes I have things that need attention but I always watch em over several or many times, Also I haven't built the mount to hold my 10" bell as I've been to busy gardening and other summer DIY Honey do list stuff to forge. Thank you Sir.
I have a collection of canes that I have either made from scratch or bought from thrift shops and refinished. This project will make a great addition to that collection. Thanks John!
That ending message made me go from liking your content as a helpful education tool, to appreciating you as the creator and caring person you clearly are.
I just wanted to say that I love the video. It’s great to see other smiths still using hand forging for the majority of projects that require bigger steel. It really reassures my appreciation for smiths 300 years ago who still mainly hand forged their projects including the big stuff as well as the time that it takes for these projects
I am a fairly new smith and just finished my first attempt at a tomahawk/ Axe Head. This video will now be my second attempt! Thank you for all the great content!
Great project that I'll add to my list. And I stick with all your videos to the end so I can hear you remind us to get out to our shops, make something, and wear our safety glasses!! 👍🙂
Important note: Do *not* make the head too heavy. If you do, you will find that you become fatigued by the weight of it when using it as a cane, especially on long walks or when hiking.
As always, an enjoyable video. You always say "this isn't how I'd normally do it, but I want to show that people don't need a lot of tools to do this job." --- I'd really enjoy it if you would show how you'd normally do it! I think it would be fascinating to compare, for example, this project back to back with the hand tools and power tools as follow up video.
Hey John! I anxiously await for your videos to come out and Always watch til the end. I've learned and enjoyed your videos so much!! Keep on keeping on!! Hit it HOT and make it move!! Where The Metal Meets The Wood
YT recommended your channel I thought I was watching the backlog untill the end when I realised this was posted 2 hours ago. I can't wait to see what new stuff I can learn. Subscribed 👍
Nice bit of work there, should work well. I don't have a forge myself but I have made walking sticks with a shingling hatchet for a handle and a ball peen hammer as the handle. For a ball handle the ball from a 1 or 2 inch ball valve works well.
Thank you for doing everything by hand. I will never have any power equipment due to my budget and location of my shop. (My basement). So seeing someone older making things with just a hammer makes me feel I can do it. Being 70 it is all a challenge.
Hi John, I have to tell you you are a complete pleasure to watch and learn from! And for sure MOST of us stayed till the end😀, and as soon as I get my house sold and get another one I'll for sure be with you as a channel member.
After making two hammers for my boys, I am just astonished how quickly you punched that hole. You're going through that billet like it was butter! Man I have to do more blacksmithing…
It boggles my mind that someone would turn off the video half way through. Since the first time I watched my first one of your video's years ago I have always watched the entire video. I guess thats the difference betweenentertainment and wanting to learn. As always thanks John!
The only situation I can think about for not finishing the video in one go, is running out of free time. But then, one can jump on back in at the point one left 😁
The truth is that keeping people engaged in a RUclips video is one of the great challenges anyone on RUclips faces. Typically 30% of viewers drop off in the first 60 seconds and its considered a good sign if 50% are still watching at the end. With longer videos I'm lucky if 30% are still there at the end. It will be a few days before those numbers are available for this video. But currently the average viewer is only watching about 40% of the video
@@BlackBearForge Jon it boggles my mind but I know that's true. I have heard other youtubers vent about it as well. Personally I don't see why people even bother if they only watch 1 minute of each video. 21st century... things just don't make sense anymore.
....glad to see that you appreciate all the smoke. it appears that we will be continuing to send you more. there are a few more acres in California that haven't burned recently.
I still really like you showing the non-power tools methods for us newer to the art. Agreed that the propane forge was less noisy in this video and your editing is greatly improving. Keep up the great work and don’t stop learning!
John you are absolutly amazing. It is a tribute to your skill just watching what you can transform odd pieces of metal into. Keep the videos coming. Nobody is bored watching you work. If they are then i suggest they subscribe to a cooking channel. Again thanks for all you teach us.
Chasing my viewers off instead of correcting the things that make them switch off is a sure way to put myself out of the RUclips business. It actually looks like 68% of those who started watching left the video before the end. With an average watch time of 43%. I find this to be fairly typical for videos that go over 20 minutes
I love this type of design. Looking forward to seeing your finished piece. I've been thinking about making my own shepherd's axe, seems like the perfect balance between a wood chopping hatchet, walking stick, and a defensive weapon, a kind of ancient 3-in-1 tool. Something the ancestral northmen must have cherished. I think its similarity to the tomahawk, and the adoption of steel tomahawks by native americans from, stone and copper-alloy axes, speaks to the practicality of this type of multi-tool. I will definitely borrow some of your expertise in crafting this in a couple years time when I get to this project.
I certainly use those tools more when not filming. But at some point I let the folks who like all hand work talk me out of using them as much as I would like in the videos.
Hey again I say wish I had ( or had recornized having a great teacher as you as a student in school Sir , Love that you add some needed safety into your teaching of Blacksmithing as seldom do you tube teacher use a few seconds to give us ( students) a clear time to asorb safety with fire, tools, glasses and just not burning ourselves and hurting ourselves. You are my favorite teacher and a fine person, Always learn something if I can asorb it. Thank you Mr.John Switzer ( Most of the time I can spell your name after saying thanks to you so often Sir:)
Hi John, thanks for sharing, I made it to the end. Several years ago I made something like that out of a RR spike, started out can I drift a hole, then a curved blade. Now what?? Walking stick 🤔👍
Wonderful work, as always. I've wanted to make one of those Fokos things for awhile but never seem to get around to it. Looking forward to seeing the finished product!
Very interesting project. Has a hint of a bearded axe going to it maybe. Really anticipating the next part a good bit. Thanks for your never ending quest for improvement 🙏 Blessed days Mr John! Many well wishes Crawford out 🔥⚒️🧙🏼♂️
You didn't lose me at all. It seems like the quality of your voice to shop noise ratio is really nice in this video. I don't know if it is new gear or you dialing in what you already had but it is working well. Awesome project.
I’ve got a couple of these started in my shop too, looking forward to the next video, I’m wanting to see how you attach your handle too, I like your channel!
I have made 4 walking stick axes, but I look for little shingling hatchet heads or mouse axes, rather than try to forge one (I only just got a forge). They make a good campers/ hikers companion, you can split kindling or pound a tent stake with it nicely. Great minds think alike.
I really appreciate the effort that you put into these videos. It’s especially encouraging to me when you do these no power hammer videos because I personally don’t own a shop, and have all my tools in the bed of my truck. Great video as usual, thanks for the encouragement!
I watch videos over half an hour on RUclips every day. After working 8-5. Bring on the 5 part builds, more sponsors and your fans will still be watching and enjoying the growth of the channel. That will be stunning with a fine finished black hickory handle with a few black,white, and stainless spacers. A nickel silver tip. A gambler's cane. ✌
Just adding to your reason for demonstrating that it can be done by hand... I've accidentally become known for my axes. They are, at this point, ALL done by hand in much the same way, including setting a forge welded cutting bit. Thank you for emphasizing that point.
In Sweden vere I live the "bergsmen" (directly translate mountain man), had those to check the stones in there mine, we have a long tradition of iron production here, we have iron blooms date to year 0.
When saying walking stick I think he is referring to a cane. That is probably why he was making sure it was comfortable to hold during the grinding process. I can't wait until next week to see part 2! I like to think of Mr Switzer as being the Mister Rogers of blacksmithing. 🤣🤣. Thank you for another great video!
It is very interesting to learn how different steeles behave, how they are workable, how much energy have to be put into them (by the forge and the smith), etc. etc. Thanks for showing this!
Very interesting demonstration - I am planning on making at least one for myself. I have Polish friends who talk about the Chupaga - their name for the walking stick axe.
The truth is that keeping people engaged in a RUclips video is one of the great challenges anyone on RUclips faces. Typically 30% of viewers drop off in the first 60 seconds and its considered a good sign if 50% are still watching at the end. With longer videos I'm lucky if 30% are still there at the end. It will be a few days before those numbers are available for this video. But currently the average viewer is only watching about 40% of the video
@@BlackBearForge interesting figures! I mean I get the 30% which turn off after 60 seconds, this sounds familiar: if I discover a video that sound interesting made by a creater I haven't seen yet I might discontinue watching simply because I don't like his style of presentation or video quality or anything else rather obvious to notice in the first minute. But regular viewers or even subscribers turning off after 60 seconds is a mystery to me. I mean they know what you are all about, and they know what the video will be about by the title and thumbnail.l, so what were they expecting? I admit sometimes I don't watch all of your videos until the end, but this very seldomly has something to do with the video itself, but rather with what's going on in my life. And often enough I come back and watch the rest of it later. I don't know if RUclips keeps track of this behavior as well, or if it counts that behavior of mine as "two incomplete watches".
“I’m not gonna make you watch all of that…” “I’ve probably exceeded the attention span of about 70% of you…”? Pretty sure most of us are here to watch you make stuff. Can’t speak for everyone else but I’d be more than happy to watch the whole process, I learn something new from every video. Awesome content
I made one exactly like that with 4140, but put a 1095 bit in it (per customer). Wish I would have made 2 while I was at it. Turned out to be a great tool. Although He ended up cutting his arm checking to see how sharp it was 🤷🏼♂️.
It was noticeable that the gas forge noise in the background was not as intrusive as usual. Your videos just keep getting better. Well done John and thanks for sharing your skill.
You're right to place it's origins in Eastern European countries, my grandparents had one made of wood, but the handle was axe shaped and the stick ended in a metal spike, it was used as a medium cane. It was acquired by their parents so it was quite an old item. This is in a town called Loznica.
In Poland, we call this type of ax "Ciupaga". It is a traditional tool and weapon of mountain shepherds, and formerly of all highlanders.
Thank you. These seem to have a much broader history than I first thought.
In Hungary it is called Fokos
In Romania is called “baltag” and was used by the transhumance shepherds for centuries. Nowadays you can buy them as souvenirs but are made entirely of wood.
I’ve always watched till the end and wished that it wasn’t over. A shepherd’s axe is on my to do list… once I’ve become a real blacksmith of course. You inspire me sir!!
Thanks you for this video... :-) Many people don't even know it and not even some Czechs. I have my wooden Wallachian axe after my grandmother. :-) I wish you good, long health and send you greetings from the Czech Republic.
You are a beast John! I thought I could swing a hammer but dang man.
Another great video John. I don't blacksmith and have no intention of ever doing so, but watching your videos has provided endless hours of entertainment for me.
Cool, thanks
Always stick to the end! I'm looking forward to the adornments you put into this.
Don't think your videos ever to long for myself,
At sometimes I have things that need attention but I always watch em over several or many times, Also I haven't built the mount to hold my 10" bell as I've been to busy gardening and other summer DIY Honey do list stuff to forge.
Thank you Sir.
Make haste slowly as the saying goes.
I have a collection of canes that I have either made from scratch or bought from thrift shops and refinished. This project will make a great addition to that collection. Thanks John!
always a good day when one of your vids surfaces mate
random drive by here. i watched the whole thing and will watch the final parts.
That ending message made me go from liking your content as a helpful education tool, to appreciating you as the creator and caring person you clearly are.
I just wanted to say that I love the video. It’s great to see other smiths still using hand forging for the majority of projects that require bigger steel. It really reassures my appreciation for smiths 300 years ago who still mainly hand forged their projects including the big stuff as well as the time that it takes for these projects
I am a fairly new smith and just finished my first attempt at a tomahawk/ Axe Head. This video will now be my second attempt! Thank you for all the great content!
Yes working hard and resting is great system,
Thanks you Mr. John Switzer for your teaching today and in the past.
Also wear your safety glasses,Sir.
what a beautiful anvil
Always informative and well spoken. And I do stick it out till the end
Great project that I'll add to my list. And I stick with all your videos to the end so I can hear you remind us to get out to our shops, make something, and wear our safety glasses!! 👍🙂
THANK you!
Excellent video. Can’t wait to see the rest of the project.
You and me both!
Important note: Do *not* make the head too heavy. If you do, you will find that you become fatigued by the weight of it when using it as a cane, especially on long walks or when hiking.
As always, an enjoyable video. You always say "this isn't how I'd normally do it, but I want to show that people don't need a lot of tools to do this job." --- I'd really enjoy it if you would show how you'd normally do it! I think it would be fascinating to compare, for example, this project back to back with the hand tools and power tools as follow up video.
Hey John! I anxiously await for your videos to come out and Always watch til the end. I've learned and enjoyed your videos so much!! Keep on keeping on!! Hit it HOT and make it move!!
Where The Metal Meets The Wood
I will watch a three part or even more. All of it too, I enjoy watching you turn chunks of metal into tools, toys and other items.
I sure wish most of the viewers felt that way
After all this time.... I STILL can't stop drooling over that beautiful new anvil... It's quite distracting... LOL
Axe look beautiful.looking forward se e next part👍👍🔥🔥🔥
YT recommended your channel I thought I was watching the backlog untill the end when I realised this was posted 2 hours ago.
I can't wait to see what new stuff I can learn.
Subscribed 👍
Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching
Thanks John!
I always enjoy your videos, John. Frequently they inspire a project down the line. Thanks, well done.
Nice bit of work there, should work well. I don't have a forge myself but I have made walking sticks with a shingling hatchet for a handle and a ball peen hammer as the handle. For a ball handle the ball from a 1 or 2 inch ball valve works well.
Interesting idea. I have promised a walking aid to a friend. The shingle ax cane might be a better approach.
Thank you for doing everything by hand. I will never have any power equipment due to my budget and location of my shop. (My basement). So seeing someone older making things with just a hammer makes me feel I can do it. Being 70 it is all a challenge.
I'm glad it helps out. Although I will probably show more power tools in the future just to get more done in the time I have in the shop
Good Job.
Awesome anvil...!
Thank you so much for these videos! I am learning so much!!
Hi John, I have to tell you you are a complete pleasure to watch and learn from! And for sure MOST of us stayed till the end😀, and as soon as I get my house sold and get another one I'll for sure be with you as a channel member.
Nothing better than patience. Thanks!
After making two hammers for my boys, I am just astonished how quickly you punched that hole.
You're going through that billet like it was butter!
Man I have to do more blacksmithing…
Well, there is some editing for time.
It boggles my mind that someone would turn off the video half way through. Since the first time I watched my first one of your video's years ago I have always watched the entire video. I guess thats the difference betweenentertainment and wanting to learn. As always thanks John!
The only situation I can think about for not finishing the video in one go, is running out of free time. But then, one can jump on back in at the point one left 😁
@@Seelenschmiede
Dead battery comes to mind as something that has happened to me. Hard to see on a dimmed screen at a park in the sun. 🧟♂️🗣👤👁👁
@@Seelenschmiede very true and I for one would go back and finish it.
The truth is that keeping people engaged in a RUclips video is one of the great challenges anyone on RUclips faces. Typically 30% of viewers drop off in the first 60 seconds and its considered a good sign if 50% are still watching at the end. With longer videos I'm lucky if 30% are still there at the end. It will be a few days before those numbers are available for this video. But currently the average viewer is only watching about 40% of the video
@@BlackBearForge Jon it boggles my mind but I know that's true. I have heard other youtubers vent about it as well. Personally I don't see why people even bother if they only watch 1 minute of each video. 21st century... things just don't make sense anymore.
....glad to see that you appreciate all the smoke. it appears that we will be continuing to send you more. there are a few more acres in California that haven't burned recently.
I'm so glad people like you share your knowledge and experience about forging. 😊👍
Glad to help
I still really like you showing the non-power tools methods for us newer to the art. Agreed that the propane forge was less noisy in this video and your editing is greatly improving. Keep up the great work and don’t stop learning!
John you are absolutly amazing. It is a tribute to your skill just watching what you can transform odd pieces of metal into. Keep the videos coming. Nobody is bored watching you work. If they are then i suggest they subscribe to a cooking channel. Again thanks for all you teach us.
Chasing my viewers off instead of correcting the things that make them switch off is a sure way to put myself out of the RUclips business. It actually looks like 68% of those who started watching left the video before the end. With an average watch time of 43%. I find this to be fairly typical for videos that go over 20 minutes
Awesome , mate that 4140 makes rebar look soft ⚒.
I love this type of design. Looking forward to seeing your finished piece. I've been thinking about making my own shepherd's axe, seems like the perfect balance between a wood chopping hatchet, walking stick, and a defensive weapon, a kind of ancient 3-in-1 tool. Something the ancestral northmen must have cherished. I think its similarity to the tomahawk, and the adoption of steel tomahawks by native americans from, stone and copper-alloy axes, speaks to the practicality of this type of multi-tool. I will definitely borrow some of your expertise in crafting this in a couple years time when I get to this project.
I stuck around to the end John, I really like that and have some truck axle that I think will be perfect! Thanks mate.
Much credit for using a hand hammer. If I had a press and hammer in my shop I'd definitely utilize them and probably make more axes and hammers
I certainly use those tools more when not filming. But at some point I let the folks who like all hand work talk me out of using them as much as I would like in the videos.
As always, a superior video! You keep my attention to the very end.
Excellent 👍👍👍. Thanks for sharing
Neat project, I've always admired this type of walking stick.
Watching the early parts reminded me of a cudgel. This would be quite an improvement for a hiking utility.
Hey again I say wish I had ( or had recornized having a great teacher as you as a student in school Sir , Love that you add some needed safety into your teaching of Blacksmithing as seldom do you tube teacher use a few seconds to give us ( students) a clear time to asorb safety with fire, tools, glasses and just not burning ourselves and hurting ourselves.
You are my favorite teacher and a fine person, Always learn something if I can asorb it.
Thank you Mr.John Switzer
( Most of the time I can spell your name after saying thanks to you so often Sir:)
Great stuff as always. thanks for the content. Also, I love the humility it makes the craft feel more approachable.
very cool and unique piece.
I like the look of your new anvil.
good video, I too stuck it out to the end.
Very beautiful job John. Can't wait to see more videos on this. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work John. Forge on. Keep making. God bless.
Once again you’ve outdone yourself! I look forward to seeing you finish this cane!
RUclips keeps recomending me New crafts and i am into all of them
Hi John, thanks for sharing, I made it to the end. Several years ago I made something like that out of a RR spike, started out can I drift a hole, then a curved blade. Now what?? Walking stick 🤔👍
Wonderful work, as always. I've wanted to make one of those Fokos things for awhile but never seem to get around to it. Looking forward to seeing the finished product!
The first time I willingly watch a sponsor ad
A project I have had in mind for a while.
So very keen to keep following the progress on this build
I love it. I made one a few years ago with an ice axe head and point on the other end.
Watched all the way to the end. Can't wait for the rest.
Very interesting project.
Has a hint of a bearded axe going to it maybe.
Really anticipating the next part a good bit.
Thanks for your never ending quest for improvement
🙏 Blessed days Mr John! Many well wishes
Crawford out 🔥⚒️🧙🏼♂️
How did you know I'm hoarding leaf springs??? Great video as always John
You didn't lose me at all. It seems like the quality of your voice to shop noise ratio is really nice in this video. I don't know if it is new gear or you dialing in what you already had but it is working well. Awesome project.
Thanks for sharing with us John, I’ll be here when the morning comes !! Enjoy watching your videos, Fred. 🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋
I stuck it out
nice job
looking forward to the rest
I’ve got a couple of these started in my shop too, looking forward to the next video, I’m wanting to see how you attach your handle too, I like your channel!
Well, i stayed till the end and i enjoyed the video. I'm looking forward to part 2, that is going to be a really cool axe!
Great stuff mate 👍 top video mate 👍
Thanks 👍
Watched to the end, John. Great project.
I have made 4 walking stick axes, but I look for little shingling hatchet heads or mouse axes, rather than try to forge one (I only just got a forge).
They make a good campers/ hikers companion, you can split kindling or pound a tent stake with it nicely.
Great minds think alike.
I really appreciate the effort that you put into these videos. It’s especially encouraging to me when you do these no power hammer videos because I personally don’t own a shop, and have all my tools in the bed of my truck. Great video as usual, thanks for the encouragement!
I watch videos over half an hour on RUclips every day. After working 8-5. Bring on the 5 part builds, more sponsors and your fans will still be watching and enjoying the growth of the channel. That will be stunning with a fine finished black hickory handle with a few black,white, and stainless spacers. A nickel silver tip. A gambler's cane. ✌
Just adding to your reason for demonstrating that it can be done by hand... I've accidentally become known for my axes. They are, at this point, ALL done by hand in much the same way, including setting a forge welded cutting bit. Thank you for emphasizing that point.
Awesome
I’m going to gave a go at making one of these.
Thanks for the inspiration
Till the end again!🍻
Good job sir
In Sweden vere I live the "bergsmen" (directly translate mountain man), had those to check the stones in there mine, we have a long tradition of iron production here, we have iron blooms date to year 0.
When saying walking stick I think he is referring to a cane. That is probably why he was making sure it was comfortable to hold during the grinding process. I can't wait until next week to see part 2! I like to think of Mr Switzer as being the Mister Rogers of blacksmithing. 🤣🤣. Thank you for another great video!
Yes, that seems to be the way they were used.
It is very interesting to learn how different steeles behave, how they are workable, how much energy have to be put into them (by the forge and the smith), etc. etc.
Thanks for showing this!
Very interesting demonstration - I am planning on making at least one for myself. I have Polish friends who talk about the Chupaga - their name for the walking stick axe.
Came is on my list of things to make.. but I was going to make the handle out of copper and steel. I can’t wait to see how you attach it
Same here, I'm still thinking about the exact details.
Show de bola meu amigo está tomahawk.
Don't worry about our attention spans too much, John! Even 45 minute videos would be perfectly fine for a Sunday afternoon watch 👍
The truth is that keeping people engaged in a RUclips video is one of the great challenges anyone on RUclips faces. Typically 30% of viewers drop off in the first 60 seconds and its considered a good sign if 50% are still watching at the end. With longer videos I'm lucky if 30% are still there at the end. It will be a few days before those numbers are available for this video. But currently the average viewer is only watching about 40% of the video
@@BlackBearForge interesting figures! I mean I get the 30% which turn off after 60 seconds, this sounds familiar: if I discover a video that sound interesting made by a creater I haven't seen yet I might discontinue watching simply because I don't like his style of presentation or video quality or anything else rather obvious to notice in the first minute. But regular viewers or even subscribers turning off after 60 seconds is a mystery to me. I mean they know what you are all about, and they know what the video will be about by the title and thumbnail.l, so what were they expecting?
I admit sometimes I don't watch all of your videos until the end, but this very seldomly has something to do with the video itself, but rather with what's going on in my life. And often enough I come back and watch the rest of it later. I don't know if RUclips keeps track of this behavior as well, or if it counts that behavior of mine as "two incomplete watches".
I just finished forging a pipe hawk myself, thank you for sharing your process. 👏
This did end up looking like a pipe hawk.
Very nice, once again. Looking forward to the next video on this. Thank you John.
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare:
skl.sh/blackbearforge08211
I have also wanted to make one og those shepards axes for years!!
Great video!
Valaška is the Czech and Slovak name for the shepherd's axe. Valashka is the Rusyn name.
Nice video man..
You're video isn't too long for me.
“I’m not gonna make you watch all of that…” “I’ve probably exceeded the attention span of about 70% of you…”?
Pretty sure most of us are here to watch you make stuff. Can’t speak for everyone else but I’d be more than happy to watch the whole process, I learn something new from every video. Awesome content
It would be great if everyone felt that way. For this video the average watch time is at 43% with 32% still watching at the very end
I wouldn’t want to take a right punch from you 😂
nice work !
I made one exactly like that with 4140, but put a 1095 bit in it (per customer). Wish I would have made 2 while I was at it. Turned out to be a great tool. Although He ended up cutting his arm checking to see how sharp it was 🤷🏼♂️.