Welcome to the Yeller Tomcat Forge!
My Yeller Tomcat Forge is kinda like my books....It ain't big and it ain't fancy, but this place is smokin'!! At one time 'er other, ever piece of gun furniture from locks, barrels, trigger guards an' such has been hammered out in here. This page may take a while to download as there are beau coup photos posted here. I wanted to show a little bit what of goes on inside the blacksmith shop so you can see some of the things that get whomped up on rainy days or whenever we get bored and crave excitement. You know, like breathin' coal smoke, gettin' blisters on yer hands an' arms, or perhaps ketchin' yer clothes on fire! If this is yer kind of fun, like it is mine, set back and scroll down through the gallery. Some of these photos have been on earlier editions of this web site, but others have never been published before. Click on the pictures to enlarge them. Enjoy!
A hand forged, copper brazed, 2 piece butt plate.
An early 1 piece butt plate.
2 barrels. One finished all bright and shiny. The other, scaly & ugly lookin'.
Some of my hand made double sett triggers.
Henrik tending the forge and some of the tongs used in the shop. 'Spose Henrik's smoking too much lately? The last shot is a close up of kasenit being applied to a set of triggers to case harden them. A scrap steel "hood" covers the triggers to keep the heat in better.
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Hammering out the components for an iron trigger guard and what they look like before assembly .
The end result.
A closing note about clinkers: Learn to HATE clinkers!! They can prevent you from welding. They get on your metal and cause all sorts of mischief. They slow the flow of blast to the fire pot. So, it's like I said, learn to HATE clinkers! It really takes skill, but a good blacksmith can remove clinkers without disturbing the fire.
"Dan's Rock"
This clinker was on top of the tuyre iron after a barrel welding session. It came out in one piece and it's been saved for "show & tell".