The Armour Archive

My first 4130 stuff was "get me on the field in this nifty metal" gear. I was learning how to use the kiln more than anything else. But now that I've got that working and I have vaguely passable 4130 gear I've decided it's time to try to make something that actually looks right too. I'm taking my time with this.

So the first thing - legs. I originally used Sinric's 15c pattern on my first go. It's an excellent pattern but the legs I made just don't sit well on me. It's one of those "now that I've done this I know what I did wrong" things.

And I figured since I'm taking my time I'm going to make them look better. Not just work better but look better. I'm still using Sinric's pattern but I'm improvising. First time I've ever put my own thought into the shapes. It will be unrecognizable as Sinric's when I'm done.

So anyways here's my first knee cop. It's been shaped, planished, and scrubbed into shape with a 100 grit sanding wheel. So it's a little rough yet - no polish. No point since the next thing I'm going to do with it is put it in the kiln. But I think it's worth looking at even without the polish yet.

Plus I'm excited. This may be my first visually appealing piece.

Hi Louis, that is a fine looking cop, I like the scalloped back edge on the fan, and I always struggle getting the triangle indent that deep and crisp. Can you tell us the steps you used to form the triangle fan detail? I also like the way the transition from cop to fan is rounded and not square. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work. I cant wait to see progress pics.

Thank you

Pitbull

Thanks Pitbull

Triangle fan was heat it up to red, getting the point where everything comes together the hottest, then hammering it over the edge of an anvil. It was a stretching thing - all the credit goes to Halberds for telling me how to do it. Did that in passes. Bend, straighten, bend, straighten...

Crisped up the lines over my fluting stake, then cheated a bit and crisped them up even more using my radial sander. Flutes were cut out with a dremel and a reinforced cutting disc.

...and I'll bet you can guess why I need one of your extra groovy belts now, right?

Louis, what thickness 4130 did you use on this?

That's not cheating a bit, that's how you crisp up such creasing and fluting. The stake and hammer can only do so much; file and grind lends the finishing touch.

That cop is gonna clean up nice!!! Wow wow wow.

+1 to the Red

That's not cheating a bit, that's how you crisp up such creasing and fluting. The stake and hammer can only do so much; file and grind lends the finishing touch.

That cop is gonna clean up nice!!! Wow wow wow.


Louis the leather guy says the dang leather is in the mail but its not here yet, any time though. What is your waist measurement? Ill get it ready before you even pay for it.


Have a good weekend!

Pitbull

sha-ul wrote:Louis, what thickness 4130 did you use on this?

.040. I usually use .040 for the cops and .030 for the lames on legs. Arms I use .030 for cops and .025 for lames.

Pitbull Armory wrote:What is your waist measurement? Ill get it ready before you even pay for it.

36" jeans are comfy. And thanks - I appreciate the speedy work. Although it's not necessary...it'll be a while until these legs are ready. Really, no rush on these.

You have a good weekend too.

Jolly well done Louis de Leon,

Fine shape and form.
What did you use as your dish?
The heat treating cycle is a + plus.

Kudos and more progress pics.

Hal

Thanks Hal

Piece is raised from flat over a 1.25" dogleg stake. No dishing form used.

Second cop. Rough formed, ready for a little planishing and grinding.