Hello all, I'd like to extend an invitation for you to take part in an Iron in the Hat knife swap, featuring friction folders, being run at the Neo-Tribal Forum here on the CKD! All knifemakers are welcome and the only requirement is that the blade of the friction folder be forged to any extent that you wish. All participants regardless of knifemaking style and level of experience are welcome!
Let me expand on this Iron in the Hat knife swap and the Neo-Tribal knifemakers a bit if you are not already familiar with them. The Neo-Tribal movement, as started and expounded by knifemakers Tim Lively and Tai Goo, encourages knifemakers to forge knives as closely to finished shape as possible using less than 10% stock removal to get to a finished blade. The pure practitioners also strive to use only hand tools during the knife making process and only charcoal for forging and natural adhesives like cutlers resin instead of epoxy. Hammer finishes on blades are encouraged. Most use varying degrees of the above described practices, the only rule for the Neo-Tribalist is "No Rules". If you'd like to learn more, come on over to the Neo Tribal Outpost, just use your pull down links at the bottom of the page or click on the link below:

pub42.ezboard.com/fcustomknifedirectoryforumfrm23 (http://pub42.ezboard.com/fcustomknifedirectoryforumfrm23)

The Iron in the Hat (IITH) swap is very simple. Those who sign up to forge a friction folder make a knife and on August 4, 2001 a random drawing will be held of all the participants. The knife you make goes to another participant and you receive a knife in return from someone else. If you are new at making knives or folders this is a great learning oppurtunity. Friction folders (a/k/a clasp knives, penny knives, mountain man knives, etc.) are simple springless knives that utilize the tightness of the peened pivot pin to control the action of the blade. The handle is usually a piece of antler, but wood or other materials could be used instead. Needless to say the makers best effort (as related to his or her skill level and level of experience) is expected. Tutorials have been posted at the Outpost forum so come on over!

If you want to sign up and make a friction folder for the swap just send your name and email address to the following
mail box:

iith4@yahoo.com

Thank you for your time and please consider making a knife. You might win the first folder someone has ever made or you might win the knife of an experienced maker. That's all part of the fun and it is a great learning experience regardless.

Guy Thomas

Yeah, c'mon and join in; everybody is welcome to join in the IITH drawing. Like Guy said, we're doing friction folders this time around. We will have people from every level of Neo-Tribalism participating--from the die hards and hard cores, who do their knifemaking totally Neo-Tribal, to some who are just learning, and some who just want to get in on a knife swap. There are folks who forge with charcoal they have made themselves and some who forge with gas. Some who use no power tools and some who do--we're not going to get hung up about rules and regulations when it comes to something this much fun.

So what I'm trying to say is, don't let it stop you from signing up if you don't consider yourself as Neo-Tribal as someone else, or you don't consider yourself Neo-Tribal at all. We just ask your best effort--whatever your skill level affords. There's no jurying or judging of pieces. We have beginners and professionals and everybody goes home a winner.

We really hope you will join in the fun. If you have any questions or need any help, any of us in the Tribe will be glad to lend a hand.

Finally, do not be intimidated by things you may have heard about the Neo-Tribal Metalsmiths eating their dead and drinking from the skulls of their enemies. There's absolutely no truth in them. Well, OK, maybe a little bit of truth, but not a whole lot. Also, remember there's not one shred of credible evidence to substantiate all those stories about drunken orgies, branding, quenching blades in live subjects, shape shifting into wolves at the full moon, sacrificial virgins, cannibalism, looting and general pillaging when it comes to the Neo-Tribal Metalsmiths. I'm sure you'll find us warm, fuzzy and quite loveable once you get to know us. :)

Is there a deadline for the swap?

I am interested but have a few to finish first.There is probably a few more interested with the same problem.Will there be another if we miss this one?

Mike, the drawing will be August 4 of this year. As long as it's ready by then, all is cool. Hope you can participate--we'd love to have you.