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Old 10-22-2009, 20:20   #333
Bill Harsey
Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
 
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
Posts: 3,886
Quote:
Originally Posted by wet dog View Post
Have you ever seen old timers make nails on an anvil? Visited a friend the other day, saw him spit out 4 new nails in 1 min.

When he doesn't have a hammer in hand, his parkinson's disease is quite evident. Hammering is his only PT.

WD
Yes, More amazing than it sounds. Traditional forged nails are both tapered and square in cross section and nicely "headed".
Good picture here: http://www.appaltree.net/aba/nails.htm

I've heard stories that some settlers making their way across the west, when moving, would burn down the house and barn to get the nails back. This is how precious these small pieces of forged steel were.

Edited to add:
Wet Dog,
You keep interesting company. All the best to your friend.

Last edited by Bill Harsey; 10-22-2009 at 21:12.
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