Vanguard Smithing

Tanto knife beveled and sharpened! Now onto the stiletto :)

Doesn't look like much but this machine here, a Dewalt portable ban saw DWM120 installed into a SWAG table mount brings into the shop a ban saw that can cut anealed 1095 high carbon steel AND wood very quickly (in terms of small projects and knives) at a fraction of the cost and footprint of either a wood ban saw, or a monster metal ban saw. Already done a few tests and it works beautifully :D

Three blades quenched and in the oven for tempering! 1095 high carbon steel quenched in peanut oil!

And here is the quiver update! We made it a few years ago, but now it's properly stitched (saddle stitch), died, with a rolled upper rim, and hand engraved aluminum accents! I'm getting to enjoying engraving! But definitely need to practice more xD what do you all think :D?

Practicing chisel and hammer engraving for a quiver for my wife! Here is a look at how to make a nice even weave!

I uploaded a few photos when I got my first anvil, a Real Anvil, last year xD but didn't post this one xD my wife troll this as I found it on the porch :) It just embodies everything I felt and that perfect moment :) For those of you wondering it's a 100lb TFS Cast Steel Anvil from Pieh Tools! #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl6-keUAPat/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17x93owxpk4ns

Using my 10" santoku to cut my 9" 30th birthday cake :D was able to do some more work on two yanagiba and a santoku! Now off to celebrate! Btw razor sharp carbon steel blades make great cheesecake knives xD #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

Using my 10" santoku to cut my 9" 30th birthday cake :D was able to do some more work on two yanagiba and a santoku! Now off to celebrate! Btw razor sharp carbon steel blades make great cheesecake knives xD #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

Edward Elric and Winry Rockbell- so fun to have @pinkvalkyriecosplay join me this year for my full metal Alchemist cosplay! Was a fun day! Thanks @ic4262 for the great shots! Our phones couldn't handle the low lighting as well #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire #edwardelric #winryrockbell #fullmetalalchemist

Kingdom Hearts fan fiction? Spoilers? Edward Elric and Kairi? :D This is one of my favorite pictures of my Edward this weekend, but it just might be because I'm with my wife! Edward arm and leg fabricated from leather and aluminum, Kairi Dress made from scratch by Sarah Cruz, and keyblade by @amayavanguard #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire #kairi #kh3 #fullmetal #edwardelric #fullmetalalchemist

Great shot from @that1cameraguy ! Airways looking for good shots of my Mumen Rider xD Thanks for the great shot! Mumen Rider- made from copper, leather, and aluminum #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire #Mumenrider #onepunch

Great shot from @that1cameraguy ! Airways looking for good shots of my Mumen Rider xD Thanks for the great shot! Mumen Rider- made from copper, leather, and aluminum #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire #Mumenrider #onepunch

When you run into cosplayers you follow in Instagram :D Was fun to meet and take some photos with @amberarden at @ax2018! She had some amazing crossover Disney and star wars designs :) as well as a lot of awesome disneybounds! #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

At #animeexpo2018 and today is my lazy day where I put on a bunch of armor from around the shop, tomorrow is Mumen Rider and Genos, and Saturday is Ed and Alphonse Elric! #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

Let the wetstone honing, and sharpening begin! 6" 1095 yanagiba, every blade leaving my shop gets at least 2 hours of hand honing, polishing, and stone sharpening! #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

After cutting out with power tools it's sometimes better to go old school, with rasps and files to get long straight lines, even edge bevels, and small details #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire

At one point today during heat cycling and quenching three blades, a 6" and 8" Yanagiba, and a 8" Chef Deba, I heard my forge making a crazy sound- it sounds like a jet rumble so when I shit it off I heard an actual jet mirroring my forge but at a different pitch, then lot back up and wings to work xD #vanguardsmithing #leonvanguard #blacksmithing #homemade #metal #anvil #cosplay #blacksmith #armored #armor #doityourself #leather #leathersmithing #charcoal #bladesmith #highcarbon #raising #dishing #forgedinfire #myday #forge #forgedinfire