Todd,
Welcome to the porch, hope you hve as much fun as i do.

rick
in wyoming

At 08:25 AM 5/17/99 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi there folks, after trying for awhile to get on the porch, I finaly made
>it, [ thanks Tom and George!] I live here on the eastern shore of Md. with
>my wife and 2 mean dogs, Bonzo, a pit dog and TonTon a filia brasilerio, [
>a type of mastif from S.America bred to hunt slaves and indians]...I do
>blacksmith work for a living, making mostly authentic 18th cent. axes and
>knives. Starting to get interested in making tools now also.Do everything
>the old way, I don't own any morden welders or such, rather I forge weld my
>axes, [ most are made from 4 sections of iron and steel]  and do any other
>welding in my old 19th cent. hand crank coal forge.Have a complete
>blacksmith shop of old tools that I use every day.I think the best way to
>make a faithfull copy of a 18th cent. object is to use the tools and
>methods that was used originaly to make it. I have reached the point were I
>have as much work as a lazy man can handle with customers all around the
>world....We also sell antiques, with me sort of specilizing in antique
>tools. Since I work when I want we can go to at least 3 or 4 auctions and
>flea markets a week in search of that ellusive bargin here in the tool
>heaven of the n. east Do have to admit to keeping more and more stuff for
>myself. Very lucky in that my wife doesn't care what I buy or collect as
>long as  I keep it out in the shop or in my one room in the house. After
>all I don't say anything about what she collects,[tooth brush holders,
>mounted animals, victorian mourning jewelry and funeral photos of dead
>children].I am mainly interested in collecting 18th and early 19th cent.
>tools, and also have a weakness for split screw saws and craftsman made/
>repaired tools.Along with tools I also collect slavery items,[ mainly slave
>restraints and runway slave adds]..., guns,[  everything from a registed
>maxim machine gun to muzzle loaders], am particulary keen on english
>flintlocks and american powder horns,[ have 120 horns now!]...Am always
>eager in getting others started in blacksmithing and if I can be of help to
>anyone out there I do hope that you contact me ...Do think I have a good
>life and can honestry say I would'nt want to trade places with
>anyone...Well I think I should bring this rather long[ and no doubt boring]
>Bio to a close....will talk with you all later..now take care..Todd
>
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