First Tool on the Forge: Scraper for Buffalo Hides | 1800's | INDIGENOUS HISTORY | BLACKSMITHING |
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- Peter begins to scrape his buffalo hides and comes to the quick realization that the tool he has fashioned is inadequate. He heads to his 1800's log cabin blacksmith shop to make a new tool. He also shows off his new gun smithing bench. And during a coffee break, he gives a wee bit of the history of the buffalo in North America during the late 1800's.
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Featuring - Peter Kelly
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Catherine Wolfe
Contact Us: thewoodlandescape1@gmail.com
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MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends, Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald.
#forging #stoneforge #blacksmithing #DIY #selfsufficiency #pioneer #1800s #frontier #history #townsends #earlyamerican #tanning #buffalo
I was a horrible student in history in my younger years over 50 years ago. My teachers couldn't engage me unlike yourself because I now realize they were just so plain boring. It wasn't the history that put me to sleep. It was the teachers. You bring history to life and entertain us through living history for us Peter. Job well done.
I on the other hand had some amazing teachers particularly my grade 10 history teacher who established a life long passion for history.
A "GOOD Teacher " is worth there weight In gold.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I had a similar experience before going on to get a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in journalism. My interest in history has abided through the years.
What a year of JOY it has been to visit you weekly at your cabin, and now workshop,in the Woods. Thank you very much for sharing your fire and cabin with us. May we have many more, my friend☕☕
Blessings from a beautiful green Summer in Africa.
You’ve certainly been a very dedicated viewer, Christiaan, means a lot to us.
Mad Respect for You Peter🪔
☕☕love your style of Teaching
‘Open for Business’, congratulations on your shop Peter!
Thanks, Dick.
Thank you for such a great history lesson. It is so tragic the Indians and also wiping out the Buffalo. It’s so great to see the Buffalo herds return. I have been able to experience the Buffalo in Yellowstone and the earth shaking when they just walk is amazing to experience. I can only imagine a massive herd on the plains and the thunder when they run. Thank you for sharing. We need to keep our history alive to teach the youth our history. Good and the bad.
I agree Beverly, there is no need to sugarcoat our past. However, you’d think that by studying it things might get better. I’ll remain optimistic.
A buffalo hide scraper is the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person on the list.
That’s funny .. first laugh of the day, thank you.
Good morning Brothers
Top. Of the mento you Michael.
Meant, top of the morning, lol.
The shop is really coming together. You have quite the task with that hide. Have a blessed new year.
Some of our history is sad. Thanks for sharing. If I don't eat it, I don't shoot it.
That is a good motto to live by Douglas.
I love this channel of yours. Wish it was all on a CD. Just a thought. I love your riflemen's frock, Just be careful around the fire with fringe. It catches on fire very fast. More than once in my 40 years as a Boilermaker ripped clothing with fringe would catch on fire. I look forward each week waiting for your new video. Keep them coming.
I do normally wear an apron and your spot on about the fringes. An even scarier thing is to see smiths wear non natural fabrics … an accident waiting to happen.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Yes the bison is a true powerhouse of an animal. I have been fortunate to have grown up near a small herd in a state park that is local to me. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
We see them on our trips to the NW Territories and the Yukon but, only see them on farms here inAstern Ontario. Watch yer top knot!
Your videos are awesome on showing our past. Please keep it up and going please.
Thank you Kent for the encouraging words.
Nice photo at the end by Gary Gray. So sad of the loss of Indians and bison. Must have been a sight to see bison as the eye could see back then. Thank you for that wee bit of History. You are doing a fabulous job with the forge.
Thanks so much.
Thank you Peter
Our pleasure , Charles.
Thank you Peter for another lovely informational video
Thanks Ian.
Love the way the forge turned out
I love this UA-cam channel. Always interesting, informative and great entertainment. Keep up the good work.
Thank you very much!
Good morning from Syracuse NY USA brother and everyone else thank you for sharing your live history videos
As always Peter informative and well done!!! Keep teaching Brother it's more important than you know.
Appreciate that James.
Peter, I love your story telling as much as your construction and the projects you do, the forge heat needed to forge weld is defiantly there.
Thanks Brent and as to heat, I actually burnt up a small piece to see just how hot I could get it.
Now, I know a little about the process of annealing and tempering, Peter. I've made several good knives and other tools from carbon steel, but have never used a forge. What I have used is an acetylene torch and grinder and after metal is hardened it is indeed as brittle as glass for I have dropped them and seen the result. The best metal I ever found for making a knife came from an old wagon seat spring.
Spring steel does have a pretty high carbon content. A knife doesn’t need to be fancy … is it sharp and does it cut, than it’s an knife!
@@TheWoodlandEscape old files make a good Sharpe cutting edge but they're hard to amneal and you can almost stand and watch the metal rust. They'll snap under pressure like a tooth pick. Once saw mill blades can't be easily tempered. They'll return to their original temper. I've used 0-1 and found it to be good stuff.
lol I got the same hand crank grinder you have mounted on your bench! man.... when I was a child my mom bummed me out at a yardsale there was a VERY NEAT antique working cast iron blower forge with a foot pedal it was about the size of a small traditional cheap webber charcool grill for 20 bucks...i wanted that thing soooooo bad ......"Nope you and your dad got enough rusty junk already!!"......I even saved up and went and knocked on the door...but it was sold i was like.... BAHHHHHHHHHHUMMMER MAN! (love ya mom
I hear you Tom … if she only knew how important that was for you.
The near extinction of the bison and the Indigenous Peoples is a huge darkness on humankind. How interesting that many look to Indigenous Elders for wisdom and guidance in modern times. Of course the elimination of the bison totally changed the environment for the worse. On a far happier note is your fine blacksmiths shop Peter! Thank You Kindly! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
I do love my shop, but with my fort building not getting much if anytime to spend in it. As you point out, our eradication of the bison is a darkness!
and the Blacksmith shop is awesome. Most excellent.
Thank you.
Excellent video! I don't think there is a tool that you can't make now Peter! 😁😁
I can make most things to be functional even if I can’t make them pretty, lol.
nice bit of history. A lot of people don't realize or simply ignore the evil and destruction men are capable of. Message!
So true , Charles.
Another great video enjoyed with my morning coffee. Not the first tool I would have thought you would make but what a dandy!! Love the gunsmith bench addition. Best to you both. 🐾🙏🏻✌🏻
Thanks Scott and the gunsmith gift corner turned out pretty good.
"WOW" that fleshing appears to be quite a formidable task. Thanks for another great video and the interesting bit of history. We don't have much to be proud of in some of the things our forefathers did. The bellows appear to be doing the job very well. I am anticipating many more interesting forge projects in the future.
Thanks Hayward. I am pretty pleased with the performance of the bellows. Now I just have to learn the trade, lol.
My first thought at beginning of video was "that looks like a bark spud" LOL congrats on completing your first tool in the forge.
Thank you and it is a bark spud again, lol.
I saw bison in the Land Between the Lakes Ky. There were not the wood bison they were wiped out by the Battle of Blue Licks. The first trail of tears happened in the Finger Lakes in 1779.Capt. Caldwell's group got some 5000 natives across the Niagara river while Walt and John Butler did a rear Gard action of the Sullivan Expedition.
I am sure you already know this however. Annealing is indeed a slower process but makes the steel softer and provides the more stress relief. Normalizing is faster but does not provide as good of stress relief and is more cost effective. You can anneal with wood ash as you do however you can also use clay/kitty litter-sand-vermiculite are all good options godbless and be safe.
Thanks for the tips
Love the shop.
Us too, thank you.
Hello Peter! Send Holiday Blessings to you and your Family! Much Love to all!
Absolutely Love your way of life. Wishing I could do the same. I tanned a red fox Hide for my son's Regalia he wore it on his head at our Pow wow gatherings!! Our Medicine man came out & Danced with him. He was so honored to Dance with his Elder. Thank you for keeping the old Traditions alive!! Keep on Keeping! Many Blessing!
❤🙌❤🌟❤🙌❤
I can imagine how proud yo must have been as well. We certainly appreciate your interest and support. Happy New Year to you and. Your clan.
I love to hear your “wee bits of history” Peter and congratulations on the successful new forge.
Happy New Year to you and Cathy.
Kind words Jay, thank you and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and yours.
Shop looks great.
I’m kinda liking it Debbie and it’s pretty darn functional.
Again I offer my deepest respect for your demonstration of how hard work and perseverance pay off. Having watched all your videos, seeing the finished shop working as planned is so vicariously satisfying. Thank you for sharing! 🙏😊❤️
Oh my, Lori, to have watched all our videos is not simply watching it is a commitment. You have indeed been an avid follower in our journey and we sincerely appreciate your encouragement. Happy / healthy New Year to you and yours.
Hey Peter! It looked like the "New Scrapper" was doing a much better job with less effort! I seem to recall that the First Peoples used a beaver's front tooth, set in a wooden handle, to scrape the hides. "Uncle Billy" Sherman was a complex man. Personally kind and thoughtful, yet ruthless in war, because he knew it was so destructive, that it was better to make it so horrible and repulsive, that it would be the choice of last resort and short, if it was chosen. The comeback and recovery of the Bison gives me hope that this magnificent creature will be around as long as we are.
I can’t imagine how they tackled these big hides with stone and bone. Sherman did most likely end both wars a wee bit quicker but, regardless of his personal side he will be reviled for decades to come.
@@TheWoodlandEscape When it was the women doing most (i.e. all) of the work... the men didn't mind at all. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! The path of destruction that was blazed across the South... and later the West, under his direction, can still be traced today. I believe that his reputation is a price that he would be willing to pay for to achieve the larger goals he envisioned.
Sad but true.
Wow what a nice hide!! I have to admit I’m a little excited about the smitty videos!! Your probably thinkin why didn’t I build this place sooner?? So cool Peter…. How men could butcher and treat one another so horribly, alludes me to this day. Always raised my kids and drove it into their upbringing to be the giver not the taker and you’ll never be without.
Well Daniel, we both agree on how you’ve raised your children. There are two hides, one is hiding behind the one I’m working on.
Hi Peter, the shop is a dandy! Thanks for the history bit. 2 men I despise from history are Sherman and Custer. Mostly because of war crimes committed against the south during the war. I grew up 45 minutes from Monroe MI where Custers' residence stands with some of his relics on display. Also, his Statue stands in an arrogant fashion. I never would go upon the request of my wife many times. Anyway, I enjoy blacksmithing much more. In fact, as a hobby thinking about giving a go myself come spring. Have fun with the forge. Take care see ya next time 👍
We’re on the same page, Gil. You should try your hand at smithing, it is a wonderful hobby.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I sure am going to give it a try. Your Blacksmith shop build has really inspired me, Thanks
great video - i don’t have any of this equipment but i love watching how its done - and very informative thanks and happy 2023
Glad you’re enjoying.
Hello from Detroit Michigan
And A Happy New Year from Canada.
Have you always been interested in blacksmithing or is this a new endeavor? You certainly seem knowledgeable.
I studied metallurgy in college but, blacksmithing is something I’ve dabbled at for years but, never took too serious. I plan to change that and try an immerse myself into it.
My brother also has a Metallurgical Enginerring degree ( his from UMR, Rolla, MO ). His exposure was but putting together a black-powder rifle. His initial testing had an excessive powder load in it. Result was a shot which almost removed his sholder!! He has since learned with much better success!
Ah, that old trial an error method, lol
Another awesome video! I love the shop! All that beautiful wood! I am not much of a blacksmith! Hope you and your family had a good Christmas and that you will have a good new year! I noticed you didn't get as much snow there as we got here!
Not much snow and in fact, given the forecast perhaps it will all be gone this week. Might have to go north for some winter trekking.
Ranch I work for here in Texas has a herd of about 22-25 Bison on it
That would be awesome to work with these animals.
As always a exciting vedio....
Thanks, Everett.
Hello there my friend. So glad that everything is working out as planned. The forge the bellows ,I can't wait until you start putting out videos of forging various tools and just whatever else. Thanks for entertaining this here fella. Have a good day Peter
We’re glad you find it entertaining, Phillip.
I don't think I'll ever watch any other time period videos again except yours , incredibly interesting.
P.s. can I come and live with you?
😁
Well Kerry that’s a pretty flattering compliment, thank you. As to moving in, good as long as you’re not afraid hard work and like simple fare.
A big chunk of the story of the buffalo is omitted. Catte men tried to domesticate the buffalo by crossing them with domestic cattle, but buffalo are difficult to handle, and the project failed. However what it did do was leave the buffalo as a hodge podge of hybrids, except for a few animals. A pedigree herd was established in Yellowstone, and they are the only animals of pure blood in the US. Nowadays there is interest in ranching buffalo. Stud books are kept to try to breed out domestic cattle genes. To the uninformed the buffalo look like the wild type , except they still carry domestic genes. Bison meat is far lower in cholesterol than beef, and can be found in local supermarkets. There are now a half million bison in the US in various sized herds, but there are none that touch the herds of yesteryear
Fascinating information, Stephen, thanks for sharing.
This is seriously good stuff!! Well done👍🏽🤓
Thank you.
Never a dull moment at the blacksmith shop, i learn something new with-in every episode and that work bench top looks amazing, what a beautiful addition to the workshop, happy healthy new year to you Peter and Cathy
Thanks Elwood and wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year.
Love your videos I've learned so much
I'm so glad, thank you.
Another great and informative video Peter. Happy New Year to you and family!
Happy new year to you and yours as well.
You have done an excellent job making your tool! Congratulations! See you next time.
Thank you very much!
Hi Peter
Wishing you and Cathy, a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!
Thanks for the excellent "Forging 101" course. I have lots of questions so maybe we can discuss the process when next we meet.
The wee bit of history was informative and caused me to reflect. Sad that man's inhumanity to man and the wanton overuse of nature still drives our societies. It seems we are good at "talking the talk, but not walking the talk". Seems we will never learn!
I believe it was philosopher George Santayana who paraphrased it with his statement, "those who can't remember the past, are condemned to repeat it".
Seems to me he was right on the mark!
Thanks so very much for those "wee bit of history" sessions.
Best Regards to both of you.
That is such a valid quote. Oth then and now. We look forward to your next visit.
Hi Peter, great to see your progress. I have done some smithing at Lincoln's New Salem, and the forge there has a two-chamber bellows, similar to yours, that I enjoy using. The one in my shop is a more modern, hand crank type from Champion Blower Co. ca 1900. The only thing holding my anvil are boards cut into the concave areas of the base, on each side, and nailed down, that's it.
Well plain and Simple, your hold in place anvil idea certainly sounds “ Plain and Simple”… kinda the way I like most things.
Happy new year Peter & family 😃👍
And a Happy New Year to you and your clan.
I love the artisanal engineering!
Thank you, Bernadette.
@@TheWoodlandEscape
I would love to be able to visit you someday, and have you teach me some important skills…such as making moccasins for myself, forging tools, and woodworking the traditional ways
If your ever in Eastern Ontario we’ll see what we can do.
@@TheWoodlandEscape
I’m getting ready for a move to Northern Michigan - probably still a ways from Ontario, but much closer than from here in California
That is one awesome blacksmith shop 👍👍👍👍 great job
Thank you, now to get to work making stuff.
Another fine video Peter. Look forward to the next one. That's one fine shop coming together. By far the best show on UA-cam. And TV for that matter. Have a happy healthy New year!
Thanks Jack and a Happy New Year to you and your clan as well.
I sure do enjoy watching you work in your forge, it’s quite the treat. History it’s a bit hard to take, of course it’s nothing I didn’t already know.😞
Thank you.
Thanks Richard. Your right, sometimes history is a hard pill to swallow but, swallow it we must.
Love the teaching!
Flattered Tammy
Hi Peter,
Excellent film. Loving watching you work with the new forge. Your history lessons are great too. What happened to the native Americans was tragic (an understatement) and human being are still treating their fellow human beings in the same way, the human race will never learn sadly. Did the native Indians of Canada suffer in the same way?
Kind regards,
Mark
We didn’t have wars like our neighbors to the south, but we cheated them out of their land, that’s for sure and started the horrible Residential School System.
GREAT SCRAPER!!! NICE job!!
Thank you.
Well I absolutely must Thank You for sharing your knowledge of the days we should never forget. I share with my grandchildren while they will listen. But seriously Thank you
It’s flattering to think a few children watch, even if it’s for a few minutes, lol. We certainly appreciate your interest, Kathy.
Blacksmith shop is really looking great!! I imagine we will all be treated with many videos from this location in the years to come... well Done Peter.
The brutality of humanity is incredible
I guess we just can't comprehend their times .. but it sure looks sad from 2023.
Mans inhumanity to man. Seems it never ends. Thanks for the compliment on the shop and yes I plan to be spending a lot of time in it.
Nice work and good history. How can you keep the leather on the billows from drying out and cracking?
I plan on treating it about once a month.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year Mr. Peter. I hope the next 364 days treat you with the respect and reverence you show to the earth and the animals around you! I hope you film the lock work on the flintlock you have to repair, I may learn something to help me with mine!
And Happy healthy new year to you as well Victor. I’m sure we’ll be filming some flintlock work soon.
Happy new year from North Dakota! Forge is looking beautiful!
Thanks Ryan and a Happy New Year to you and your clan.
Good video!
Hopefully you had a good Christmas 😊 interesting Bison history.
My friend Rod in Warkworth Ontario owns Century Game Park and offer ELK and BISON products great people and long history of farming in Northumberland county.
Funny you should bring up Rod’s farm as that as where we picked up the two hides. Happy New Year to you and your clan.
@@TheWoodlandEscape awesome! he’s a great guy😊he knows me as Rick from the factory a few years ago.
Happy New Years!
Been catching up on your videos, been away for a while, it is just wild to think the America's and Canada had buffalo herds like the wildebeest of Africa! I have a few deerskin im working from this season, might make a scraper like that myself it looks handy. Awesome video Peter and everyone involved. I'll have to take some pictures of my bag to email you, it would be good to get some critique on my workmanship! Stay safe out there everyone.
Thank you and I’d love to see your work.
Great way to end the year. A new video, a wee bit of history, a cup of hot chocolate and the fireworks already starting. Thanks for many hours of entertainment in 2022 . Happy New Year
Flattered, Ken and a Happy/healthy New Year to you as well.
Any tips on tending the surrounding land? I’m interested in stewardship in order to keep the local wildlife plentiful and the freezer filled. I’ve heard about growing berries and tending local grass areas and clearing old timber etc. anything else you can add would be great.
Put out salt. Licks in the spring. All mammals need salt in the spring. I dig down in the ground about a. Foot, pour in a 40 pound bag of mixing salt, cover with soil and dump 5 gallons of water on it. Animals love consuming it this way as it is similar to natural salt licks.
Una maravilla las herramientas que tenés 😊
Thank you.
That tool looks like it works great! Make sure you show us the hide once it’s completed🙂
That's the plan but, it may be a spell off.
Funny part is I have one of these blacksmithed scrapers and now I know what it's for..got it at an auction
Well there you go Glen, glad I could help sort out the mystery.
Another great video. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge of the times and lifestyle.
Encouraging words, thank you.
I like your set - up, Tom winter.
Thanks!Thanks Tom. Haven used it much yet to know what I may need to tweak but, I’m kinda liking it.
as always, enjoyed your video. thanks for sharing.
Glad you’re enjoying,Robert.
Excellent as usual, Happy New Year
Thanks, David and a Happy New Year to you and your clan.
Greetings.
Unbelievable what we humans are capable of doing to each other & to nature all in the name of progress & profit - & on every continent.
I'm told the dinosaur era lasted some 70 million years (?) - what's the human era prediction?
Thanks for the video- your scraper worked OK?
Happy New Year all.
Scraper worked pretty darn good. As to the human species, I somehow doubt we’ll ever match the dinosaurs.
Now that you have a blacksmith shop from the 1800’s, will you wear period attire suited for a blacksmith when working in your shop? : )
That is the plan.
Thank you for the video
You're welcome, Jason. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing a history lesson. It does bother me that some people don’t like the REAL history being taught! Happy New Year!
Happy new year to you as well. As to teaching history, I see no use in sugarcoating it.
Love the channel! I've watched your birchbark canoe series 3 times now. I just finished building a shave horse similar to yours. Might I suggest your next forge video be a mocotaugen from start to finish??!! Yes I'm building a canoe..hahaha
Awesome! Thank you! That is a good idea for an episode. All the best on your build, it will be a journey.
got a truck spring to make one of them scrapers now i just have to get at the project...
That will certainly make a strong one.
I enjoyed more then you know if I ask you to make a hand forge k nice would you make it for me
First of all, a safe, prosperous, New Year to you and your good wife, up there in Ontario.
And to you and your clan Thomas.
Curious if you will be able to provide enough light, via lanterns and candles, at your gun smithing work bench area, to do the fine work needed for some repairs and/or builds.
I’ll be certainly trying as I do want to attempt to do things as they were done. Might put in a couple of small windows
Hi I really enjoy your videos I’m glad you got the forge going just wondering if you sell any of your stuff I would buy 2 fire steels that you showed on this video
To be honest, I really haven’t thought about selling stuff. There are a lot of smiths out there trying to make a living where I simply do it for the love of the trade and the historical aspect. A good friend of mine Beau Beckett would make you a dandy. Google Beckett Blacksmithing. Tell him I sent.
@@TheWoodlandEscape thank you I will message him
Captain Jack made his case.
The new tool looks to have turned out and function great!
Questions...
1) What type of coal are you using? I have used anthracite, bituminous, & lignite coal, raw wood, charcoal, & dried feed corn. Most anything that burns will work, you just have to work the fire according to its needs.
2) I'm curios on your anvil orientation... Myself being right handed as a safety issue, I always have my hardy hole to my left no matter the style of anvil. Your thoughts...?
Thanks for the video...
It actually does work pretty well. Like you, I burn pretty much everything but, I’ve no burnt corn.. I have about 300 pounds of coke which is not historically correct but, man it burns hot with no nasty fumes.
Howdy Peter
Nice tool.... Reminds me of the first tool I made in school shop in 1967 ! A Cole chisel .... did it the same way ... still use it !
Is the temp about 1800 degrees when magnet does not work ? I has been a very long time when I learned that ...
Sad .. the people that simply killed all those bison....not one of the better times ....never had family west.. only north , Nova Scotia and England . Father told me .. Hunt ... shoot very good and use all of the animal .
I like the corner bench ... waiting to see some repairs . your lucky to have walnut and cheery... got a little black cheery in my yard ... turned some bowls and beer mugs . Not enough for a bench top .
Depending on the type of steel your about right on the temperature. I’m pretty pleased with how the bench turned out and am hoping to have enough time to do a build this winter. Appreciate your.
Bison HERDS are powerful forces. In their day, the maintenance of Intercontinental communications wires would have been impossible. (Just like our dairy cattle, the bison loved to have a good back scratch: the telegraph poles 'suited them down to the ground.') Railroad schedules would have been 'laughable.' Early trains might have to wait for days as a large assemblage of these fine beasts migrated through this or that area. SO...two distinct ways of life came into conflict on a scale seldom seen?
Indeed James, indeed!
If you don't mind using electric a belt sander with 36 grit belt works good
I would have thought it would bang up the belt in no time. Interesting technique!
Please do a video on tanning a hides
Certainly the slaughter of the buffalo (bison, if you will), and the destruction of the plains Indians was a sad period in our history. I recently read a book about the Sioux leader Red Cloud that is very good and paints a balanced picture of his life and efforts to resist encroachment on their hunting grounds. It's called "The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, an American Legend," by Bob Drury.
Thanks for the share, I’ll be adding that to my winter reading list.
It's like ice scraping your windshield
Yup but, a wee bit harder, lol.
Huuuuuyyyyyyyyyyyyiiii q bien curtir pieles desde Colombia y un felisaño
Thank you.
So In San Diego Old Town the historic Park were lucky enough to have used COKE. It so much cleaner little smoke to work with easier and nicer..can you get it where your at???
It is hotter, cleaner and healthier to be around. Yup, I got me a source for it.