How about making a half-penny guard?

Here are some of the things that I think might be helpful to apprentice smiths like myself.

Developing a handle pattern and executing that pattern on a knife.

Milling guards

Double bolsters on a full tang knife

Forging and or shaping of guards for knives like fighters, hunters, etc.

Use of spacers behind a guard and different methods of embellishing them

Some basic metallurgy

Proper use of a power hammer in forging a knife

Proper forging of a dagger

Cal, check out this series I did on making a Fighter:

[media] http://www.youtube.c...2HxtI_pU&t=885s [/media]

[media] http://www.youtube.c...sloX_3E&t=1066s [/media]

[media] http://www.youtube.c...SynWBtHE4&t=82s [/media]

[media] http://www.youtube.c...kx6ZIzGA&t=764s [/media]

[media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pYCdIB56Vo [/media]

Sheath making and planning a sheath would be very helpful. Ive seen many beautiful examples of leather, wood, and metal sheaths and would be very interested to see someone who is skilled at leather work discuss how to design complex sheaths, inlaid possibly

I like Pat's suggestion regarding leather sheaths. I have also seen some sheaths that have an internal catch to hold the knife in place. The blade seems to click in place as the heal enters the sheath.

Good one Steve. I think some basic forging videos would be of help to new members. Maybe like a hunter and a bowie.

Brion

Thank you Karl for pointing out your series on Take Down Fighters. I appreciate you taking the time to video and edit this. I know it takes considerable time.

Excellent topic of the month. I think a video on handle shapes and contouring would help a lot.

Since just before the Blade show last year I have been working on a video that is based on the JS/MS preparation talk that I have done with B.R. Hughes, I interviewed some of the folks last year at the judging. This video, I hope, will help prepare applicants for the testing and what to expect. I have a good amount of scenes done and on the computer but need to do the serious editing, but I have had a couple of big projects sent my way recently that is keeping me in the shop and out of my office. Being a larger video I am doing in in parts but once done it will be geared to help the applicant from making the practical test blade all the way through the judging and receiving their stamp.