Forged Handhoe

Gardening is tough work that requires tough tools. Several of Scott's clients are avid gardeners that have expressed an interest in a forged handhoe, so Scott beat this one into submission on his new power hammer.

The hoe was forged out of a 1983 GMC dumptruck leafspring, then heat treated and tempered to a Rockwell hardness of 48. Scott made the handle out of hickory and forged the tang to run all the way through the handle. The tang has been epoxied and peened in place to make the hoe super durable.  The hoe is 11 1/2 inches in total length with a 5 inch handle.

This handhoe is being tested out by several interested parties and so far the reviews are excellent. This version is square ended hoe with a curved edge (that was sharpened after the pics were taken) and the only suggestion we've gotten is that we need to make a triangular version of the same design. Clients like the weight of the hoe and say it digs easily and deeply. Stay tuned for a refined version for sale from Guinea Hog Forge for $65 plus shipping. If interested, email guineahogforge@gmail.com.

The Thorn

A "Thorn" by your side is preferable to a thorn in your side.

The Thorn is Scott's latest creation. Hand forged out of 5160, cord wrapped and dressed in a custom Kydex sheath, this little knife weighs only 4 ounces altogether! I've claimed this Thorn for myself (am wearing it as I type this and barely know it's there), but other Thorns can be made to order. My Thorn has a tan cord wrap dipped in polyurethane for durability. Green, tan and black cord wrap are immediate options and other colors could be made available for an additional price. Kydex sheaths are available in green and black.

The Thorn - $160*  Length - 7 3/4 overall; blade 3 3/8

*All prices include insured USPS priority shipping anywhere in the contintental US. If interested contact guineahogforge@gmail.com. We accept money orders and paypal.

The "Eno River" Camp Knife

Scott designed the "Eno River" as an all-purpose camp knife. The knife was hand forged out of 5160 tool steel, was triple normalized, triple edge quenched and triple tempered. It has a custom leather cross draw sheath and can be worn comfortably under a backpack belt. The handle is black linen Micarta with brass pins and a decorative brass lanyard hole.




The Eno River has passed the first two parts of the ABS journeyman performance test - rope cut and 2x4 chop and shave.

Overall length of the Eno River is 11 3/8 inches with a 7-inch blade. Shealth included the Eno River weighs 11.9 ounces. This one is available for $375 including insured USPS shipping anywhere in the continental US.

If interested in any of our knives - email guineahogforge@gmail.com.

Latest Javelina and a New Kitchen Knife

We recently sold this Javelina with a dyed stabilized curly maple handle and Japanese style hamon to a regular customer - $250 with leather sheath; USPS insured shipping included. The Javelina is 8 1/4 inches overall with a 3 3/8 inch blade.

Scott designed the following knife to go with our ever expanding kitchen collection. Overall length is 8 inches with a 4-inch blade and stabilized curly maple handle. This knife was made by stock removal out of 1080 tool steel, and a similar knife would sell for $150. If forged - $200.

If interested in a knife, email guineahogforge@gmail.com.

The Tomahawk

Scott has wanted a real tomahawk since he got his first toy one at Grandfather Mountain when he was five years old. Well, it only took 41 years! Scott forged this tomahawk out of mild steel with a 1080 tool steel cutting edge forge welded between the two sides creating a san-mai blade.

The handle is hickory, is 19 1/2 inches long and Scott burnished it with a propane torch to give it a decorative flare.

Purple heart and steel were used mechanically lock the helve into the eye. The head is 4 3/4 inches in total length and the blade is 2 3/8 inches long.

Scott chopped down a wax myrtle with the tomahawk this morning and it would still shave afterwards, so I'd say he got it right. This tomahawk will probably become a family treasure, but similar style hawks can be purchased from Guinea Hog Forge for approximately $150 - guineahogforge@gmail.com.

Cross Brand

Scott was commissioned to make a brand in the shape of a cross. The brand will be used to burn the image of the cross into various places in the customer's new home. The cross is 2 1/2 x 1 3/4. Contact guineahogforge@gmail.com for more info on custom brands.

Practice Journeyman Performance Test Successful!

Scott forged this blade last week with the intent of creating a knife that could pass the ABS Journeyman Performance Test. We just finished posting all the videos and the knife was successful. Check out the videos by clicking the test links below!


5160 tool steel
cord wrapped handle
differentially heat treated
triple normalized, tempered and quenched
recurved blade
10 inch long blade; 15 inch knife overall

Test #1: Cut a 1-inch diameter free hanging manilla rope 6 inches from the bottom in one pass.


Test #2: Cut a 2x4 in half twice, then shave without sharpening the blade.


Test #3: Bend the knife in a vice to 90 degrees without breaking it. Click the link to see the video and watch the knife go to a full 90 degree bend.

Success is sweet.