doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com A Sedgley in search of some TLC

H47,
Welcome to the forum, and you are correct, those red fluted chisels are from T-dad. I made them in "89"as part of Ed Shulin's stockmaking class. (in "73" I was still trying to figure out how not to fall of a tricycle,although I no a guy from Montana that made a nice set there in the "70's"). As I remember Ed had a box of that fluted handle material,red and blue, it was in 3 foot lengths and you could just chop of a piece, shape and install right there on a lathe in the stock making shop.
I have about 60 strait chisels and gouges collected over the years but the only scrapers I have are the one's made in Ed's class. I have never seen them commercially made for sale.
Here's a pic of the original set.

I thought so.. to go that long and still be using the same handle stock, Shulin must have had a couple of truckloads stashed. I've got a few screwdrivers using the same stuff too. And it looks like the same forging dies and mandrels for the gouges. Just imagine the number of students beating on those things and trying to wear them out, and them still working after all those years.

So think of Ed Shulin's chisels as kind of a "secret handshake" ... you know about them only if you've been there. I remember in my class we had a guy who got so obsessed with making his chisels that he never did get his stock done. Looking back those were a couple of the best years of my life.

I do envy you guys who kept up and stayed with it. I've always loved it and done a little but never to the levels I see here. Family and starvation took me on another route. But hey, it is what it is.

A "secret handshake" is a good way to put it, Ed Shulin was a great guy and really enjoyed teaching.
Some of the students in my class did a good job of the chisel making detail, one guy had his set polished almost mirror bright and then used fancy walnut with 20 bore brass as ferrules for the handles!!!!!
I also envy the guy's that stuck with. For me, the 8% interest Sallie Mae "student loans"(?)I had to pay back sent me on a different path, plus I couldn't find any good paying employment in the trade at the time. I think it has always been a hard business to succeed at, financially.

Well I don't feel all alone then. A good friend from there with whom I've kept up over time once told me that I would be amazed at the number of somewhat well-known smiths who are supported by significant others or have other jobs or resources where they get their income. So yes I guess it's a hard way to go. All the more respect for those who did do it. And no disrespect for the others doing good things who just happen to be part time.

I think you just have to do it for the love of it anyway, and whatever follows just follows.