Ranger Doings

The fifty pound bag of coke for the forge arrived yesterday. Along with the charcoal I have, I should be able to do at least some work for a bit, once it is all sorted out.

Today is archery day at the Range so I am likely to go over there for a time.

I am quite excited at the prospect of getting the forge up and running. Encouraging was the very swift and sure way I made fire for the Solstice yesterday, using char, tow, and flint & steel. Indeed, flint & steel will be the traditional way for my forge to be lit, and everyone I teach will learn to light it that way as well.

I have asphaltum, I have muriatic acid. Etching experimentation will begin soon. I have no desire to muck up my knife so I will be practicing on various bits of brass, aluminum, and steel until I am certain of my techniques. Then, and only then, will I etch the blade of the knife. If that works, I may take Glamdring and etch the center of that blade with the Tengwar...lightly though, very lightly. Well, if I do it will have the swords' actual name on it, not the one it was made to be a replica of. Del Tin made, to my mind, the very best renditions of Glamdring and Orcrist ever...movies and peoples' obsession with hand and half swords notwithstanding. They were made by the elves of Gondolin for the goblin wars of that time...and I reason that the form of them was probably a fairly common one so having one with a different name is no stretch. So, my own blade has a name and it will formally receive it in a ritual that will involve etching the blade some too. ;) Down the fuller.

I want to perfect some 'Elven' arrowheads too..and etch them. Probably not replicas of the ones on the movies...rather, versions that can be used to legally hunt with.

I am also looking at etching my Ranger stars. They are bronze, although some steel ones are in the offing down the line, and a little etching might be nice.

Between the etching of my knives and swords (and axes!) and the woodburning of bows, arrows, and spear shafts, I look to tie my kit together with common decorative themes..or at least, related. Even my leather kit is to be tooled in this way. Generally the decorative elements will be pretty subtle but definitely there.

It pleases me to do this. If we ever have a Ranger Moot here in the Northeast, or I somehow manage to make on in the central states region, I want my kit to be unique and a statement of myself, if that makes sense.

I am aiming to hike the entire Appalachian Trail..and I want to do it in minimal kit, with any necessary safeguards naturally...an I would use post drops and carry some funds along for necessary purchases in any villages along the way. I think doing the entire 2,184 mile journey as a Ranger would be an awesome thing. Truly awesome. If I can manage it. ;)

Eledhwen