Wikipedia tells me that similar blade shears were very common in Australia until about 1915, so over the years there must have been literally tons of them forged in just the way you've demonstrated. Amazingly, half a million New Zealand sheep are still blade shorn, so this is still a highly regarded modern tool for colder climates, because extra wool remains on the sheep compared to the mechanised handpieces. When I think of the back-breaking physical effort required to blade shear 50 or more sheep a day, constantly squeezing the blades together with the same hand, wrestling the sheep with the other hand, it seems almost impossible. Gotta admire those shearers - must be as tough as Blacksmiths!!
That sheer shape goes back to at least Ancient Rome, and they were quite common through the Viking Age. Well Done, Rowan. If I could get to the UK, I'd love to work with you in your shop. You do spectacular work. The Sutton Hoo chain series was fascinating!
Great work and I apretiate your time as time is money. I would like to see more agricultural tools being made, I find that there is very little beyond blades and axes. Could you demostrate how a hay/bale fork is made? How they join the fine tines to the rest of the fork frame is a mystery. I have many ideas how it migt have been done but would like to know how it was actually done in times past.
Amazing as always mr Bob Ross, I mean Rowan! lol ;) I watch these in the evenings in a 42" HD tv in the living room, utter bliss, especially from my new old man rocking chair! :D
These shears are, in my opinion, a quintessential tool. Vikings used them. Roman soldiers used them, for cutting and shaping quills and for archery. Archeologists have even found similar shears in Mesopotamia sites. I think it’s cool that we still find use with them today.
Beard trimmer reinforces the fact that when the world goes to sh!t i'm coming to live with you as it will be far safer from the zombies and the like too ;)
I just got some 5/8" round wrought iron to experiment with, do you have any suggestions for projects that might be good for this? (I only have propane, so preferably I would like to keep forge welding at a minimum) Thanks! Love your videos.
So I guess the main reason for hardening these was so the blades will not wear away at each other, right? It didn't look like you gave the shears a super sharp cutting edge, so it's more of the "shearing" action that cuts rather than a sharp edge going through something. I have sharpened some loppers before until they were razor sharp and the edges actually bit into each other.