An African American woman surgeon describes the rigorous procedure, both medical & social, which must be endured before qualifying as a surgeon.

"This book will teach you to hand build a knife using the traditional method of blacksmiths of old-forging. Traditional forging of a knife blade is a process which uses the ancient techniques of moving hot steel with hammer and anvil alone into a knife-form that is ready for filing, heat treating and sharpening with no or very minimal electric grinding. Almost anyone with basic hand tool aptitude can learn to make a knife by forging. Forging skills are not outside the average person's facility or capacity. If this is a new encounter for you it will necessitate your swinging a hammer; not at a nail but at a piece of hot steel, learning and applying some ten or twelve blacksmithing techniques and secrets, and experiencing some trial and error. I have probably taught hundreds of men, women and a few children to do this and I am confident you can learn to do this too. As a wise man said: "Life is trial and error, mostly error". I make errors every time I go to my anvil. So will you. This book also teaches traditional fit-and-finish skills with hand tools alone. It explains an ancient riveted full-tang handle construction system that surpasses modern methods. This book is designed for both first-time, back-yard beginner smiths to experienced knifemakers and any general blacksmiths in between wanting to build a knife using these ancient ways"--

In A Modern Guide to Knifemaking, survivalist Laura Zerra, one of the stars of Naked and Afraid on the Discovery Channel, shares her essential knifemaking tips and tricks, including step-by-step instructions for both forging and stock removal. We all use a knife pretty much every day, but for Zerra, her daily life often depends on the blade she takes with her into the wild. She's learned about what works and what doesn't, what steel will hold an edge, and what nuances in blade design will make or break a knife. From design to sharpening, A Modern Guide to Knifemaking covers every step in the knifemaking process. To begin, you will consider what you want your knife to accomplish, develop a design, and make a prototype. Zerra takes you through choosing and buying steel for your knife and then teaches you to build your own forge. You will learn forging basics and then move on to forge the shape of your knife and make the blade tip. From there, you will cut the blade profile, grind in bevels to make the edge of the knife, heat treat and temper your blade, grind and polish it, and make a handle and sheath for it. You will also learn sharpening techniques to maintain the edge of your new knife. Throughout, Zerra has included Pro-Tips from some of the leading knifemakers working today including Ken Onion, Kaila Cumings, and Mike Jones. A Modern Guide to Knifemaking covers every detail of knifemaking so you can make yourself the perfect knife.

The art of forging multiple layers of steel together into beautiful, strong, and sharp Damascus steel blades started millenia ago. Now, with this guide, novice blacksmiths and bladesmiths have a practical and budget-conscious approach to forging their own Damascus steel knives. Starting with the basics, this practical guide shows how easy it can be to build a simple Damascus-grade forge; forge Damascus steel into different patterns; and forge a blade into shape, harden it, and turn it into a finished knife. Sketches, step-by-step instructions, and tools and materials lists help you prepare and work through the project methodically and safely. Complete with tips for sharpening Damascus steel blades and insights on the metallurgy behind this special steel, this guide is ideal for the metalworking hobbyist.

With over 300 step-by-step pictures, the Backyard Bowyer is geared for the beginning bowyer, backyard hobbyist, and anyone who has ever pondered building a wooden bow. Easy to read and follow steps go down to even the smallest detail in the design and construction of basic archery bows. Learn to craft fine wooden bows without huge investment in equipment and materials, and without being bound by location and limited workspace. Learn to construct: A classic target flat bow, an English Longbow suitable for hunting, and even your own strings and arrows for traditional and primitive archery.

Damascus steel: centuries-old, hot-forged steel that is legendary for making sharp, strong blades that struck fear in many a mans heart. Artisans, blacksmiths, and hobbyists the world over have initiated a renaissance of this fascinating, decorative material, which is the focus of this comprehensive book. Unravel the history and mysteries surrounding various types of Damascus steel before delving into the theory and mechanics of forging your own complex Damascus steel creations. Use the detailed, computer-generated illustrations and hundreds of photos to learn how to forge-weld your Damascus steel billets, properly execute torsion technique, and see the endless potential for forging patterns in Damascus steel. Complete with material and equipment requirements, safety precautions, practical tips, temperature charts, and examples of finished works, this book offers inspiration and the fundamentals of working in this ancient medium. Ideal for amateur blacksmiths and experienced metalworkers. Includes a bonus poster, "Practical Tips for the Blacksmith."

This guide to smithing world-class blades is for the novice and experienced bladesmith alike. With this book you will be able to build your own forge, equip your workshop, choose your materials from the exotic to the mundane, and get to work.

Following on the heels of Goddard's hot-selling "how to" book, "The Wonder of Knifemaking", this new book expands on the author's popular column in "Blade" magazine to show knifemakers of all skill levels how to create helpful gadgets and supply their shop on a shoestring. 75 photos.

"This book breaks down blacksmithing's fascinating, if somewhat daunting, skill set into attainable fundamentals that show you how to become an accomplished smith."--Amazon.com.