DA Guns & Gear

11/14/2025

Hey guys, I don’t want to confuse anyone. These knives are knife blanks I purchased. I am only putting handle on these knives.
But, I am using these knives as template to shape new knives out of quality knife steel, forge them myself.
I decided to use my wood working skills first and practice making handles while I get my forge up and running.
Right now I can buy any knife shape you want and create a handle out of any material you choose. I have already cut and shape 10+ knives that are just awaiting heat treatment. Also, I found several saw old style saw blades in my Dad’s garage which I am shaping into knives. For myself, I hope to make a knife out of my Dad’s saw blades I can use for years to come, maybe even someone else who knew him may enjoy one of these knives! I named my company after my dad and my initials. We are both DAs!
Hope and pray you are all doing well!

09/04/2025

My first knife handle! Zebra Wood and a great hunting knife shape!
6 brass pins and epoxy to hold it all together!

08/31/2025

I made a jig of the skinner knife so I can make more in the near future!
I have already started cutting and shaping some steel bar stock into this shape. I need to finish that and put my little propane forge together. Then I can temper the steel and get closer to making a whole knife. I don’t think I can hammer the steel like they do in Forged in Fire. My body pain and lack of fitness will not allow 15 minutes of hammer, much less 2-3 days to shape steel into a billet or bar shape.
I am keeping all of the steel I trim off to make the shapes of the knives. I will have enough scraps to melt down and make a knife soon!
In order to shape it I will need some help. I am looking at a small hydraulic press. It would be nice if it hand electric hand or foot controls. Does anyone have a suggestion for a cheaper press that I just push a button to use? I don’t think I can even crank a hydraulic level for a manual press.
Thanks Everyone, keep yourselves moving forward and pray for you friends!

08/31/2025

Forgot to post the pictures! Ha ha! I finished the “jig” to create more of the knife in the future!

08/31/2025

Starting to look like a knife? Epoxy hardened around brass pins to give the handle strength. I was looking for a knife in this shape, but couldn’t find it anywhere. I decided to make it myself.
This knife came as blank where I just need to build the handle. I will use the shape of this knife to make a jig. Then I can make the next knife like this from scratch. I don’t know why these knives have gone out of popularity, but I hope there are more people looking for them, besides just me, of course!
I hope and pray you are all doing well! I am having a decent day, so I get to work a little! Unlike some people, I look forward to being able to work. These days are far and few between! Trying my best to be aware of a good day and enjoy every minute of it!

08/24/2025

Working on a knife handle, soon the i will be working on the whole knife!

06/04/2025

Wow! I just got a new grip safety! The 1911/2011 original part in the last two pics was just not fitting. I finally found a grip safety that fits!
My Dad, the original DA, taught me a valuable lesson when I was 11 or 12. Fixing cars, sinks, lawn mowers or motorcycles is never a one time trip to the parts store. It seems, no matter how much you research into getting the right part, it is a more difficult task than you would think at first. You can listen to everyone you can find who knows something about what you are fixing, more often than not you end up buying the wrong part. He took me with him to the parts store as we returned the wrong part and bought a new part in the hope that it would work. Often, once you have taken apart the engine or sink you have been able to see what the broken part looks like.
Actually putting you eye ball on the old part or even bringing the old part into the store does not guarantee that you can get the right part. Why? Because your part is five years old. They dont make that exact part anymore, but not to worry this part will work!
Ha ha ha, mostly likely that part doesn’t work. So you must try, try and try again. Fixing things is more a lesson in patience and perseverance than easy success. Try not to get to upset that the part doesn’t work. Try to think of another solution. Try the new solution. Do not be too upset that this attempt did not work. Patience is emotional control and the perseverance is to keep trying until the item is fixed. Then start on the next project. Dad said, he hated owning things, more things, more work.

05/27/2025

I passed my Pistolsmithing Certification!

I am now a certified pistol gunsmith!

05/19/2025

Not feeling so great today. Contemplating a new diagnosis of diabetes. One month I was pre-diabetic and I relaxed a little. Next month my Cardiologist is saying my A1C has jumped a whole point. He said,”he has never seen that before.” “Oh good,” I thought, I am the special case again! It has happened so many times in the last 33 years, you would think i would be used to it. As it happens, it is a shock every time. Doctor’s appointment tomorrow to discuss treatment plan. My Cardiologist already put me in Jardience.

At least, I found a little time to work on a fun project for 20-30 minutes. I am fitting these two pieces together. The later pictures are after I filed a little and then looked to see how they fit again. It is a little worrisome, the two parts were about $400, now $100-300 more expensive. It hurts to make a mistake. No pressure, no pressure, thinking this way is harder than it looks. I am working on my mental focus. I am trying to focus on the good and shift thoughts away from the bad as fast as possible. It is easier said than done, but working at it helps!
Pray for me to have a good result tomorrow at the doctor. I am praying for all of my friends and family every night. I pray that you know the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ has sacrificed himself and paid the price for all of your sins. It is not a scale of how much more good we did than bad. Jesus has stepped in from of the scale and tells God our Father to only look at his sacrifice for our sins. Knowing, believing in Jesus is enough to have peace in this life, that our eternal life is secure. It is an amazing sense of peace, to know what happens after you die. We will have a life of peace, no illnesses and complete joy! Sounds better than what I am going through now! God bless you all! Love you all as brothers and sisters!

05/05/2025

With the barrel lug pin in, the back and front of the slide fit is pretty good! Very happy! The full pistal will have a grip on the back of the gun. Getting closer to being done!!

05/05/2025

05/05/2025

1911/ 2011, with the grip! A 2011 is a 1911 with a double stack magazine. This gun is what many competitors use in 3 Gun Competitions. I hope to use it in competition this summer!