I received a gift today from a very special friend in the USA . I can't even begin to describe the feelings that this gift evokes. He was part of the construction crew when the WTC was built and also part of the clean up crew after the WTC collapsed.

The pieces of steel that you see in the pics are pieces of a mounting beam, recovered from the 32nd Floor, the North Tower, of the World Trade Centre, New York.

In reality, they are more than just "pieces of steel"...they are a memorial to the many thousands of people that lost their lives when the most terrible and worst terrorist act ever perpetrated in the Free World took place in New York on 11 September 2001.

Vito...I cannot thank you enough for giving me these mementos and pieces of history. They will sit beside some equally important and poignant pieces of history from a World War 1 battlefield in Europe.

Any idea on the specs for this steel Vince?
There's a though in the back of my mind about a suitable knife forged out of one of these pieces, although if its mild steel it wont work for anything more than an "art piece".

No idea on the specs mate...although I doubt that it would be mild steel.

To make a knife would not be very easy for me as the pieces of metal are about 20mm thick and 50mm square. I would need a forge, anvil and hammers.

A damn fine thought though mate.

Sweet Vince.
A knife would be pretty special.

Eric

Vince wrote:

I would need a forge, anvil and hammers. .

When would you visit Sydney again mate?
I got some of the required the tools, and if I dont, I have a few professional makers mates here that would definitely help if they know the history of the steel. Some even have their own power hammers.

Or would you like to send a piece to me so I can flatten it for you?

If mild steel is an issue, we could layer it with some high carbons so it would be serviceable.

Knife idea is definitely good.
A knife maker made a knife out of burn farm machinery to commemorate the 2003 bush fire in Canberra.
Beautiful job.. Here is the link
Out Of The Ashes

Extremely awesome gift Vince . To make a knife out of the steel would indeed be good especially if it were to return to combat and be awarded ( in a manner of speaking ) to those responsible for the dirty deed that created those pieces of steel to begin with. If you opt to make the knife it would be very fitting to do a video documentary of the transformation and to have it specially engraved to comemorate the disaster at the WTC. Hammer your plow shares into swords as it were instead of the other way around.

This is sounding more and more like a good idea. I will have to talk with my mate and see what he thinks.

As much as I like the idea of a knife I am a little loathe to use one piece to do this...hmmm...have a thought...will do some searching on the grade of steel and then look further at an idea.

Congrats on a great piece of history! You do have me wondering what the WWI piece is that you said it will sit along side.

Gidday BB...the WW I pieces I have are butt plugs from Mills Bombs, collected around the "Windmill" at Pozieres, a screw stake collected from the same area and a pebble that my daughter collected off the beach at Anzac Cove Gallipoli when she was over there a few years back.

That is a unique item. Thanks for sharing. All the best...
Gil

A very special friend indeed! Thanks for sharing..

You know, I have some shell fragments from Fort Fisher, NC (they aren't hard to find, the US Navy fired some 50,000 shells at the fort!) but never considered having anything made from them. They are iron. Might have to locate a local black smith/knife maker and do some talking.

www.nchistoricsites.org/fisher/