Patrick Conlin Metalsmith: Spurs in progress

So, knife done, horns done...now for a pair of spurs.
Norse, with damascene inlay of fine silver and, maybe, some copper. Based on some typical forms of the period, I've used as motifs two styles, somewhat anachronistic, but appropriate. The Borre-style ring chain, and the Jellinge-style ( I believe) dragonish creature from a famous silver bowl.
I've done this type of inlay a few times before...basically the procedure is to cut a groove in the steel, 2/3 deep as wide, under cut the edges, draw or roll some fine silver wire to the width of the groove, and a little taller (so, rectangular), and hammer it into the groove, where it fills the undercut and is locked in place. Then you file/sand it flush, and blacken the steel for contrast.
The really critical thing is the chisels. They need to be perfectly ground, tuned, sharpened, hardened, and tempered for this technique to work, Luckily I enjoy making tiny chisels, so I have had alot of fun getting these just right. They are based on Japanese pattern chisels, used for the same technique, and there is an excellent description of the process, and detailed diagrams in Oppi Untracht's Jewelry concepts and technology.
With the steel set in pitch, the chisels, hardened tool steel, cut thru the mild steel like butter...you just have to get the angles of the cutting edges right, so that they cut without binding. I've got one V-section chisel, for initial cutting, and two flat bottom types, one for straight lines, one for curves...the grinds are subtly different, Also two chisels for the undercutting, one wide and flat for straight areas, and one small and slightly curved for concave curves.
The basic form of the spurs was forged , ground, and filed from some 1/2 round stock, then set in pitch, the design drawn on with a Sharpie, and chiseled out, using a light chasing hammer. Once the undercuts are made, the wire can be hammered in with a slightly roughened steel punch.
I'll do most of the cutting while the bands are still flat, then bend to shape, finish the cutting( I'm worried that in the bent area, the grooves might distort in bending, so I'll wait till after, the set in the wire.

The two spurs set in pitch, with some chisels