Heavy duty fighting-utility-hunter
Aug 9, 2008 22:07:15 GMT
Post by Matt993f.o.d on Aug 9, 2008 22:07:15 GMT
This one could do for any of those purposes. Sam will notice the influence that Tim and Marian Lively's SUPERB knifemaking DVD had over the style of this knife. Please note that the blade is covered in oil in these pics.
Steel- High carbon steel from an old file
Handle- Beechwood, stained and varnished
Length- 10"
POB- At the guard
Hardening- Double-hardened in oil
Temper- 2 hours at 220 degrees C, bronze oxide film
Blade finish- 1000 grit, for a glossy but not quite mirror finish.
I forged this knife from an old file. Both the blade and tang are forged. Even the choil is forged! Minimal grinding was involved in finished the blade and tang, although I wish I could say the same for the handle fittings. The blade took very little grinding to get to a nice HTing thickness. I hardened the blade in oil. On the lively knives knifemaking DVD, they say that they repeat the normalisation and hardening steps 3 times each, but I was skeptical. Although I found it quite satisfactorily hard after one hardening cycle, I repeated it, though, just to follow their instruction. Nevertheless, I will swear that it skates a file better now, than it did before.
Tempering was done in the oven, at 220 degrees C, for two hours. This resulted in a bronze coloured oxide film. A good indication of the correct temper for a fighting style of knife.
As befits a heavy duty knife, intended for rough use, the blade was given a slight appleseed grind, to give it a strong edge. It is still nice and fine, though, and can shave off arm hair with ease.
The handle is beechwood, stained with a dark jacobean woodstain and given two coats of varnish. The handle fittings are mild steel, laquered black. This is my first attempt at a handguard and buttcap. They are secured with epoxy resin, with the tang peened over the buttcap for security.
Here is the bare, as-forged blade with the area of bevel-forging (and also the bits that need slight correction by grinding) highlighted with tippex, to make it more obvious.
After the rough grind;
And finished, from the side;
I am proud of this knife; It is the first one I am completely happy with. It is to recieve a leather snap sheath with a vinyl inner, to prevent oil damage to the leather. Pics to come of the sheath when it is done.
Steel- High carbon steel from an old file
Handle- Beechwood, stained and varnished
Length- 10"
POB- At the guard
Hardening- Double-hardened in oil
Temper- 2 hours at 220 degrees C, bronze oxide film
Blade finish- 1000 grit, for a glossy but not quite mirror finish.
I forged this knife from an old file. Both the blade and tang are forged. Even the choil is forged! Minimal grinding was involved in finished the blade and tang, although I wish I could say the same for the handle fittings. The blade took very little grinding to get to a nice HTing thickness. I hardened the blade in oil. On the lively knives knifemaking DVD, they say that they repeat the normalisation and hardening steps 3 times each, but I was skeptical. Although I found it quite satisfactorily hard after one hardening cycle, I repeated it, though, just to follow their instruction. Nevertheless, I will swear that it skates a file better now, than it did before.
Tempering was done in the oven, at 220 degrees C, for two hours. This resulted in a bronze coloured oxide film. A good indication of the correct temper for a fighting style of knife.
As befits a heavy duty knife, intended for rough use, the blade was given a slight appleseed grind, to give it a strong edge. It is still nice and fine, though, and can shave off arm hair with ease.
The handle is beechwood, stained with a dark jacobean woodstain and given two coats of varnish. The handle fittings are mild steel, laquered black. This is my first attempt at a handguard and buttcap. They are secured with epoxy resin, with the tang peened over the buttcap for security.
Here is the bare, as-forged blade with the area of bevel-forging (and also the bits that need slight correction by grinding) highlighted with tippex, to make it more obvious.
After the rough grind;
And finished, from the side;
I am proud of this knife; It is the first one I am completely happy with. It is to recieve a leather snap sheath with a vinyl inner, to prevent oil damage to the leather. Pics to come of the sheath when it is done.