Recommendation? 1/4” 1075 what to do?

A

AB Badger

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Feb 15, 2019
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I received some 1075 steel 1/4” thick by mistake and am now looking at what to do with it. I am new to knife making and could use some suggestions on what this steel would be best used for.
 
If you forge you can shape it/thin it any way you want. If you do only stock removal(grind) but feel that 1/4" is too thick for the kinds of knives you make, trade it with another maker for something closer to what you need. It will make a nice hamon if you're into that as well.

What are the dimensions of the steel you received? 1/4" X? X?
Where did you get the steel?
Did it come with certs?
 
1/4” x2” x18”. Picked it up from Jantz. I am strictly at stock removal for now so to grind it down, just to make it thinner, seems like a big waste of time and abrasives. 1/4” thick seems a little heavy for even a chopper or camp knife. I have a Lightfoot knife that is about 1/4” thick and I really do not like the feel of it.
Like you said could trade it should the opportunity arise.
 
If it's like Aldos 1075 it gets a great hamon. Make a monster Bowie with a hamon. I have a stick sitting around just for that.
 
So this metal will have a natural hamon in it or will I need to apply furnace concrete or something similar to make that hamon?
 
You need to apply the clay to prevent the spine of the blade (the part under the clay) from getting hard during the quench.
 
Thanks that’s how I understood it. A hamon is in my plans for the next couple of knives I make. Looks like I will have to make a Bowie. Will post a pic if it turns out.
 
If you forge, 1075 makes great hawks, too. Just fold a 5" piece over in a tight "U", then stick a 1.5X2" piece of the same 1075 flush up between the ends as the bit steel. Forge weld it up and then shape the blade part. Drift the eye and you have a great hawk for throwing or splitting kindling.
 
You can use if for small blades if you do a heavy distal taper. It will look best with a hidden tang knife. I personally like the feel and look of a 4-5 inch hunter that starts at about a 1/4 inch thick.
 
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Well it has taken me forever. Lots of firsts and lots of learning. Hamon turned out nice and the overall shape is good. Etching took really dark on the blade but hardly at all on the butt of the tang. Will definitely do another thick knife like this, it balances very well in my hand.
 
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