1 out of 4 blades

[Raymond Richard]

survive the water quench. This is the surviver. 5" W-2 blade, iron guard and mule deer crown, 10" overall. The other 3 blades cracked up and where tossed. The thrill of water quenching has been quenched for awhile.

 

[T Blade]

Ray,

Very cool knife, I really like the quench line.

 

[heatride]

I like that it is very nice. But i don't like the 1 to 4 ratio !

 

[Raymond Richard]

Here's a close up of the blade:

 

[Karl B. Andersen]

I swear, Ray, that looks almost EXACTLY like a blade I just forged yesterday!!
I'll admit, you are my hero, but when you see this knife don't say that I copied you!!

 

[Stuart Willis]

Wow, That blade is purdy. Ray I have to agree with Karl,your my hero to

 

[J.Marsillo]

Here's a close up of the blade:

That's what I'm talking about!!! The water was worth it :thumbup:

 

[mdoyle]

I said it last week folks...Here he is... Let me introduce to you "The King of Stag"
Very nice,
Matt Doyle

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

I really like that entire knife, not just the blade.

I'm no expert, and I haven't water quenched anything, but I've read on these forums that a high ratio of cracking during water quench can be improved with various heat treating before the quench. Normalizing, a few cycles of quenching from lower temperature, various things that reduce internal stress, refine and homogenize the blade. Kevin and others have written about it. Probably worth looking into.

I'm not trying to offer advice where it's not wanted, and clearly you're an accomplished knife maker. But a 1 to 4 ratio, I'd try to improve that if I could.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Ray, Ray, Ray, can you say "Parks 50"?

 

[Robert Mayo]

Well the one that made it sure looks good Ray!

 

[Barkes Knife Shop]

Love the quenching pattern that it produced. Its definitely a first-class job. Absolutely beautiful in all its glory. But I was displease with the 1 out of 4 statement. But it happens more so, when using water. Thanks for showing your great work Ray. :thumbup:

 

[Raymond Richard]

Just to clear things up. The 3 blades that did crack were all up for sacrifice. It was their third chance. First and second try's were done in oil and the hamon or temperline's where not what I was wanting. I was real sure of the outcome with the water and was actually surprised that I had the one blade survive. Old men need excitement everyonce in awhile and water quenching does it for me. The one blade that did survive had never been heat treated before.