Beckerhead Knife Making and Modification Thread

Hand Candy:

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Thanks, guys, glad you liked the last one.

Up next is a teaser before the big reveal. I'm going to try for some natural light photos before making a gallery post. Here we have a cavity being filled with epoxy colored with hand-ground lapis powder made by and inherited from my late housemate. So happy to include something of hers in a blade she would have squee'd over:

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This thread is so long that I considered a new thread. But since this thread is about new knives that have a Becker connection, I shouldn't start a new thread. I posted the following in the Knifemaker's sub-forum. I got a few responses, but I thought I might get a few more here. I know you can beat on a big Becker pretty hard. But I am not going to risk my mostly irreplaceable BK29. Same deal if I had a BK20. Of course BK9's are easy to replace, but I'm still thinking along the lines of something dedicated to batoning hard ("beating like a rented mule") along with possibly some chopping. So, here goes:

Hello all and Happy Thanksgiving,

This is my first post to the maker forum. I am thinking of making a "hand froe" or "belt froe." The idea is something I can really wail on, but does not have the long right angle handle of a true froe. Buck's Compadre froe is close to what I want, but I think it may be hollow ground, which to me makes no sense for a froe.

I am thinking of 5160 for its toughness. I am thinking of a 10" to 12" blade, starting with a 1/4 x 1-1/2 or 2 bar, and saber grinding about halfway up to the spine. Since this won't be twisted like a real froe is, I think I can have a bit more fine edge than a real froe. I have some spare Becker "large" handle scales, which I think would make a pretty good handle.

Janz (sp?) and Texas Knifemakers Supply both carry 5160 stock. Or perhaps there is a better source? I also don't know the as supplied hardness of 5160 or what final hardness I should shoot for. I plan to both chop and baton. Clearly toughness should take priority over edge retention. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Gun Doc

Thoughts anyone?
 
Gun Doc said:

This is my first post to the maker forum. I am thinking of making a "hand froe" or "belt froe." The idea is something I can really wail on, but does not have the long right angle handle of a true froe. Buck's Compadre froe is close to what I want, but I think it may be hollow ground, which to me makes no sense for a froe.

I am thinking of 5160 for its toughness. I am thinking of a 10" to 12" blade, starting with a 1/4 x 1-1/2 or 2 bar, and saber grinding about halfway up to the spine. Since this won't be twisted like a real froe is, I think I can have a bit more fine edge than a real froe. I have some spare Becker "large" handle scales, which I think would make a pretty good handle.

Janz (sp?) and Texas Knifemakers Supply both carry 5160 stock. Or perhaps there is a better source? I also don't know the as supplied hardness of 5160 or what final hardness I should shoot for. I plan to both chop and baton. Clearly toughness should take priority over edge retention. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
Gun Doc

Thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...

Hi Gun Doc,

All steel stock you buy will be some variety of soft.
What method do you plan to use for heat-treat? This will limit your selection. I think 5160 is a fine choice, as would be 1075 or 1084. All can be heat-treated in a small propane forge and quenched in warm canola oil. Final toughness will depend on your temper. You'll probably want to target 57Rc for a dedicated froe. That's my opinion, anyway. You COULD go a bit softer, but I wouldn't go below 55Rc. Most factory knives are in the 56-59Rc range, and customs tend to be 59-63Rc, depending on application. (Kitchen knives are usually at the harder end of the spectrum). If you are heat-treating and tempering using home equipment, you might not be able to go much softer than 56Rc anyway, due to temp limitations of ovens and your steel options. (I'm guessing you don't have a kiln etc. or you wouldn't have asked.)

Other good steel suppliers are Alpha Knife Supply and Aldo, the New Jersey Steel Baron (njsteelbaron.com). Both are supporters here.

Lots of good knifemaking info in the stickies over in the ShopTalk subforum.
 
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