Behold, Stormbreaker (with WIP pics)

[stabman]

The starting materials: Blue/black G-10 and 1/4" thick O1 steel, 2" wide:

Drilling:

Handle roughed out:

Handle ready to go:

 

[stabman]

Sorry, connection crashed.

The forge:

Hammertime!:

Cut-off time:

 

[stabman]

Grinding:

Filing:

Quenching:

The omens are good...the heat treat is a success!:

After first tempering cycle:

 

[stabman]

Coming along:

Time to blue:

Finished!:

Final Specs:
1 pound 13 ounces (29 ounces!!!)
9.5" of blade past the choil
Blade is 2.2" wide
15.5 inch overall length

 

[ArchAngel]

I see the beginings of an awesome chopper there! I look forward to watching this progress.

 

[socalkid]

Stabman,

This is going to be sweet! Keep it going!

Chris

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

It looks like its done guys. Is this your first knife?

 

[stabman]

It looks like its done guys. I'm no knife maker but it doesn't look like the metal got hot enough during the forging process so the hammer didn't move much metal.

The metal was hot enough for much of the time, but it was tough with a rudimentary forge set up.
The curve was the big thing I was going for... which as you can see was accomplished nicely enough.
WIth an actual forge, it would be easier to get to temp quickly.
But, it got the curve I wanted, it got hot enough to do a proper hardening, and it slices paper already...it'll be sharper yet once my thumb heals (bashed it open yesterday with a hammer).

 

[arrowhd]

Nicely done.

 

[stabman]

It looks like its done guys. Is this your first knife?

Second one forged from scratch.
The other one thinned to a tapering edge more, which befitted it's intended use as a kitchen cleaver.
This one is intended as a tough as all hell knife, so although a TAD more taper would be okay, it wasn't needed.
I bet it'll outchop the Clax...the stock is thinner to begin with, it weighs 7 ounces more, and the edge taper is less acute on the Clax (doesn't show as much on mine yet as I didn't polish the convex bexel up all the way after bluing yet).

 

[komondor]

That is excellent. Great job!

 

[stabman]

Also, this is the WIP process pared down from 156 pictures...and I forgot to post the most important ones!

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

I didn't mean to post that first post as it sounded a bit negative but I somehow did. Hope it didn't sound that way.

 

[stabman]

I didn't mean to post that first post as it sounded a bit negative but I somehow did. Hope it didn't sound that way.

That's okay.
The first thing my father said was "didn't the other one taper more?"

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Just curious, what method do you use to determine enough heat for forging and quenching temperature? How long did it stay in the fire?

 

[stabman]

Just curious, what method do you use to determine enough heat for forging and quenching temperature? How long did it stay in the fire?

For hardening, I went with non-magentic (when the magnet won't stick).
That's also a glowing cherry red type of colour.

For forging, I was generally going for red hot. I had to run from the forge-pit-thing to the shed where the anvil was.

Sometimes it was in the coals for 10 minutes-25 minutes. For hardening, I had it in there a good 10 minutes at full heat at least, between 10-15 minutes. I normalized it once, and after that, I had it in the coals for about 30 minutes before cranking the temp up for getting it ready for heat treat.

A proper forge with an actual read-out would be SO much better and easier. The magnet can let you know when you're about hot enough, but not if you get too hot. I doubt that it got too hot, given the time it took along the way at times.

At least the omens were positive.

Went through 38 POUNDS of charcoal that day!

 

[Wayne Whitney]

Very nice, good job.It is a very good looking, heavy duty chopper. Should be a great camp knife.

 

[Tostig]

Great picture post ! Thanks for taking the time to do that.

I love the tip on that chopper , mean looking !

Tostig

 

[Charlie Mike]

It's addictive, no? Very good work! I been busy with O1 too.

[video=youtube;tBSyueYpgt0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBSyueYpgt0[/video]

 

[Pindvin]

The first knife is just awesome. But, the blade could be just a liiil bit longer