Bladesmith Question

[Ricky D. Finch]

Don't know if this is true, but it sounds like it would work. I was reading a book on the old west, and in alot of the books it make's a reference to fixing wounds. You take your Bowie and place in the fire till its red, then touch the wound to stop the blood flow. My questions is what happens to the knife afterwards, will it still hold a edge, is it usable, what if this is done more than once?

http://www.finchknives.com/

 

[Don Hanson III]

The blade wounld not hold an edge after this treatment, the steel would be to soft, handle would probably burn off also.
I have seen it done on old western movies though.

Don Hanson lll

 

[Jason Cutter]

I can't see it being done except under very exceptional circumstances, to destroy a knife to cauterise a wound. Yes, it would destroy the temper in the steel. However, if one had access to a few other pieces of scrap steel, its entirely possible ...

As additional trivia - cautery was the main means of reducing the chances of infection in a wound back then. Without modern antibiotics and disinfectants, heat was the logical way to go. Cautery is still widely used in surgery, but in very controlled and tiny amounts. Cauterised or burnt flesh is actually a ripe haven for infection to set in as the dead flesh needs to be broken down and integrated as the healing process (you'd hope), set in. :barf:

I suppose if you've "dedicated" your Bowie to cauterising wounds, then thats kinda all its good for afterwards. Or maybe as a shovel. Jason.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Like so many things in the old westerns,its mostly a figment of the writers imagination.The one I like best is pulling the bullet out of a cartridge and pouring the powder into the wound,then lighting it.(Gun powder was used as a wound sterilant,but it was not set on fire)
By the way,Where did they keep that big coffee pot you always see on the fire?You never see it on their saddle!

 

[Bruce Bump]

Oh sure it would work You just have to heat the back while the edge is under water. Most cowboys would rather bleed to death than ruin their bowie.