Brass Rod Test Failure

[Whit]

I thought I was close to completing a small hunter in 1095/15N20 Damascus. When I put it to the brass rod test, it proved good along most of the edge, but was too soft near the tip.

What might cause this? Is it likely that area never hardened, or did it just get drawn back too much? Should I go ahead and start over with the heat treating, or is this thing now scrap???

Thanks.

 

[Epsilon]

Don't scrap. You'd be suprised how many times you can re-do a heat treatment. Results can be just as good too.

I'd give it another shot man. No sweat.

Good luck.

Jason

 

[indian george]

Dude, was that from the billet that you made here???????

 

[Whit]

George,
Nope. I knew you'd ask that! I almost put a disclaimer in the original post. This is some stuff I bought on ebay last year. I've had good results with it in the past. I guess I'll just give it another shot.

In the course of screwing this knife up over and over, I've gotten it awful thin. Would that have any effect?

 

[rlinger]

Could it be that the tip area got burned during the grind?

 

[Alarion]

What's a brass rod test?
Yes, I'm ignorant

 

[Fox]

Alarion, there is a good description here on Ed Caffrey's site:
www.caffreyknives.net/testingart.htm