Damascus Camp Knife WIP

Status
Not open for further replies.
30.jpg

I cut the bar in half - two pieces about 18" long and reheat till toasty...


31.jpg

When hot, I clamp the tip in the press (it's faster than using a vise and I don't have to work so hard) and I grab the other end and twist with my bare hands. I might, I mean you can't see it can you?!?!?


32.jpg

...and twist...


33.jpg

...and twist...


34.jpg

...and twist. Sounds like a 50's song.


36.jpg

I twisted one bar clockwise and the other one counterclockwise.


More tomorrow...
 
now that's a coiler!
 
Nice tight twist Burt. Really looking forward to the rest of the project, and revealing the pattern.

Thanks much, Craig
 
38.jpg

Then I flatten out the corners on the twisted bar.


40.jpg

Then I square off the bar. I'm going for a rectangle maybe 1/2" x 3/4" or so.


41.jpg

Then I grind off the scale to check the integrity of the bar.


42.jpg

The two bars after grinding are about 21" long and rectangular.


44.jpg

The bars are each cut into three pieces and arranged alternating left, right, left, right. Then welded onto a bar.
 
45.jpg

Re-heat the new six-bar stack.


46.jpg

Before it's at welding heat, I re-flux and just "tighten" up the stack.


47.jpg

Like before, the first weld is in the press.


49.jpg

Then under the hammer.


50.jpg

Then I flatten it out.


53.jpg

I forge it down to nearly the thickness of what the blade will be.


55.jpg

Once it's close to the final blade thickness, I can start forging the "preform" shape. You'll see that the blade will be wider out front than it is at the ricasso, so my preform reflects that.
 
56.jpg

Using the drawing dies, I start to pull down the blade bevels. The hammer does the grunt work, and I clean and straighten everything up on the anvil later.


58.jpg

...about finished with the hammer.


59.jpg

Correcting the curve with a very high tech tool.


61.jpg

Cleaning it up by hand.


62.jpg

And nearly done with the blade.


63.jpg

And this is what the blade looks like after forging. Now for the tang...
 
That broad blade profile is going to make a nice canvas for the damascus pattern.

Roger
 
This is the best forging thread i've seen. Great high temperature pictures.

I can't wait to see the etched pattern in the blade.

Peter
 
I'm always in awe of how much skill, knowlege, and plain 'ol hard work goes into the forged blade BEFORE the grinding begins.

Thanks, Burt. Incredible. :thumbup: ;)

Coop
 
This is sweet!

Can we get a pic of the power hammer too? I haven't seen that one before. Did you build it or buy it?

John
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top