Dan Pfanenstiel & Mike Quesenberry forging wakizashi's

Mike Quesenberry

Mike Quesenberry

Joined
Jun 2, 2009
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1,564
I recently had the opportunity to forge my first wakizashi. Dan Pfanenstiel came up and walked me through the process. I used Don Hanson W-2 and Dan used W-1. I've cracked lots of small W-1 blades in water so I was almost certain this one was headed for the trash. I can't explain the feeling of seeing a straight blade going into a water quench and having it come out curved other than FREAKIN COOL!:eek: I can't help what wonder what the first Japanese smith thought when he saw it for the first time. My blade ended up with a 5/16" sori and a very even hamon, can't wait to polish it out.

Dan, thanks for all your help. I had a blast.

[video=youtube;bbpHc11eFy8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbpHc11eFy8[/video]

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_quesenberry/6377371767/] DSC_0279 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_quesenberry/6377374821/] DSC_0284 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_quesenberry/6377378073/] DSC_0286 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mike_quesenberry/6377380951/] DSC_0312 by Mike Quesenberry, on Flickr[/URL]
 
Awesome mike! I forgot there would be more, and better pictures. The video christy took of my first time on a power hammer came out blurry. Not sure how she can flub a fully automatic camera, but oh well.

It was a great trip. The hotel/resort was nice and the scenery amazing. Who wouldn't want a vacation trip complete with good food, great company, sword forging, and general mayhem. Christy even managed to enjoy the snow without self-destructing, like she was sure she would. All in all, one of my favorite trips.

Oh, we should definately do this again.

Dan
 
Great stuff Mike - looking forward to seeing you finish that one out.

Roge
 
VERY cool, really enjoyed the vid. Now hurry up and polish that out I wanna see some crazy freaky water quenched W2 hamon action :D
 
I had lots of mean stuff to post, but it's just because I'm jealous I wasn't there!!! :foot: :D

Sorry yours' got turned into a utility knife Dan!!! :eek: ;)

I'm really curious to see how Quesenberry is going to hand sand silk cord to 2000 grit. :confused: :p
 
Thanks for all the kind words.

I forgot to mention a big "Thank You" to Lon for helping me post up the video from you tube:thumbup:

As far as me polishing anything out, it's gonna be a while:grumpy:. I've got orders to fill and knives to build for San Antonio. Though sometimes I get a wild hair up my back side.
 
Nick, i was having such a good time I didn't even care that the blade broke. It didn't crack in the quench, which suprised me. it hardened from edge to spine in a couple of places, due to overheating, and broke in two when I tried to straighten it in the vice. The funny part was, after hand forging bevels for thirty minutes or so, I could barely hold the hammer (it's been two years since my last forged blade, I think). Gotta get my mojo back, just takes time.

Ray, good to be around. Getting my shop, and act, back together, thanks to Mike and others.

Dan
 
Looking good. Wipe that smile off your face Mike makes you look silly:D. I'd probably have the same grin after that.:o Dan great so see you getting back into beating hot steel,,, Makes me wish I still lived down in your neck of the woods, well on second thought NOT... Lets see some of that Hamon even though it's not polished yet.
 
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That's great! Really fun video and pics. I look forward to seeing it finished Mike. Did Dan forge in some sori before the quench? There was a ton of curve on that one.
 
Mike looks like you and Dan had way to much fun, Nice looking blades to bad Dan's did not make it. I am trying to see if I can make it down after Thanksgiving and if the weather is not bad.
 
Looks like a heck of a fun time! Great video as well guys, Dan I'm also really glad to hear your getting back into it!!
 
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