Fire etching steel

[Bayou Knives]

Can anyone tell me or show me how this is done. I have searched the internet and on here and still don't have a clue. all I can find out is it is poor mans damascus

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

"Fire Etched" is a sales term that was used by a few maker to describe the heavily pitted and patinated surface they got from coal forging their "Antique" looking knives. The method is usually called "Forge Finish" by most folks. It is usually seen on "Period" knives, made to look like the pioneers used .

It is attained by leaving some of the layers of decarb and scale on the blade . A forged blade will have this to some degree naturally. It is usually removed by soaking in vinegar or an acid, and then sanded off in the finishing steps. However, if one wants it, it can be left on the blade, or it can be added to the blade in HT by repeated heating to non-magnetic and and cooling in air, before the final quench.

Coal forges are often used for attaining this effect, as they can have hot/cold spots and uneven heating. Gas forges will work fine,too.

 

[Bayou Knives]

thank you this was very close to what I had deduced. I knew it involved the coal forge. thank you I was wanting it for "Period" pieces

 

[Bill Burke]

the fire etched finish is not just a scaled up part or blade and It does not necessarily have to be done in a coal forge. The people that I know who do this method finish their parts out to a 220 or better finish and then heat the parts in a gas forge to form scale and then let the parts cool. They then remove all the scale formed on the part and brush, patina or otherwise finish the blade or part. David Lische is someone who does this on a regular basis and I have used it a few times myself

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I didn't mean to imply it had to be a coal,forge. I changed the wording to be more clear.
I think some of the coal guys often make simple " frontier style" knives, and the fire etched style finish lends itself to that genre .