Firesteel vs. blade temper

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bwcaq

Joined
Jan 17, 2007
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I've got an HRLM that feels about as good in my hand as a knife can feel. It happens to have a choil that is too small to allow me to choke up, but it's perfect for a firesteel. (Please resist the choil debate. :o)

Would the heat from firesteel sparks generated in a choil affect the temper of the edge closest to the action, or am I overthinking it??

I could use the spine of course, but it's a bit rounded and the choil already has a nice sharp edge to it.

Thanks!!!
 
Yeah, dextersp1 pretty much nailed it.
In order to mess with the heat treat on a knife, you need to get it so hot, that you will not be able to hold it for quit some time afterwards.
 
bwcaq said:
I've got an HRLM that feels about as good in my hand as a knife can feel. It happens to have a choil that is too small to allow me to choke up, but it's perfect for a firesteel. (Please resist the choil debate. :o)

Would the heat from firesteel sparks generated in a choil affect the temper of the edge closest to the action, or am I overthinking it??

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Actually, you are not thinking enough.

You have a spark which is very hot, but has very little mass. Therefore, it contains relatively little energy.

You have a knife blade, which is not hot and which, compared to the spark, has a huge mass. It would take a great deal of energy to raise the temperature of the knife to the 300F necessary to affect the temper.

The spark does not contain enough thermal energy to elevate the temperature of the knife blade.
 
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