First knife. Valuable leassons

J

J.R Hollow

Joined
Dec 30, 2015
Messages
1
I recently made my first knife. Stock reduction, 1095 high carbon. My finished product looked great. Perfectly symmetrical, etched blade, oak burl handle with a nice finish, and feels great in the hand. I was beyond proud, until I first used it skinning a squirrel. The blade lost its edge almost immediately. I made critical mistakes in the heat treating process and the result was a blade that was soft. Now I have a beautiful knife that's good for nothing but looking at.
I will take any tips/ suggestions and answer any questions regarding my process.
Thanks in advance.
This is my first post on here!
 
Take off the handles and re heat treat the blade. Test the blade before installing handles.
 
My first lesson was similar: different steel types require different heat treatment. I wanted a Roman pugio badly but I didn't have much money. This guy from work cut the main shape using a plasma cutter for me and I grinded the heck out of it for months. When I thought it was ready for heat treatment I asked the guy who cut it for me which type of steel we had used he said "Mild Steel" which can't really be heat treated because it doesn't have the right carbon content. I was very disappointed because all my work had been for nothing.
 
Check out the sticky on heat treatment. I bet you can find all the info you are looking for.
 
J. R Hollow, You should keep your first knife and display it somewhere to remind you of your start. I framed my first three which I made at the same time and I look at them often to keep me humble and to see where I started. Ten years from now you will be glad you kept your first in my opinion. Make another one but better. Larry
 
For us to help please explain your heat treat regimen in detail so we can find out where you went wrong.
 
First mistake- using 1095 on your first one. It is harder to heat treat then most noobies assume. Including myself.
 
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