Forging Blades fro Just Whatever . . .

[VorpelSword]

So I have been watching YouTube videos where a really nice looking knife is pattern welded from odd, strange or interesting stuff. It could be from one link of a massive rusty chain. It could be a canister or carefully aarranged steel pen nibs or a bundle of drill bits . . .a chain saw chain . . . .ball bearings . . .a pile of machining chips . . .just about anything.

Now I know that the makers actually know that what they are using for source material is hardenable steel and that it will make a serviceable kn fe, but in my mind I contrast that nearly haphazard (it isn't really) use of random stuff (it isn't really) to make a blade . . . with the nearly obsessive concern by many on these forums with knowing exactly what formulation of steel goes into a blade and how it performs.

The videos are interesting and the blades are unique in appearence, but just how "good" are they? I am guessing pretty good, but just what would anyone actgually do with one? When shopping for a "combat knife for a close family member many years ago, I could have and would have bought about any knife at about any price. I thought about buying a dramatic looking Damascus blade from a custom maker. But what would that "bring to the fight"?

Maybe for a "gent's knife"; pocket jewelry for Tuxedo or business suit wear, or something to put in a shadow box on the office wall, but I cannot think of field dressing an Elk on a mountainside in Wyoming with an appropriately sized skinner made from who knows what in a snake skin pattern. You choose the shop/yard found source materials and welded pattern . . .my thoughts are the same.

I welcome being schooled in what is possible, but that is my current bias.

 

[LEGION 12]

 

[Boru13]

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[jbmonkey]

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but do you have a pic of that blacked out Randall in your hand by any chance?

 

[LEGION 12]

but do you have a pic of that blacked out Randall in your hand by any chance?

 

[unwisefool]

I thought about buying a dramatic looking Damascus blade from a custom maker. But what would that "bring to the fight"?

Some style and pizzazz, something you really should never overlook in a fight. Never know who's watching and silently passing judgment because you are using a blacked-out Randall.

 

[norcalAF]

Some style and pizzazz, something you really should never overlook in a fight. Never know who's watching and silently passing judgment because you are using a blacked-out Randall.

Could you imagine the embarrassment of this ending your life?!

 

[knarfeng]

So I have been watching YouTube videos where a really nice looking knife is pattern welded from odd, strange or interesting stuff. It could be from one link of a massive rusty chain. It could be a canister or carefully aarranged steel pen nibs or a bundle of drill bits . . .a chain saw chain . . . .ball bearings . . .a pile of machining chips . . .just about anything.

Now I know that the makers actually know that what they are using for source material is hardenable steel and that it will make a serviceable kn fe, but in my mind I contrast that nearly haphazard (it isn't really) use of random stuff (it isn't really) to make a blade . . . with the nearly obsessive concern by many on these forums with knowing exactly what formulation of steel goes into a blade and how it performs.

The videos are interesting and the blades are unique in appearence, but just how "good" are they? I am guessing pretty good, but just what would anyone actgually do with one? When shopping for a "combat knife for a close family member many years ago, I could have and would have bought about any knife at about any price. I thought about buying a dramatic looking Damascus blade from a custom maker. But what would that "bring to the fight"?

Maybe for a "gent's knife"; pocket jewelry for Tuxedo or business suit wear, or something to put in a shadow box on the office wall, but I cannot think of field dressing an Elk on a mountainside in Wyoming with an appropriately sized skinner made from who knows what in a snake skin pattern. You choose the shop/yard found source materials and welded pattern . . .my thoughts are the same.

I welcome being schooled in what is possible, but that is my current bias.

Good for what?
Any steel (and even a lot of plastics) can be made into a serviceable shiv. ("it will keel")

But if you have a usage such as skinning game where edge retention matters, then the steel matters.

 

[Unicorn161]

For most of those, it's not just about the whatever they used. Razor blades, fish hooks, pieces of chain or whatever, but the powdered steel (like steel filings, not to be confused with Powdered Metal) used as a filling. I've seen the forgers I watch use 1085 or 1095. So most of the blade is really that steel.

Good ones made like this are as good as any knife made from similar steel with a similar heat treat. They just look cooler to many people.

Be sure you're looking at real pattern welded steel and not some of the fake, or low quality crap. Don't buy something that just says, "damascus," without saying what was used in it. It's even more meaningless than "surgical stainless steel," since you can safely assume that's 440A. "Damascus," could be anything, even a very low grade of steel etched to have a pattern.

 

[VorpelSword]

Good for what?
Any steel (and even a lot of plastics) can be made into a serviceable shiv. ("it will keel")

But if you have a usage such as skinning game where edge retention matters, then the steel matters.

That is one of the main reasons affection my choosing to not buy a Damascus sub-hilt or Bowe style from a custom maker. Another consideration was to avoid giving a knife so flashy or otherwise desirablr that someone would "borrow: it permanently.