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Forging Kabab Barg Knife... Video

Cool video. I always enjoy seeing how makers do it from start to finish. Very descriptive and easy to follow. You could make a good knife this way. Wally Hayes first showed me the "backcut" tip forging you see in the video. He uses it with certain patterns of damascus. Many Japanese smiths use the technique as well.

To critically discuss the process...

1. He held the blade still in the quenchant, which inhibits rapid cooling and negatively effects hardening. Agitation is almost more important that the quenching medium, itself.
2. His hammer technique hurt my arm just watching it. He is hunched over and barely raises his arm. His strokes are short and stiff, his arm is tense and all the force is coming from the wrist. Thankfully, he has a power hammer but even his minimal use of the hammer is bad for his body.
3. The choice of epoxy is bad. Those hardware store quickset epoxies are brittle with a short bond life. That is not to say it will surely fall apart... it just raises the chances. I would also have included a pin or peened/threaded buttcap for a secure mechanical connection. The burnt out hole is not the best bonding surface one could ask for.

I bring up these points, not to downplay the video but to open a healthy technical discussion of what we just saw.

Thanks for posting it, Adam.
 
It was odd that he would use a quick setting epoxy for that handle.
 
Rick,

thanks for pointing out the importance of agitation while quenching. Just have learnt something new :-)

Oliver
 
I had never see hot forming the guard. I enjoyed seeing that but wondered if it would affect the temper. I can't see how it wouldn't.
 
Thats really cool how he did the bolster. Not sure how much the heat affects the blade at the joining area but looks alot easier then filing out a perfect fit.
 
jawilder said:
I had never see hot forming the guard. I enjoyed seeing that but wondered if it would affect the temper. I can't see how it wouldn't.
Click to expand...
I hot form my guards... there is little effect. The mass of the guard is minimal and is well away from the thin blade. Sometimes, the surface shows tempering oxides but they are extremly shallow.
 
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Rick Marchand said:
I hot form my guards... there is little effect. The mass of the guard is minimal and is well away from the thin blade. Sometimes, the surface shows tempering oxides but they are extremly shallow and minimal.
Click to expand...

Thats good to know. I am gonna have to try that out when I find time to do some forging.

Thanks for sharing the video AVigil
 
I'm sorry, but......

Although I am not a free-hand grinder, and despite what appears to be a well ground/finished blade, how could anyone possibly produce a flat surface with either his rough or finish grinding technique.

... I know he did some draw filing, but I just don't see it.

Please explain.

-Peter
 
I don't understand where the problem is, Peter. It looked fine to me. Forged, 2x72 on a flat platen, draw filing, hand sanding... it is well within the means.
 
Rick - It just look very rough to me. Maybe its meant to be? I honestly don't know.

Using a jig, at least the way I do, I try to make very even, accurate, predictable passes. My final, post heat treat, touch up passes are done with magnifying glasses and as much precision as I can muster. In the few times I have attempted free hand, I've tried to maintain that same static angle throughout the pass with that same amount of concentration.

I've watched a whole bunch of videos trying to see how other folks do this in an effort to teach myself.
Is that how you grind? With the amount of movement and casualness(is that a word?) that he displays? Is that the way(obviously his way) to go about it.... not all stiff and locked up, but loose and almost free flowing?

Its hard to argue with the final product. He makes a fine looking piece. I'm just curious about his technique.

-Peter
 
That is how I grind, Peter..... you sayin' my flats are not flat.... huh!.. eh? .... huh!:grumpy:

Ha! That blade is full flat... It is easy to be loose. If you are doing sabre type grinds with a distinct ridgeline, more care needs to be taken. Any knife you see from me, is ground similar to the way he did it in the video.
 
Video moved to VIDEO sticky.
I am unlocking the thread for open discussion, but can delete the videoif the consensus is that it isn't good info.
 
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It looks like he is filing with pressure both draw and push direction, I thought that was a no no?
 
Neils, thanks for shooting the video and welcome to bladeforums. Hope you stick around for a while.
 
nprovos said:
Thanks for the criticism and candid assessment :-)

Niels.
Click to expand...
Niels..... welcome to BladeForums! I love these types of "full process" videos. It is not easy to do. Thanks for taking the time. We criticize everything, here in Shop Talk. NOTHING is sacred. The object is to not get offended, take from it, what is useful and have fun. Cheers
 
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