Forging/Tang Stamping Question???

[Greg Covington]

Hey guys...I have a small forge that runs on natural gas that I can get about 4-5" blades into.

I got it from fellow who used it in his plumbing shop years ago to heat huge soldering tips. I relined it with firebrick and have it running on the natural gas in my shop.

I have not messed with forging blades yet. I want to stamp my name deeply when the steel is up to temperature. I guess this would be forging heat when the steel is workable.

I have had reasonable success stamping on anealed stock (O1) but I want to get the deep stamping like on forged blades.

How hot, what color, and how soft is the steel when it is optimum to do this and how long do I have to accomplish it from the time it comes out of the forge???

I would really appreciate any help on this!!

Greg

 

[Bruce Bump]

I had a nice stamp made for the same purpose. It got hot and quit working. Smashed it flat from the heat. It worked good before on annealed steel if I could keep it straight. On hot steel it would sometimes bend the blade when I hit it. I invested in a good electroetch system instead of buying another stamp. Dull cherry red should do it though. You have to be in a fairly dark room to see the true color.

 

[Ed Caffrey]

Bruce is on the mondy with color. Try to confine your stamping to the ricasso area, and it is usually the most flat and true surface. If you try stamping on a blade area that has been ground (read..has bevels), the stamp will either bend the blade or your blade will go flying off somewhere. One sharp rap with the hammer is all it should take. I stamp my blades after grinding, and right before I harden. I always normalize before I heat treat, so thats the perfect time for me. I've considered an etched mark for my folders........but it's just not me. If you do decide on a stamp/mark, try to stick with the exact same one. People will come to know and recognize this as "your" mark. This may be overboard, but I also believe that by sticking with the same stamp/mark, your knives will also retain/gain value over time. I know that folks like Loveless draw higher prices with rare or different marks........but there just aren't many "Lovelesses" in knifemaking anymore.

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Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com