Going over to the Dark Side

Allen Newberry

Allen Newberry

Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
1,924

Well here are my first attempts at forging a blade, not counting my feeble attempts in college.

Yesterday, my B-Day, I went over to Tom Upton's shop and he helped me to forge out this blade. I am pretty happy with the efforts. Even though I did allow Tom to try and straighten the blade and after drawing out the tang for a minute or two he offered to draw out the tang on his power hammer and I accepted. Now the question is will I be able to make a reasonably cool knife out of what I have here. I hope so, but I will have to learn a few new skill sets to pull it off.
 
Welcome to the dark side! looks like you did well.

you will probably find that the forging thing grows on ya, once you are no longer limited by the shape of the original bar, all sorts of cool stuff becomes possible (look for instance at some of the sensuous shapes Tai Goo gets out of round bar)

I have never finished the last stock removal blade I started the day before I picked up the hammer for the first time 15 years ago.

-Page
 
They look very good. Forging is fun and freedom, but I'm not so good to forge to shape so I use forging just to make thinner or larger the stock than it was, distal taper etc. Then I shape by stock removal. This way I prepare odd stock sizes ready to profile as a knife blank for stock removal. Less heat at the forge to risk the micro cracks or over heating but less time at the grinder to grind stock to desired thickness.
Forging reduces time to make a knife, stock removal makes sure not to mess up with the steel structure. I cannot understand why people are supporting one side passionately as one side is superior to another. Each has uses. They are just ways to make a knife but each has also some technical difficulties. There should be a balance, each has advantages, why not to benefit these advantages from both. Nothing is just black or white after all...
Emre...
 
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looks good, keep it up, I wish my first forged turned out that well

cya
jimi
 
Welcome to Forging! It's an addiction that will last your entire life, and even has withdrawl symptoms! (ask anyone here in the winter that doenst have an indoor forge! :eek: :D )

darkside.jpg
 
I certainly had fun and can't wait till, as Page said of Tai Goo, I am able to make sensuous shapes.

Allen
 


Well it looks like I may be able to make something out of this blade. I just need to figure out my plan for the handle/guard then I can heat treat and get back to work on it.

Allen
 
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