Haven't been around much lately...

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
I've been busy messin' around with pointy metal stuff (the kind that Bruise likes to play with...:D)

Here are some of the latest:

3newprojects.jpg


Just wondered if this kind of stuff suits anybody's fancy.

Happy New Year!

Dan
 
Hey, Dan, good to hear from you:D! Those blades look great. I especially like the top one as a big camp chopper. What kind of steel? Heat treat? Handles? That bottom blade must have been a real b**ch to grind:eek:
--Josh
 
They're all made from Nicholson files, W-2 tool steel, Rockwell at about 61+. How can I be so sure about the hardness? I just destroyed my bimetal bandsaw blade trying to cut the top blade in the pic to shape. :eek:

Anyway, the curvy blade was a lot of fun. I think I'll make a few more just for kicks. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would. :D

Dan
 
If you need embarrassing names for those kick@ss-looking blades, I have some:

Bowie-Toy

Hot Seax

Misericordian

:footinmou:
 
nice... :p


Yes, Josh. Probably sometime next week. By the way, they all already pass the "paper test"...;)
 
Dan, I know nothing of the knifemaker's art so my questions are very "basic". Isn't the wavy one on the bottom called a "kris"? The middle one has the look of a longer seax. Also, is the hardness of the steel RC61 for the entire blade or is there some differential temporing there [ie. the tang]?
 
fair questions, CK...

Isn't the wavy one on the bottom called a "kris"?
Click to expand...

Well, I was saving the "official" name for when I actually post it for sale...but yes it is a kris blade. I think I'll name it "Kris Kringle" - for some holiday fun. :D


The middle one has the look of a longer seax.
Click to expand...

Hence it's name: Langseax :D


Also, is the hardness of the steel RC61 for the entire blade or is there some differential temporing there [ie. the tang]?
Click to expand...

No diff. temper here. It's at least 61 (more or less) all the way across. Now, 61 on 440C would be brittle, but 61 on W2 makes one heckuva knife and chances are you might be able to snap the tip, but that would be it. Tough stuff.


The top one is a Tanto-ish, Leukku-ish spin-off and has already been spoken for. The others will be up for grabs though. The Kris will have a neat handle - I'll be sure to post a pic here when done. ;)
 
The European term for the wavy blade is "flamberge" after, I'd guess, the waving of a flame. ( Nah, that's gotta be way too simple :confused: )
 
Neet looking knives. But am I the only one that noticed what looks like blood on the board?:eek:
 
Good stuff and thanks but I hope you can take a couple of hours off next week and help me build a new store on Yahoo. Andale has got to go.
 
RC 61 :eek: Could one sharpen one of those with a rock and no power tools?

Are you going to stuff em' in your oven to make them a little softer?
 
Dan

61RC is too hard for anything to be of much servicable use......period. The best way most of us learned this is through years of forging and use and misuse.
There are many methods to draw the backs and tip. One thing you might try is to place the blades on a fire brick (edge off the brick) and then heat the brick and the back of the blades with a torch to a blue black all the way from riccaso to about an inch from the tip. Let the heat radiate out from black-to blue-to brown-to yellow. When you let the yellow/brown get into the tip you will have a more servicable tool.
You will have to keep flipping the blade from one side to the other to keep it from warping.
Then temper in the oven till they reach a deep yellow (each oven is different. So watch the colors till you learn yours-or by a thermometer then quench- cycle three times.
The Flamberge blade will be more difficult. I would have clay treated it then quenched it-thus hardening the edge and not the middle.
Those blades are large campe style knives. They will come back to you sooner-then-later for failures from cutomers at that hardness.


Good luck and have fun Don't give up!

Dan
 
Thanks for all the comments, guys. I do take into consideration everything you guys say.

I'll give these my best shot and let y'all know when I get 'em done.


Bill - I'll make some time next week and we'll get a Yahoo store up and running. Just let me know when you're ready to make the move.
 
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