help me with my first forged bowie guys.

[Scott Fulford]

Here`s what I`ve got so far,it`s 1/4" 5160,it tapers to the point and back to the tang,still almost 1/4" in the middle,ending up being about 1/8" at the tail end, I`m not so skilled that I can direct the steel to where I want it to go consistantly with the hammer yet,kinda compromising between what the steel wants to do and what I want it to do.
Anyway,it looks a bit like a Mexican bowie at this stage so thats the direction I am going to go with it.I`m thinking about hammering the top part of the tang to bring it down into a downward curve.I tried to hold it with the tongs and whack it down but it just wanted to warp and not obey my wishes.
I`ve flat ground the blade and everything looks good thus far the edge is still at least 1/16" thick now and there is still plenty of thickness to work with,if you would,please give me some suggestions as to how I should finalise the shape and so forth.I`m quite pleased with my effort thus far and I dont want to screw up now.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Scott Fulford

 

[NickWheeler]

Well, this is just me, but here's my thoughts.

First get it hot and put the entire length of it on the anvil with the edge up. Hammer down on it just below the dropped edge.

This will straighten it out.

Then of course you'll have to hammer on it to get it flat again. You may have to do that part twice.

Then reheat and hold the tang over the horn (blade edge will be down, and you'll be holding it by the blade).

Hammer down just on the other side of the horn, and this will give you some drop in the tang.

-Nick-

http://www.wheelerknives.com

 

[Kim Breed]

With the edge up and hot. hit it with a piece of hardwood. this will straighten the back and not deform the edge. I show this tech. on my dvd.

 

[Aiko555]

I would say that you might wanna forge the handle end down to a stick tang. I did my first knife as a full tang and ended up grinding it into a stick tang cause I just couldn't get the handle flat. Blade looks good to me.

Best,

PJG

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Do what the other guys said on this knife and try to get it straightened out.On your next knife, take the bar and bring it up to forging heat.Put the edge on the horn and shape it into a curve.Flatten the sides back out and get it all straight on the sides.Now you are ready to forge the blade.The edge will be on the inside of the curve.The curve will return to straight as you forge the bevel and taper in the blade.The curve in the tang will stay ,just like you want it to.
Stacy