I Felt The Bear Breathing Down My Neck (HT Stuff)

R

rlinger

Joined
Mar 29, 2002
Messages
4,591
I felt something early this evening and it was not good.

I got a big tactical of D2 in to HT. This blade is of 1/4 inch stock with no taper from the ricasso back to end of tang. All went well right to the air quench. I knew it would take a while to get it quenched enough for temper. The blade portion quenched just as expected but that heavy tang ......., and the blade close to ricasso remained way too warm to put in temper. It suddenly dawned on me; this thing is going to ping. I never felt that way since I was in northern Ontario in 94 when I was by myself on a fly-in lake shore about 200 yards from my tent camp way after dark and suddenly just knew a black bear was sizing me up. Its a helpless and unique feeling when you instantly realize you just stepped in it and you did it all by yourself. Well, just like in 94, I got lucky with this D2. I was able to get it into temper without the blade cooling too far before that and without the differential heat being too much. I thinkst I have learned a generous lesson about air quenching heavy steel with complex geometry.

RL
 
LOL, ROGER! I could feel the hair raising on the back of my neck as you described this!
 
rlinger......not to sound dumb but what would have happened if it had pinged?

I am thinking hot steel in your face but thought I'd ask. Remember you have 2 nast wounds to date doing this if I am remembering correctly.

Be a good boy and play nice with the other children before you get hurt AGAIN :p
 
Roger, you was probably more nervous about the blade than the bear. You probably just dropped kicked the bear's butt out of camp, but the steel was gonna do the ping, I am sure. Pretty neat how you rescued the blade. With all the trial and error with your HTing, you think real quick on your feet, is what I believe. You good, Roger! I didn't know you got hurt a couple of times doing HT. Dang! You have that blade all done now?
 
Quick on the feet? It was more like controlled confusion ;)

BL, it would have cracked.

John, so far I have not been injured by Ht'ing. I've just gotten a couple pretty nasty cuts from a belt and from a blade.

RL
 
Roger have you had the D2 go ping before?
the dementions sounds about like my diving knives 1/4" no tapper never had one of them ping on me.. this one is 10 1/4' ol with a 5 1/4" blade
sharp top and bottom very heavy, with complex geometry.
gray135-1.jpg
 
Thanks Roger
why I asked that, is, I don't think the super steels will have that problem
as long as it's air cooled at least I haven't heard of one yet.

.anyone else?? :confused:

speaking of bear we see 3 in two days cross the road close to town this week
one was right in town damn near ran them over :eek: got to get the riffle
back out I guess ..an't bad if cooked right.. ;)
 
rlinger said:
I felt something early this evening and it was not good.

I got a big tactical of D2 in to HT. This blade is of 1/4 inch stock with no taper from the ricasso back to end of tang. All went well right to the air quench. I knew it would take a while to get it quenched enough for temper. The blade portion quenched just as expected but that heavy tang ......., and the blade close to ricasso remained way too warm to put in temper. It suddenly dawned on me; this thing is going to ping. I never felt that way since I was in northern Ontario in 94 when I was by myself on a fly-in lake shore about 200 yards from my tent camp way after dark and suddenly just knew a black bear was sizing me up. Its a helpless and unique feeling when you instantly realize you just stepped in it and you did it all by yourself. Well, just like in 94, I got lucky with this D2. I was able to get it into temper without the blade cooling too far before that and without the differential heat being too much. I thinkst I have learned a generous lesson about air quenching heavy steel with complex geometry.

RL
Click to expand...

I'm getting the hair raising on the back of my neck too.
Should that heavy D2 blade sound familiar to me????
 
IT SURE SHOULD. Don't worry Joe, your baby is just fine - all snuggled up in package wrapping and on its way to you via our very own Uncle Sam. :)

RL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top