- Joined
- Nov 14, 2005
- Messages
- 1,464
So
as some of you know I plan to test for my J.S. at next year's Blade show.
but first I have to pass the performance test with a Master Smith (See the testing rules HERE )
so obviously I need to make a special knife for the occasion, three of them, to be exact.
my plan is to finish out all three the same and do the full test in my shop twice before I do it for real with the M.S.
Keep in mind that there are a few things I will do differently SPECIFICALLY because this knife is meant to be bent.
Starting out, I forge the point in and draw out a little bit to establish a taper.
Forge the bevels in place and knock down the choil
pretty much forged to the shape I want here
first couple passes on the grinder
it's important that the knives be almost exactly the same, so I have a good reference of how the third will perform in the actual test
another THOROUGH normalization cycle
apply the clay for HT, normally I want 1/3 of the blade surface hard, but for the performance test I really only want a small portion hardened
Tempered twice at about 500 F, going for a good bit softer and springier than I usually want. 56 RC should be about what I want. Testing will show for sure
as some of you know I plan to test for my J.S. at next year's Blade show.
but first I have to pass the performance test with a Master Smith (See the testing rules HERE )
so obviously I need to make a special knife for the occasion, three of them, to be exact.
my plan is to finish out all three the same and do the full test in my shop twice before I do it for real with the M.S.
Keep in mind that there are a few things I will do differently SPECIFICALLY because this knife is meant to be bent.
Starting out, I forge the point in and draw out a little bit to establish a taper.
Forge the bevels in place and knock down the choil
pretty much forged to the shape I want here
first couple passes on the grinder
it's important that the knives be almost exactly the same, so I have a good reference of how the third will perform in the actual test
another THOROUGH normalization cycle
apply the clay for HT, normally I want 1/3 of the blade surface hard, but for the performance test I really only want a small portion hardened
Tempered twice at about 500 F, going for a good bit softer and springier than I usually want. 56 RC should be about what I want. Testing will show for sure
