Archer Here
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2008
- Messages
- 1,323
The steel I used on this knife is ½ ton Leaf Spring. I designed the knife style on paper, then cut the shape out. I set up a forge, by stacking fire bricks together and leaving about a 3 inch by 3 inch by 12 inch hole inside of it, and I cut a hole out in the back for my fire to blow in. I used a propane torch with a turbo tip to shoot it inside the hole in the back. It took about 5 minutes for my blade to reach a bright orange (approx 1600 degrees Fahrenheit). I took a pen magnet and extended it out and reached inside and it was not magnetized. I let it go a little longer and then pulled it out and immediately dunked it in transmission fluid.
The holes in the blade I thought would give it some neat character. I started out at ¼ inch and worked my way down. I have a pretty good sander thats a combination belt sander and 6 inch disc sander with adjustable ledges so I can get that nice angle and edges. I took my wet dry paper and cut 6 inch circles and duck taped it to my orbitable sander and it cut the time down to nothing. Shines like a mirror. I started out at 300 to 600 to 1000 to 1200 to 1500 to 2000 grit.
I tempered it by cooking it in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour, letting it air cool, then putting it in 1 more hour at 400. It came out with a nice slight yellowish tent to it, that I like. I file tested the blade and it passed. Seems very hard.
I made the handle out of Cocobola wood and pined it with brass and epoxy. I hand stitched the sheath out of dark gator hide.
Overall length is 10 ¼ inch. Blade is 5 ½ inch long. Handle is 4 ¾ inch long. Blade width is 1 3/16 inch. Blade thickness is 3/16 inch.
Below are shop pictures and pictures of the finished knife.
Let me know what you think guys.
Thanks & See Ya in the Wild!
The holes in the blade I thought would give it some neat character. I started out at ¼ inch and worked my way down. I have a pretty good sander thats a combination belt sander and 6 inch disc sander with adjustable ledges so I can get that nice angle and edges. I took my wet dry paper and cut 6 inch circles and duck taped it to my orbitable sander and it cut the time down to nothing. Shines like a mirror. I started out at 300 to 600 to 1000 to 1200 to 1500 to 2000 grit.
I tempered it by cooking it in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour, letting it air cool, then putting it in 1 more hour at 400. It came out with a nice slight yellowish tent to it, that I like. I file tested the blade and it passed. Seems very hard.
I made the handle out of Cocobola wood and pined it with brass and epoxy. I hand stitched the sheath out of dark gator hide.
Overall length is 10 ¼ inch. Blade is 5 ½ inch long. Handle is 4 ¾ inch long. Blade width is 1 3/16 inch. Blade thickness is 3/16 inch.
Below are shop pictures and pictures of the finished knife.
Let me know what you think guys.
Thanks & See Ya in the Wild!
