Master test next month

Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
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Im going to Wayne Goddards house the day before the Oregon Show and take the performance test for my Master Rating for The American Bladesmith Society. Yes Im nervous. My question is this: What experience have you had with 1084 and 15n20 damascus? What is the spot-on heat-treatment for a blade to chop 2x4s in half, shave hair and bend in the vice to at least 90 deg? What is the rockwell hardness at the edge and which pattern: straight laminated, twist, ladder ect?
 
Now this is one I can't help you out with Bruce....Heck I am taking mu JS cutting test at Batsons symposium on the 5th of April and Jerry Fisk is going to test me,I am nervous enough just wanting to make sure I can bend 5160 without breaking it:eek:
Bruce
 
No technical advice from me! But best of luck to you, and be sure to come back and tell us how you did it!
 
Bruce I'm sure eventually someone will chime in here with an answer to your question, but meanwhile I want to wish you a successful test and a great time at Wayne Goddard's shop! - And at the Oregon show.

Dave
 
Well you dirty dog! I wanna watch!!! :D

I think you'll be best off with a ladder pattern for your performance test Bruce. I'm still playing with heat-treating on damascus, so I'm not quite sure what the best recipe is for that test.

Best of luck to you my friend. I'm looking forward to seeing how you did when I see you on Friday :)

Nick
 
bruce all i can give is the idea to take a warriors mind set, win,draw or lose you are the man in the ring.give it the best of your best and leave the outcome to the almighty man upstairs.
 
Bruce; congratulations. Good Luck! For me at least the mixture your using works really great My test blade was random and did fine.No cracking and cut very well. I think a ladder may cut a little better, but I don't think you will notice it on this test. More a factor of proper welds, heat treat, and edge geometry. I temper my 1084/15n20 to 450 deg., but thats my oven. Have no idea of rockwell. I would start tempering at 425 and chop hard knots. Keep creeping up the temps untill you get no chipping when you whale the hell out of it. Make note of temp. Then keep going up till you get just the slightest edge roll. Then back down some. this is your optimum toughness range; which for me seems to also be the best edge holding also. Again; good luck. mw
 
obviously no help from me..
unless you call getting down on your knees and praying that it stays together, a word of advice.
:D

but best of luck to you with the MS test, Bruce.
(and also the JS test, Bruce)
((now that put my head in a knot for a second there))

D.
 
Hey Bruce, good luck on your upcoming test! Why don't you try emailing Ed Caffrey, 15n20 and 1084 are his steels of choice for damascus. He also has a forum over on Custom Knife Directory that he might respond to quicker unless the military has him busy, (he's in the reserves).
 
Good luck Bump, am sure you`ll make it.
Bruce E good to you to.
I`m sure y`all will make with flyin colors
 
Bruce and Bruce, good luck.
Both of you have always impressed and awed me with your knives.
It gives us something to work toward.
 
Good luck to the Bruce's on your tests, I'm sure you won't need luck and that it will turn out exactly as you wish. Take care.....RDT
 
I'll chime in here........ Heat treat wise a single edge quench with a triple temper at 415F to 420F (for 1084/15N20). The real key is to ensure you have the distal tapers in there, and that the geometry is right on the money. I highly recommend that you create two blades at the same time. Test one in your shop and take the other to Wayne's. To be honest the performance part is easier than going to the Blade show! I was a nervous wreck in Atlanta. And then waiting outside the room during the judging..........that just plain sucks! The whole time felling like this little guy......:confused:
 
Hey good luck to y'all! What a minnit. What's luck got to do with it?

Nothing says I.

Just good solid work is what gets ya there.:D
 
Thankyou guys for all the encouragement and votes of confidence. Im glad Ed Caffrey still checks in on us here, Thanks Ed and Williams for the specs. That is about what I have been doing but wanted some others wisedom on the subject. Last year I stood outside that door while the Masters went over the JS knives, It was nerve wracking to say the least. I dont have to do it again till next year but Bruce Evans will soon, Ha Ha Ha. I have no doubts about his work though.

Nick if you are going to Eugene the night before, We can go over to Goddards together.
 
Good luck Bruce'ss
of course the luck part will only help
you from not making it there.:confused:
just do what you do best and make the best that you can.
fear of the unknown is in all of us..:eek:
 
Hi Bruce, I remember talking with you last year at the Blade show while our knives were being judged for Journeyman status. I'm glad that is in the past. I would say, edge quench and maybe with a torch draw the spine so it is soft. A good distal taper will also help, but you know all of those things. I would test at least one at home before I tested in front of a audience. Best wishes, and hope to see you at this years Blade show in Atlanta. Tom Lewis
 
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