More Kodzukas and Tantos.

J

Jason Cutter

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
Messages
1,419
Finally run out of 1095 bar stock. The top one is a tanto, 6inch blade of my remaining 1095 stock, the full-sized handle has a Scarab menuki. The lower knife is a 4.5inch Kodzuka, the biggest I could draw out from the little bar of steel I had which was part of an old Wiltshire file. The steel might be similar to 1095 but might have other alloyed elements in it. The hamon has not shown the same way but it seems more wear resistant than the 1095. The menuki is a cherub.

Both knives are clay-backed edge hardened, cryo, triple tempered, hand finished, handles wrapped - black nylon over rayskin, impregnated with acrylic.

No more hamons for a while till I get more steel ! Thanks for looking. Cheers. Jason.

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Dude,
Your knives ROCK! Turn off that 'puter, get off yer duff and go get more steel!:p

Looking forward to seeing your next efforts.:D


all the best,
Mike U.
 
I just got my Kodzuka from Jason the other day. Photos don't do them justice. The hamon is amazing.
 
You're sure doing some beautiful work Jason!

Looks like some real nice activity in that hamon close up. I'm really intrigued by the nitrogen freeze on the clay hardened blades. I have a 50L nitrogen dewar, but haven't had it filled yet.

I'd like to see you do some knives in W-1 or W-2...

Nick
 
I'm always inspired by encouragement. Burchtree's knife has some "special treatment" in that I let it etch in ferric chloride a bit longer - the activity in the unhardened portion above the hamon is quite amazing. I don't think its got anything to do with my forging technique.

Unfortunately, it doesn't show well in the pictures - still need to figure out lighting and resolution issues with photography.

Nick, I am wondering whether the smaller knife is actually W2. I ran out of steel and forged out the leftover portion an old (??? at least 30years old)Wiltshire file (my other favourite source of carbon steel). The hamon and activity shows up quite differently compared to the bigger one which is from labelled 1095 bar from Koval's.

The difference in working ? It was always more difficult to grind, sand and file, it seems harder, more wear resistant. ?? Some extra carbon or could it be some extra vanadium ? I'm just glad it seems to perform BETTER than the "standard" 1095 which I am so fond of.

Cheers. Jason.
 
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