- Joined
- Sep 1, 2006
- Messages
- 2,036
I've decided to include all the pics I have of the process. Some unfortunately were taken on my cellphone cam, and thus aren't of the highest quality (not that any of my pictures are ever of very high quality).
Tai's 40-buck forge:
The "banana":
Tai showing me how to get those bevels set:
After the first round of forging and descaling:
Low-temp finishing forging to help refine grain size and reduce the amount of filing needed later. Note the top chimney spouting flames; that held a wood splint or 2 for reducing scale buildup:
After finish forging, some drawfiling, and heat treating:
After LOTS and LOTS of filing and sanding, sharpening, edge and flex testing, etching, and fitting the walnut block selected for the handle:
And after my amateurish copper work, wrapping, and sharpening:
Please remember that this was all done with hand tools, time, insufficient patience, and a bit of beer. Tai also had nothing to do with any of the work after the handle was roughed out -- so don't blame him.
The only thing that really annoys me is the buttcap. I think I'm going to yank it off and recess it or something. I do like the 'pigtail' I came up with though. I also kind of like the integral ferrule/habaki thing, hammer marks and all. She balances nicely as a chopper, but is still thin enough to do some good slicing and pointy enough for a fighter.
Tai and I both beat on the finished blade a bit before doing the etching etc. We chopped partway through a 2x6 and did some flex testing that was pretty satisfying. It was still shaving sharp afterwards. To top it off I accidentally dropped the knife onto my cement garage floor and only bent the tip a tiny bit--it sharpened right out.
Comments, questions, suggestions, all appreciated.
Tai's 40-buck forge:
The "banana":
Tai showing me how to get those bevels set:
After the first round of forging and descaling:
Low-temp finishing forging to help refine grain size and reduce the amount of filing needed later. Note the top chimney spouting flames; that held a wood splint or 2 for reducing scale buildup:
After finish forging, some drawfiling, and heat treating:
After LOTS and LOTS of filing and sanding, sharpening, edge and flex testing, etching, and fitting the walnut block selected for the handle:
And after my amateurish copper work, wrapping, and sharpening:
Please remember that this was all done with hand tools, time, insufficient patience, and a bit of beer. Tai also had nothing to do with any of the work after the handle was roughed out -- so don't blame him.
The only thing that really annoys me is the buttcap. I think I'm going to yank it off and recess it or something. I do like the 'pigtail' I came up with though. I also kind of like the integral ferrule/habaki thing, hammer marks and all. She balances nicely as a chopper, but is still thin enough to do some good slicing and pointy enough for a fighter.Tai and I both beat on the finished blade a bit before doing the etching etc. We chopped partway through a 2x6 and did some flex testing that was pretty satisfying. It was still shaving sharp afterwards. To top it off I accidentally dropped the knife onto my cement garage floor and only bent the tip a tiny bit--it sharpened right out.
Comments, questions, suggestions, all appreciated.
