My first forged knife

SBranson

SBranson

Joined
Oct 29, 2006
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2,912
Finished this up this morning.

I got forge on father's day and quickly set to playing with a bar of 1095. I made a "knife like object" pretty quickly but didn't have a plan.
Then I thought I should do a kitchen knife and further, considering all the meals she made for me when I was young, I should make this as a gift for my mother... Ha Ha... no mama's boy comments please. :p

Not only was this my first forged blade but my first attempt at heat treating myself. I went for the clayed hamon treatment but I made the clay too thick and only got some action near the edge. It did skate a file so I think it's hardened but we'll see if it holds it's edge. The hamon is nice looking though so if I can bring it up more in the next one, it ought to look really nice.

I did the 3 cycle normalizing before grinding, then once more after grinding.
Quench was in warmed Canola.

Handle is stabilized spalted maple with black canvas micarta bolster.
2 ss pins.

Blade is 7.5" with an OAL of about 12.5" Distal taper both ways and has a nice balance just forward of the bolster.

Etched makers mark was a botch so I will have to sort that out.

I guess that's about it

Here's some pics.

the rough forged blade
kitchenknife_10.JPG


ground to shape
kitchenknife_1.JPG


way too much clay.. :p:rolleyes:
kitchenknife_2.JPG
 
Off to a pretty good start on the learning curve, Stuart. I'd surely be proud to have that in my kitchen and I know your Mother will too.

Paul
 
Nice work Stuart, looks like it'll be a fine kitchen knife, and gifting it to mom is really cool. Thanks for the pleasant thread and the nice pics.
 
holy shit man, you pounded that one out pretty damn quick:eek:!
That is a stellar first forged knife Stuart, and picking a thin cooking knife to start out on was damn brave!:thumbup:
Keep up the good work bud!
 
Thanks.. Ha Ha.. Yeah it's about 1/8" at the "ricasso" area. I think the reason it didn't warp during heat treat may have been all the normalizing but really think it's the same reason I didn't get much hamon... :p Ha Ha...:p
 
I forgot to mention how flowy the design is, looks great and also practical.
Maybe one day your kids will want some bikes;):D
 
When you set out to play with a bar of 1095, you sure manage to turn it into an actual knife right quick. And a very nice one, too. Congrats on the new forge.

Roger
 
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