New hunter in...yes... BRASS!! (and Claro)

anvilring

anvilring

Joined
Nov 29, 2000
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I gotta say I like brass for just a good knife to have handy for sale. I can't even get nickel silver bar in 5/8 X1 inch so what'da do?, make thin little nickel silver guards or brass'uns I can carve into?? This has a nice hammon albiet pales in the shadow of Ray Richards!*&^%

regards, mitch
 
Mitch, I'm not a real fan of brass, or nickel silver, but that's a nice knife.:eek: :)


If you want something besides those two materials, try 416 SS, and get the matching pins from the same supplier.
It's available in a wide range of sizes, and I believe it's less expensive than the other two.

In my opinion, it actually works easier that brass, or nickel, and it will more closely match the blade color.
I know though that many folks like brass, and NS for some things, and my dislike is only my opinion.
I just don't like anything that gets nasty in inclement climates, or when it touches leather. :eek: ;)
 
My reasoning for NS and brass is for authenticity's sake. I'm plain queer for 19th cen. stuff; bowies'n all so that's what I've always used. But for such as this, well, it is modern in the first place right?? I'll try some stainless next. And wow! look how much less money yes?

regards, mitch
 
you shoulda seen the look on my face when I saw that knife, it was kinda like this :eek: but in a good way. honestly the best hunting knife a person could ask for. great job
 
Don't be self conscious Mitch. Build what you like......If you take everything seriously you will only make 5160 knives with rust brown fittings ! :D

BTW....Very nice knife ! ;)
 
Mitch you sure do clean work. I'm glad you found this place! I think that's the sharpest hamon I've ever seen; how'd you do it?

Thanks for sharing,
 
I'm just heating the edge with a really "cutting hot" cutting torch till it's "quenching hot" about 3/8 to a half inch up from the edge, and just quenching in oil. Just good FAST even heat and quench. I go down one side, flip it over (I hold the blades with vise-grips) and run down the other side... back and forth with a little extra heat at the ricasso end as it's so much thicker and tends to draw a little heat away from the heal of the edge. The REAL GUY we need to hear from on hammons is Ray Richards, he has WAVY BEEEEutiful hammons...... So, Ray, how'd you do it?? :)

regards, mitch
 
Mitch, I use clay, the same stuff you use on a forge. These last few knives I've done I just put the clay on freehand and I'm surprized how it turned out. I normally make a pattern and mark both sides of the blade before I do the clay. I'm still learning and have somemore ideas I'm wanting to try. The clay takes so darn long to dry out I usually hit it with my propane torch to speed it up. I've been thinking about adding alittle Fixall to the mix thinking it will speed up the process and maybe help it stick better. I'm also thinking of trying straight Fixall.

BTW you did a dandy job on this knife and the line is quite bold. It would be bolder is you had finished the blade more but thats up to you. Looks great for a using knife!

I've used micarta for guards. I won't tell you how many brass guards I did when I first started. I think brass has got a bad wrap.......
 
Mitch, thats a beautiful knife. I used to have a real dislike for brass primarily because I've seen so many really awful cheap crap knives that use it. Then I met Rob Hudson at a hammer in and saw his work. All brass fittings and beautiful. I came to realize its the workmanship more than the material that matters. Thanks for sharing that knife. The hammon looks great too.
Ed
 
are you talking about useing satinite?? or clay like you use for pottery?? I've also got some other stuff from "Harbison Ford" (sp?) that's clay like in appearance at least, for forge interior repairs and such. It's out in the barn or I'd tell you the name of it. So what do you use and where can we get some?
do you do the whole blade in clay and just pile it on thicker above what you intend for a hammon or coat the blade and 'remove' the area you wish to harden? And of course, are you useing oil or water?

oh those damned inquiring minds!

mitch
 
Satinite is the stuff although I use a different brand, think the one I use is Vesuveous but I'm sure its the same stuff. There's different ways of doing it. I put on two coats and nothing on the edge, others will whitewash the whole blade. I will end up with maybe an 1/8" built up. You want to try and get both sides of the blade the same. All I can tell you is to just give it a try and learn from the results. I heat up the whole blade but I'm just interested in the color of the edge. I also quench the whole blade straight in point first.
 
Damn nice hammond! The brass doesnt bother me. I dont even like yellow gold so I tend to like NS or something similar. Nothing wrong at all with that piece! ;)
 
I have absolutely no problems with brass, nickle silver, 416 stainless (I'm not a big fan of the 300 series though), and copper. I've made items from each. Each has it's own properties for sure, and sometimes, it's own place. I just enjoy working with whatever I'm working on at the time, simple as that (I'm a simple guy). This knife looks very nice to me, and I'd be proud to own it. You did an exeptional job on the hamon, considering the torch method. I've tried that with no results. I like Rays method of the clay, but so far, I haven't even come close to his results.
 
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