Preform for forging a wharncliffe?

[Jason Fry]

I just finished my seventh knife, all stock removal from old files. I am making a few for Christmas gifts, and my dad and I sat down and drew up a knife for him. He wants a kitchen style knife with a straight edge and curved back, almost like a wharncliffe. I've got a charcoal forge, and was thinking maybe I could forge a bevel in a file and draw the edge down below the full tang. One, can it be done? Two, what kind of preform would I need to start with? I'm thinking the whole thing would have to be pretty curved for the edge to end up straight after the bevels are forged. Any ideas?

I know the real answer is probably to buy some flat stock and do a stock removal knife, but I've got more time to experiment than I have money to experiment with. I know some say that files are more expensive than good bar stock, but I've been getting mine 4 for a dollar at pawn shops, and have been turning out some pretty good (for me) knives.

 

[FOG2]

Im making my 1st knife from a file and wondering how you *normalize* ( i think thats the word ) I.E. soften the factory heat treat on your files.

Im wondering which (a.. charcoal ..or ..wood fire.. works best )

 

[Jason Fry]

I anneal my files by heating them to non-magnetic and putting them in a box of wood ashes. I use a charcoal forge. Then I grind them to shape and polish down to 220 grit. Heat to nonmagnetic and let them cool in air (normalize) to relieve stress, and then heat to nonmagnetic and quench in oil. Temper in the oven at 400 for an hour. Pretty rudimentary, and could be done better with better heat control and a known steel, but the blades have been coming out pretty good.