Re-harden or not

D

dms p.a.w.

Joined
Jan 10, 2011
Messages
32
After hand sanding this blade, I noticed a line just to the tang side. I usually (having made very few knives) try to harden all the way to the tang. should I re-harden this blade or will it be okay?
291-1.jpg

I know it is hard to see in the picture, but it will be above the guard on the finished knife.
 
It is a large fighter(20.112" oal, 1.97" at it's highest point) made from 5160.
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Ive been working on the guard while waiting.
 
If the line is the hardened/unhardened border it's not a good place for it .There's too much stress in use at that point. Moving it back toward the butt would be better.
 
While it would be better if the line was an inch back, I sincerely doubt it will cause a failure. The folks who edge quench get a similar line across the ricasso often. It isn't like a butt weld, where two entirely different materials are joined in a shearable line, but more of a change in structure that goes in a mix from martensite to pearlite.

I would probably just finish the knife as it is.
 
bladsmth said:
While it would be better if the line was an inch back, I sincerely doubt it will cause a failure. The folks who edge quench get a similar line across the ricasso often. It isn't like a butt weld, where two entirely different materials are joined in a shearable line, but more of a change in structure that goes in a mix from martensite to pearlite.

I would probably just finish the knife as it is.
Click to expand...

You probably know better than I, Stacy but I would imagine a transition zone perpendicular to the length(this example) has much more potential for failure than one running near parallel(typical edge quench). For a blade intended as a "fighter", I would re-HT. However, it is all relative to the maker's expectations.
 
Another question, I built this knife because everyone here was talking about camp swords, most of my knives are about 8". I was wondering if this would qualify as a camp sword. I am trying to find out were my skill level is at, though I know I am no where near the level that the guys on the virtual bbq. Just interested in knowing that the few that I make for family and friends will be better than average.
 
Rick, I agree that there may be more issue with the blade bending in severe use, but breakage would actually be minimized. With the thickness and width of the ricasso, I seriously doubt the blade will ever be used so severely it bends.

DMS,
The rough designation "Camp Sword" was coined by me to mean any long blade over 10-12", but less than 24". That is just the guide line, and it could be any size you want, but a longish length was the idea. Any ratio of more than 6:1 (Length to width) will look long. At 8:1 it starts to look longer, and at 10:1 it gets very long looking.
Your knife certainly looks long and could be a "Camp Sword".
 
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