Sanmai question

Will52100

Will52100

Joined
Dec 4, 2001
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I've got an order for a larg bowie forged from drill line cable. I've been left pretty much to my own devices as to construction and such. To get more performance I'm toying with the idea of making a sandwitch with the center 52100 for better edge holding. The blade is going to be about 8", and I have no idea how to do a sanmai, but have always wanted to try one.

Help!
 
Take two 6"X1" pieces of 5160 and a 12X1"" piece of 52100 (or 1095) and tack them together (Each about 3/16" thick),the long piece is to hold onto.Go to the forge with a can of welding flux a long handled spoon and a 4 pound hammer.Forge them into a solid bar.Shape a simple bevel and grind the edges down ( you might as well go ahead and forge a whole practice knife).Dip into ferric and see how it looks.If you got a good weld,and it looks OK.Do it with the good stuff. You can finish and HT the practice blade,it is a simple laminated blade.HT for the core steel.San Mai is nice stuff.
Stacy
 
Thanks, I'm doing some work on my smithy right now so soon as the concreat drys I'll give it a try. Thinking also of forging two blades, one all cable and one san mai to see what performance differance there is.
 
I have a cable/O-1/cable san-mai that has some lamination issues. I think the cable is the limiting factor. If you have it welded up nicely and can keep it that way, then it will go ok......(?)

Seems I remember somebody folding their cable billet once first (each side) before laminating. They said it reduced the pattern size and helped with lamination.


How will you handle the quench? Shoot for 52100? I guess the cable is more forgiving...(?)

Either way, I'm very interested in your results, Will. I'm hoping to do something similar very soon.
 
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