Recommendation? Should i overtemper the tip of this blade?

Jesse WW

Jesse WW

Joined
Jul 8, 2017
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I have been working on this bowie and i was wondering if it is worth over-tempering the tip a little? I know the trade-off is a slightly lowered hardness and all, but it seems to me that it would be worth having that little extra flex in order to prevent the tip from snapping? Tempering to a dark brown or purple/deep-blue would seem like an adequate temper?
This knife isn't something that will necessarily be used, and is going to be purely ornamental, but still...
I ask this because iv never seen mentioned anywhere overtempering the tip of a blade and so im wondering if its something that is worth doing.

Am i just underestimating the strength of 1084? Its been tempered already twice at 220c (430f). The tip is quite stiff now and can be flexed only a little by hand, but as soon as i knock off more edge with the grinder (as well as correcting that warp in the tip) its going to start getting pretty bendy.

So, is over-tempering the tip recommended?

pMYxo.jpg


pMD72.jpg
 
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Difficult to control the temp so you'll never know what you really have. There is a good chance the grinding has changed thins already .A tougher steel would be a better choice. ... Leave it as is.
 
that is pretty thin and fragile. you could take an inch off the tip when finish grinding and give it more of a chance to survive.
 
That is what I would do, too. Grind back until the tip is 1/4" to 3/8" wide and make the tip a 45 to 60 degree angle.
 
If it's going to be purely ornamental, I don't see a problem with leaving it as it is; both temper as well as profile. If you intend on using it at all, then I would agree with the above comments and shorten the tip back a bit.

FWIW, I think it looks pretty cool. :thumbsup:


(Edit): I just noticed the tip is longer than what my eyes first were able to see. I would shorten it at least a 1/4", and you should still be able to keep the overall look and profile with how thin it gets.

~Paul
My YT Channel
Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
Thank you all for the input. I really do like the look of the long slender tip, but even though the blade is purely ornamental i still don't want the practicality of its design to be of inferior quality either. Ill bring it back 1/2" which will bring the width of the tip to about 1/4".
 
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