Simple Question?

Big Medicine

Big Medicine

Joined
Jun 4, 2008
Messages
56
I have a question for the Gurus (guri?) out there. I have made only a few knives trying this and I admit up front they aren't going to win any beauty contests. I attribute the lack of fit finish to my lack of experience. I think that as I gain more experience in the making of knives in general, my skill will improve and so will the knives. Here's the question, for knifemakers that forge, why aren't more guards forge welded in place? I know the problems involved with a double guard, but for a guard on a single side of the knife, so far it's been easy. The difficult part has been the cleanup of the joint. Now that I'm using good files, that part is getting less difficult. Are there more people doing this than I realize, or is it just more trouble than it's worth to most folks?
 
I forge welded a guard on this dagger. It was notched and then swaged on and pinned. Then I cranked up the heat and a couple taps and it was solid. After the forge weld I then forged out the bevels and tang/handle. I wouldn't say it was faster but I wanted to try it.

gothicdagger.jpg
 
Nice job! It certainly makes for a clean seam since there is none. But it can limit some of the shapes of guards also. It tried it on the dagger just because I knew it was going to be a simple bow tie gothic style guard. Forging that in place was real easy.
 
Nice knives, guys. I think that if you wanted a more complex guard you could probably grind it later.
 
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