Temper or Homon Line, Something new for me.

Yvsa · Jul 4, 2002

For one reason or another, bouts of not being able to and such, I've been kept from working on the Horn Handled YCS I'm selling off to Raghorn, but have managed over the last few days to get a little bit accomplished.

Thanks for the great patience Raghorn!!!!

By all rights I maybe should've sent this one back to Bill as it was the lousiest finished khuk I've ever seen done by anyone and escpecially Sanu.
I always had it in mind to clean it up the best I could knowing that I could make it better than it was.
The whole thing including the handles was fugly, but since it's the only horn handled YCS I know about I've kept it until Raghorn expressed an interest in it because he loves the horn handled khuks. But in the shape the finish was when I got it I was ashamed to sell it to anyone in its condition seeing as how it was in my possesion first.

I think there's a reason for things happening in certain ways and I'm thinking that the reason I've kept this YCS for was so that Raghorn would have it one day.

Anyway a bit ago I was using a black compound on the rough buffer getting the khuk itself ready for a mirror polish as I've done about all I can for the handle.
(Both kardas are gonna take a lot of work.

)
I had to stop for the day and I always wipe a knife down after I've had it on any of the buffing pads to kinda see what I may have missed and what more I need to do.
Much to my surprise I can see the temper line along the edge!!!!!!!
The finish is near mirror and will reflect a little bit, but borders on a more than satin finish.
There's not been any etching at all on the blade either!!!!
I know the hamon line on the Katana's was brought out by polishing and I had in mind of doing my Tarwar the same way one day.
Now I'm pretty sure I can get a hamon line on it with maybe a less than mirror finish.
Having never had the privilige of seeing a nice Katana close enough to see the hamon line I don't know what degree of polish they were polished too, but I'm thinking it wasn't a real mirror finish?
Anyone know for sure?
Has anyone else polished a hamon or temper line out on their khuk(s) without etching it/them first?

Yvsa · Jul 4, 2002

It will be interesting to see the results of a higher polish and see if the temper line remains under a mirror polish. This is amazing to me!!!!

spence · Jul 4, 2002

Very cool, Yvsa.

This morning, I etched the Malla that I just recieved and COULDN'T find a temper line.

That had me scared, but the blade held up against a bunch of hard, dead stuff, so I think it's OK.

S.

Sylvrfalcn · Jul 4, 2002

I (briefly) owned a 12" Sirupati made by Kumar. I scratched it up a bit testing it and breaking it in, so I cleaned it up with some 600 grit paper and some Flitz metal polish. Very definite temper line, you could clearly see the "sweet spot" tapering gracefully toward the tip and cho. I've since tried the same deal with other khuks, but not always with the same result. I don't know why this is, but like Spence noted, I've found absolutely no difference in edge holding or performance.
Maybe some things are meant to be a mystery for us mere mortals to ponder.

Sarge

raghorn · Jul 4, 2002

The finer things in life are best appreciated when you have to wait for them.

A couple months ago I ordered a Bura BAS from Uncle Bill to present to a dear friend who got promoted and was moving across country. The hamon line was clearly visible on it. It was the perfect piece for the happy/sad occasion.

Federico · Jul 5, 2002

You can technically get the temper line to stick out with a polish, and a kinda stain instead of an etch. But well its a pain to do, and for a piece that has been mirror polished pretty much means starting from scratch. The idea is to open the grain of the steel, and not to smooshem together (which happens on buffs, burnishes, and very very high polishes), and then you can rub a stain into the open grain thatll help highlight the difference. Its a pain to do, and somewhat tempermental (eg. the blade has to be made with a water quench you have to have fancy abrasives etc...), and well you can get similar results alot more painlessly with multiple etches.

Bill Martino · Jul 5, 2002

Good stuff and thanks. It's very interesting but my botton line is if it does the job and holds up I don't care about any hamon or homon line or much else for that matter. I've noticed that the dust bunnies share the same philosophy.

raghorn · Jul 5, 2002

I cut a thicket green blackberry vines with my Gelbu Special and caused the hamon line to appear on the belly of the blade. It's quite a nice effect. I don't buff or polish the blade, I simply wipe it on my jeans as I go.

As much as I like to admire the polished blades when they are new, I prefer to go afield with a well-used blade. It gives the blade character and it gives the user confidence.

And the visible line gives me the opportunity to explain what it means. I like that. It allows me to share my enthusiasm and give folks a better understanding and deeper appreciation of what it takes to forge a quality knife.

Tom Holt · Jul 6, 2002

5160 spring steel is notoriously reluctant to produce a hamon; and my guess is that whatever Mercedes use to make their truck springs out of is pretty similar stuff.

That said; some kind of temper-line did emerge on my 25" Kobra, after about 6 months of constant use cutting down briars and the like. My guess is that acids in the plants' juices etched it out (I never bothered much with cleaning it off after use...)