Texturing Stamp

[grizzled gizzard]

I like the look of some sort of texture on the un-ground portion of my forged blades. I forge with hammer and anvil, and I'm looking for "texturizing stamps".

Also, when would be the appropriate time to apply the texture?

Thanks a bunch,
GG

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It all depends on the desired texture. Best to do it while hot or at least fully annealed.
Make stamps from D2 or M2.
Make a texturing hammer from a HF ball peen with the round face ground to a cone ( for dimples) and the flat face domed slightly and criss-crossed with a hacksaw, then filed to a cross hatch ( for an "Old Rasp" look).