That worn craggy look?

[oic0]

I was wondering how people get the very rough almost stone like look on their knives? I have seen several that have that on them and only the blade geometry ground clean. It looks very attractive in my opinion, but how do they do it? Is that from the forging and something I would be unable to do with a purely stock removal method? I just started my second knife and I think it would look cool on it if I knew how to get the steel that way lol. Its probably something I am incapable of but I thought I would ask.

- Second knife: http://i46.tinypic.com/20jiza0.jpg

 

[thegeek574]

I think it would help if you posted picture of a knife that had it.

 

[oic0]

Like these two very nice knives.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/974441-One-order-one-for-the-show

 

[P. McKinley]

oic0 - Mr. Baily's knives have a "forge finish". The look you like is a layer of scale left on the blade. It is the result of the repeated heating and hammering of the forging process. It would be near impossible to reproduce that look by any other method..... that I'm aware of.

Peter

 

[oic0]

Oh well, worth asking. Looks like I need me a forge.

 

[Bailey Knives]

Yep, forge finish. I get it from the heat of the forging forge and shaping of the blade. Thanks for the nice comments though.

 

[quint]

You can get some cool finishes by various media (blasting) and then antiquing. I dont have much of a clue how to do these. Its a more deliberate looking finish, personally I really like the forge finish.

 

[Mac the knife-maker]

Check out this post.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/976072-introduction-and-some-knives

He left the mill scale on and huffed it after HT.

 

[Brian Ayres]

While I think every knifemaker should have a forge,, it is not a must have for a forge finish.

You can use your kiln to heat the blade to forging temps, and use a hammer and anvil to texture the blade. To add... an anvil isn't "needed" a stout metal block will work, but the more mass and stable it is the easier it is to get consistent results. I know of a couple makers who use texturing hammers to add "character" to their blades. One knifemaker does only stock removal. Some will take a hacksaw, or file and add lines for texture to a hammer face used specifically for this purpose.

The tricky part is that it will force you to learn forging techniques. Every time you hit the blade with a hammer you will have to work to keep the blade straight.

 

[Zuluninja]

check out clich's technique of using gun blue and bleach in the becker forum. I've done it with a couple of knives and while it's not exactly a forged scale it imitates it pretty good

you can also sand away and leave the "scars"

or you can blue again after the process is done so the pitted area remains dark, can do the flats only by taping off the grinds.