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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
To forge or not to forge that is my question
- Thread starter O-1 fan
- Start date
Hello!
I am not shure, but i bet this topic has been discussed often on the bladeforum.
If you look back over some of the old posts you will find them. Use the search utility of the forum.
To answer your question from my (not very objective) point of view:
The potential to get a better performing blade is increased if the blade is forged in a proper way. BUT it has to be said that this is only one of many factors determining the quality of a blade. And even forging can ruin a potentially good piece of steel if done improperly.
Otherwise read the tests performed for example by Ed Fowler, who used 52100 steel and made 4 similar blades using stock removal versus forging technique and doing single and mulitple heat treat. You will see that in all tests the otherwise exactly similar forged blades allways outperformed the stock removal blades by far.
For me performance is not the only reason to forge my knives. The bladesmith has much more artistic freedom when forging a blade and/or the handle. You simply can move the metal where you want. Plus you have the possibility to recycle lots of things made of very good steels, like roller bearings, which are otherwise not very usefull in the hands of a stock removal knifemaker.
Achim
I am not shure, but i bet this topic has been discussed often on the bladeforum.
If you look back over some of the old posts you will find them. Use the search utility of the forum.
To answer your question from my (not very objective) point of view:
The potential to get a better performing blade is increased if the blade is forged in a proper way. BUT it has to be said that this is only one of many factors determining the quality of a blade. And even forging can ruin a potentially good piece of steel if done improperly.
Otherwise read the tests performed for example by Ed Fowler, who used 52100 steel and made 4 similar blades using stock removal versus forging technique and doing single and mulitple heat treat. You will see that in all tests the otherwise exactly similar forged blades allways outperformed the stock removal blades by far.
For me performance is not the only reason to forge my knives. The bladesmith has much more artistic freedom when forging a blade and/or the handle. You simply can move the metal where you want. Plus you have the possibility to recycle lots of things made of very good steels, like roller bearings, which are otherwise not very usefull in the hands of a stock removal knifemaker.
Achim
Proper forging refines the grain size in the steel.Smaller grain size equals more strength and betteredge holding.It also allows the grain to flow with the lines of th blade much the same as when the wood grain in a fine gunstock flows through the wrist or grip area.This makes the finished blade stronger.Recycling bearings etc. will allow the forger to use inexpensive sources of material. A lot of this material will make excellent blades BUT also can result in inconsistant results and a longer learning curve for the beginner. Unless you know what you are starting with its only mystery metal.
Very true on the mystery metal ,thats why i`m a bit scared to go that way.A friend has some old leaf springs from his camaro stock car and some cable thats just lyin around.
will the leaf spring be 5160 ,and will it make a good blade,i know it will never compare to O-1 but i will try anything lol.
is there a standard steel used in cable so i know where to start in the treating process.
will the leaf spring be 5160 ,and will it make a good blade,i know it will never compare to O-1 but i will try anything lol.
is there a standard steel used in cable so i know where to start in the treating process.
- Joined
- Jun 27, 1999
- Messages
- 804
The cable steel would depend on it's application in its former life. (Before it became knifemaking materials.) It would also depend on the company it came from. If it's on a spool, there should be a manufacturer, and even a lot number on the side of the spool. If not, at least be careful of galvanization, it's toxic when it burns off.
------------------
Oz
"Never try to teach a pig to sing.
It's a waste of time and it annoys the pig."
-Lazarus Long
Check out my egostistical homepage!
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
------------------
Oz
"Never try to teach a pig to sing.
It's a waste of time and it annoys the pig."
-Lazarus Long
Check out my egostistical homepage!
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
- Joined
- Dec 31, 1999
- Messages
- 308
O-1fan
Almost all cable unless it's stainless is made of 10 series steel it use to be called
plow shear steel.Check your area for cable
dealers. I've never had a problem buying lengths of virgin cable. That way you know exactly what your forging. Good Luck.
mvknives@lightspeed.net
Almost all cable unless it's stainless is made of 10 series steel it use to be called
plow shear steel.Check your area for cable
dealers. I've never had a problem buying lengths of virgin cable. That way you know exactly what your forging. Good Luck.
mvknives@lightspeed.net
- Joined
- Dec 31, 1999
- Messages
- 308
O-1fan
Plow steel is usally 1065, Improved plow steel is usally 1075, and Extra improved plow steel is 1095. For what its worth. Before you cut your lenghts of cable, wrap each end with
bailing wire. A chop saw works real good for cutting. Be sure to clean your cable a good as you can before forging. Good Luck.
mvknives@lightspeed.net
Plow steel is usally 1065, Improved plow steel is usally 1075, and Extra improved plow steel is 1095. For what its worth. Before you cut your lenghts of cable, wrap each end with
bailing wire. A chop saw works real good for cutting. Be sure to clean your cable a good as you can before forging. Good Luck.
mvknives@lightspeed.net
