Trying to make a new knife **PLEASE HELP**

[dchu19]

I've been trying to make a new knife, and I found a Damascus knife blank.
Do I have to heat treat the Damascus knife after I get the shape of it?
Sorry, I'm new to this kind of stuff.

 

[gmusic]

It would take pages of post's and reply's to walk you through the knife making process, I'd suggest picking up a book or two. There are many great one's out there on knife making. I'm not being a smart a s s, just realistic.

 

[i4Marc]

Ask your questions here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/741-Shop-Talk-BladeSmith-Questions-and-Answers

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Moved.

 

[Frank Niro]

Have you read the stickies above?
Frank

 

[JTknives]

Need alot more info on the blank. The forum is full of people willing to help, you just need to know the questions to ask.

 

[Drew Riley]

Couple of things... Filling out your profile could be useful to finding a local maker to help you out, but I'd definitely start with reading through the shoptalk stickies as they have most of the info you'll want or need.

As for your Damascus knife blank: Is it just a rectangular piece of steel, or is it already shaped into a knife? Is it beveled already? If it's just a billet or a rectangular piece of flat stock, then it is PROBABLY NOT heat treated. If it's already ground or machined to look like a knife, it MIGHT be. Run a file along the edge and see if it grabs. If it skates off without biting in, it may be hardened.

Also, you should know at where ever you grind or remove metal from the Damascus, you're going to have to re-etch it to bring the pattern back.