w2 Integral forge textured kwaiken

PaulDiStefano

PaulDiStefano

Joined
Nov 14, 2016
Messages
636
Hey everyone, I forged up a fun little kwaiken today. Forging all metal utility style knives I think is my favorite type of blade to make so far. Mainly because all the work is done during the forging, unlike other knives where you forge for an hour and then spend 15 or more hours working on other things. Playing around with a hand hammer is a lot more fun then grinding and filing and sanding haha.
The blade is 4.5 inches with a hamon that i'm not super fond of. I think the clay wasn't even on both sides which is why the ashi got lost and disappeared. 8.5 overall. Probably around .187 thick. Rounded and polished edges.
My favorite part of the blade is the rough texturing. I plan on making some bigger kwaiken blades with this texturing and some ray skin and ito wrap. Because the hamon is nothing special I feel it would be a waste dressing this piece up. So for now this design will stay as a naked integral blade.
I'm pretty happy with the design of the knife and I plan on making a bunch to bring to the first show I go to which is going to be 2018 bladeshow. Do you guys think people are interested in knives without handle scales or wrapping. I like the look but have no idea if they're a waste of time making because no one would ever want to use it because its really thin. I thought they might just be a good idea this way I can have some cheaper more affordable knives on my table.
Thanks for lookin guys

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I like it! But it's too big for a necker so with a thin handle might not get much interest. BUT If you did a wrap over the bare steel it would add comfort and probably look cool yet not be too time consuming.
 
fishface5 said:
I like it! But it's too big for a necker so with a thin handle might not get much interest. BUT If you did a wrap over the bare steel it would add comfort and probably look cool yet not be too time consuming.
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I think your right. I either need to make it smaller or throw a wrap on so it's not so long and thin. Thanks for your response
 
Thanks guys. Glad you like it. I might throw a coreless paracord wrap over it and put it up in the exchange. Then once I order some sting ray skin and proper ito I'll make some bigger nicer ones.
 
I like it as it is, simple with nice clean lines and contrasting texture. The minimalist in me finds it very appealing.
 
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Cro said:
I like it as is is, simple with nice clean lines and contrasting texture. The minimalist in me finds it very appealing.
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Thanks Cro. There's something about simple thin all metal/utility knife designs that really appeal to me as well.
 
I'm always a sucker for naked, roughly forged knives with polished bevels and spines. I agree that they are very fun to forge and make!

Regarding the hamon, ashi or no ashi, it's beautiful and the contrast is excellent!

I don't think it's too thin, IMHO, it actually looks like pretty hefty stock at the spine, at least for it's size. For it's length however, I think it could possibly benefit from having, as mentioned, a minimalist wrapped handle, but I also think it's great as is.

If you don't mind me asking, what does your etch and polish process look like and what are you using for each? Looks like vinegar and/or lemon juice for the etchant. A dark, polished edge with a frosty-white hamon has always been always my favorite look.


~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
 
coldsteelburns said:
I'm always a sucker for naked, roughly forged knives with polished bevels and spines. I agree that they are very fun to forge and make!

Regarding the hamon, ashi or no ashi, it's beautiful and the contrast is excellent!

I don't think it's too thin, IMHO, it actually looks like pretty hefty stock at the spine, at least for it's size. For it's length however, I think it could possibly benefit from having, as mentioned, a minimalist wrapped handle, but I also think it's great as is.

If you don't mind me asking, what does your etch and polish process look like and what are you using for each? Looks like vinegar and/or lemon juice for the etchant. A dark, polished edge with a frosty-white hamon has always been always my favorite look.


~Paul
My YT Channel Lsubslimed
... (It's been a few years since my last upload)
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Hey, glad you like the knife. We definitely have very similar taste in knives. I'm probably gonna make a smaller version of this knife because I want a knife where the proportions are correct so I can keep the forge texture on the outside. In person the forge texture is actually really shiny and polished and I don't want to hide it.
I like ferric chloride actually. Lemon juice and vinegar take way too long lol. But if you use ferric you have to use a low grit loose abrasive to get all the black off to reveal the frostiness. I like 800 grit silicon carbide powder right after the etch. The pictures show the edge as black but it's actually completely clean of oxides and very bright because I sanded to 2000 grit before the etch.
Thanks
Paul
 
Your way to develope that amazing texture should be shared....or kept as a trade secret ;)
I like very much the contrast between the cleanliness and the rough organic skin...all kept together by extraordinary lines.
I find also the hamon it's very nice... maybe it's just what they call the "Boshi" that leaves something on the table but that is being very very picky
 
stezann said:
Your way to develope that amazing texture should be shared....or kept as a trade secret ;)
I like very much the contrast between the cleanliness and the rough organic skin...all kept together by extraordinary lines.
I find also the hamon it's very nice... maybe it's just what they call the "Boshi" that leaves something on the table but that is being very very picky
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Haha I might have to keep this little shiny extra textured scale trick my secret.
I had to look up what Boshi was but ya isn't that kinda funny how it's just an abrupt stop in the hamon. There was clay there idk what happened lol.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
Don't cover it up, just have a really cool sheath made for it.
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Thx for your input Dr.heelhook. I haven't started playing around with leather yet. Idk why I've been putting it off for so long. What type of sheath do you think makes the most sense with this one. I kind of like the idea of horizontal belt carry sheaths but idk what people like. Have never carried a knife myself so in this area of knifemaking I have 0 knowledge.
Thanks

Paul
 
PaulDiStefano said:
Thx for your input Dr.heelhook. I haven't started playing around with leather yet. Idk why I've been putting it off for so long. What type of sheath do you think makes the most sense with this one. I kind of like the idea of horizontal belt carry sheaths but idk what people like. Have never carried a knife myself so in this area of knifemaking I have 0 knowledge.
Thanks

Paul
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Oh, hm, I was thinking a nice, friction retaining pouch style leather sheath that covers about half the handle. And yes, horizontal or perhaps slightly canted carry. Looks like it would be nice to carry behind the back too, with that thin handle.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
Oh, hm, I was thinking a nice, friction retaining pouch style leather sheath that covers about half the handle. And yes, horizontal or perhaps slightly canted carry. Looks like it would be nice to carry behind the back too, with that thin handle.
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I like the way you think Dr.. I really like that behind the back idea. It's thin enough that when you sit you'll barely know it's there. I'll probably make exactly what you prescribed Dr.
 
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