Recommendation? Work on knife?

cbach8tw

cbach8tw

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Jan 9, 2006
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i got a small Hudson bay style knife from a maker, it is decent quality but I think the maker may not have heat treated it very well, or it may have been a quick grab and go, so I am looking for someone who can tell me if the steel is too soft or even retemper it, and maybe add new wood scales. Of course all of this may be for nothing if we cannot determine if the steel has enough carbon to do the temper. It was supposed to be 1080 or 1095. I have seen makers do a spark test on Forged in Fire. Can anyone check for me or know of anyone to see if this can be done or worth it?
 
What makes you feel it has not been heat treated properly? also a spark test will not answer that question for you only whether it's a hardenable steal or not
 
Vicv said:
What makes you feel it has not been heat treated properly? also a spark test will not answer that question for you only whether it's a hardenable steal or not
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am going on what another maker said that was sharpening a few of mine for me. He said it appeared a little soft when he sharpened it. I was hoping to find out if the steel is a low carbon steel like a lawn mower steel or railroad spike, why it may be soft. Hopefully I was not mislead, which would be my own fault since I was a lot younger and had not learned much about makers then. The other maker used a charcoal forge. I do not want to spend the time to tinker or modify it if the steel is not hardenable, but I just like the shape of the blade and style and was hoping to use it. Thanks for honest opinions.
 
Ah ok. Ya I can't be of much help unfortunately without me being the one sharpening it. That being said I only buy from makers who use a temp controlled furnace or salt bath to do heat treating of a known steel
 
Vicv said:
Ah ok. Ya I can't be of much help unfortunately without me being the one sharpening it. That being said I only buy from makers who use a temp controlled furnace or salt bath to do heat treating of a known steel
Click to expand...
Boy! That was helpful!--KV
 
Just trying to get some thoughts and I appreciate everyone's input and honesty, that is how we all learn. I just hope it is a useable steel, and not fooled that long ago, get a good heat treat and rework a handle. I will try and post a pic.
 
IMG_0349.JPG IMG_0350.JPG

Here it is, in the hope of getting the hardness tested, if it is decent, maybe just modify the handle a little, round off the edges some or stain it.
 
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