Wrought/1080 san-mai WIP

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Recently God blessed me with happening upon some wrought chain at the scrap yard, took home 20 some pounds for a few bucks. My first project with it is this. I forged it down to a little bigger than 1/8" (1" to 1/8" with a 2 LB hammer takes a little while). two days ago I finished welding it to either side of some 1080. Yesterday I rough forged it, then I did some rough grinding before running inside to check the patterning in some ferric. Thought ya'll would like some pics.


I'm looking at doing a brass guard and ironwood handle (partial tang). And since these photos I have radiused that sharp corner.

(that is a slag bubble, but I'm hoping it'll grind out, and if it doesn't I'll just be glad the welds stuck)

The pics are at angle grinder 36 grit, and soaked in hot ferric (1-3 with water) for a minute or so.




Here is the (rough) sketch I'm working from. (I was guessing where the wrought layer might show up, looks like I was off).

I should have some new photos later today, and I'm hoping to get this thing finished before Blade, that way I'll have a nice belt knife to wear there.

 

[Steve Nuckels]

This is very cool! It is comming together nicely! I really like seeing the sketch too!

Steve
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Potomac Forge

 

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

After quench, it's in the temper oven (moms oven) now. As you can see I slightly radiused that corner, I think it looks nicer that way.

 

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Got it to the point where I'll hand sand (120, I can't get higher belts for my sander), and I've fitted the slot for the guard, and rough shaped the guard.

(the fit is better than what you see, this is only pushed on with my fingers, to get it all the way on I have to drive it)

As this one shows, I still need to do some more shaping to the brass guard

And I did another quick test etch, I just never get tired of that cool pattern.

 

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Guard fitted, shaped, and finished. Handle is fitted, and I'll start shaping soon (tomorrow maybe?). First time doing anything with brass (except pins), and I really like how it looks.

And some close up sneak peaks of the cool grain in this ironwood

 

[Hankins]

That is Awesome! Really like the blade and overall design

 

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

progress!


I started roughing out the handle, as you can see. Not exactly close to done, but it's getting there.

And I sanded the blade to where I wanted it before etching in hot ferric for an hour. Sorry, it's dark outside, I'll get better pics of the patterning tomorrow.

 

[oldanvilyoungsmith]

Almost Done!

gotta make a snake skin inlay sheath, and sharpen it, hopefully all before Blade this coming saturday.


I completly shaped and finished the handle before attaching it, which posed a quandry when it came to drilling the pin hole, as I desperately wanted to avoid splinterout. Thankfully, with a bit of advice, I decided to cover the other side of where the hole would be with tape and epoxy. That prevented all tearout.


Then I epoxyed the blade to the guard and handle, letting the epoxy dry before putting in the pin, and (oh so carefully) peining it over. This was my first succesfull attempt at an actually peined pin, and I'm happy with how it came out.


Got some finito pics.



The whole knife

Blade closeups

Handle closeups

When I finish the whole knife, I'll repost it in a new thread. If your going to Blade, try to find me on saturday, it's cooler in real life.

 

[Steve Nuckels]

Cool knife! Nice work!

Steve
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Potomac Forge