The first step of a long journey...

[sunnybob]

...to becoming a master bladesmith.
My half metre piece of 8670 steel has arrived. Along with a lump of brass for cross guard and pommel. Cant get either on the island. But family are here now so I wont be able to do anything till september, except draw some shapes on it.

 

[MikeG.]

Have you read this thread?

 

[sunnybob]

Mike..... HUH? I think youve replied to the wrong thread.

 

[Myfordman]

Mike..... HUH? I think youve replied to the wrong thread.

Nope. Read the title of your post

 

[MikeG.]

No. No, really I haven't. Myfordman has got it.

 

[sunnybob]

Cor, youre even sharper than your chisels.

 

[Racers]

I am wearing my Doug Marcaida "it will cut" t-shirt!

Pete

 

[sunnybob]

You might have to wash it a few times before the knife gets tested.
I looked for one of those T shirts, but I need an XL going on XXL, and I could only find them for tiddlers.

 

[MikeG.]

Cor, youre even sharper than your chisels.

I'm certainly sharper than yours!

 

[Racers]

You might have to wash it a few times before the knife gets tested.
I looked for one of those T shirts, but I need an XL going on XXL, and I could only find them for tiddlers.

https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/It-Will-Cut-by-Hydrax/26716704.FB110
Up to 5xl.


Pete

 

[Droogs]

i wouldn't call 5XL slimfit

 

[Inspector]

It is for those that need a 9XL.

 

[sunnybob]

How annoying. I dont like long T shirts that should really be called night shirts. They should only come low enough to tuck in if its cold or leave out if its warm. According to their charts, i need an L width and an XXXS length. And of course, they dont make them that size.

 

[Racers]

How annoying. I dont like long T shirts that should really be called night shirts. They should only come low enough to tuck in if its cold or leave out if its warm. According to their charts, i need an L width and an XXXS length. And of course, they dont make them that size.

Next project a rack?

Pete

 

[sunnybob]

What, like this?

or like this?

 

[sunnybob]

Oh, sorry, vodka tiffin has slowed me down, you mean medieval rack to make me fit the shirt. OOOPS.

 

[marcros]

What, like this?
View attachment 90718
or like this?

nice rack.

 

[sunnybob]

I think the sexist police would like a word
but ta. anyway.

 

[AJB Temple]

...to becoming a master bladesmith.
My half metre piece of 8670 steel has arrived. Along with a lump of brass for cross guard and pommel. Cant get either on the island. But family are here now so I wont be able to do anything till september, except draw some shapes on it.

Best of luck with this Sunny Bob. It is great fun. I did a knife making course for two weeks in Japan (two courses in different years) and a few days with Will Catcheside in Herefordshire (which was hard work and brilliant). My abiding impression is of spending hours and hours and hours grinding the blades on a succession of big, wide linisher belts (Will) or on giant, slow water cooled grindstones (Japan). In both cases we were making Damascus steel first: lots of folding and the luxury of power hammers.

If I ever get to retire I might take up artisan Damascus knife making as a hobby / side business.

Start collecting wood now for knife handles. (Mike G will know what I am on about).

It is perfectly possible to make super high quality knives with a cheap forge set up and an old oven. Please do a thread showing us how you get on.

Adrian

 

[sunnybob]

Adrian,
I will take pics. Most of them will be of my mistakes.

This is a fun exercise for me. If i end up with a usable knife I will be more surprised than anybody.
I picked the easiest steel, all I have to do is cut and grind (ALL?). and then a very basic heat treat. Its not even going to be a working knife, more of a "thats not a knife" thing.
I have a very nice selection of woods. So many that I might make swappable handles.
At the moment, favourite is thermally modified rippled sycamore. But I have similarly treated ash, with bubinga and teak in reserve. I'm not going to mention MikeG's 100 year old bog oak because he might get big headed.
I'm thinking scales rather than hidden tang. with a big brass assymetrical guard and pommel
But that could change at any moment.