TheoRockNazz

Very nice, love the pommel and guard.

Thanks guys!

I've heard of using wax, what brand/type works well and is affordable?

Recently my good photographer friend took some nice pictures in exchange for forgings. Recently my focus has been on types of differential hardening, and I think she's done a great job catching it at just the right angle - though of course acid etching helps, haha.

First up is the dagger I needed help with back here http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/30278-need-help-with-handle-design/ and boy did that coffin handle work out. Thanks again to James G.

A low layer tool steel damascus kitchen knife for my father with zebrawood, brass pin, antler and copper guard. This was one of my first damascus pieces. 

440C chopper with purpleheart, brass and mosaic pin for my photographer friend. 

Blacksmith's handle utility - 5160 edge quenched, acid etched due to spring steel's unclear grain boundary formation. 

Then there's a couple hooks I made for practice at some traditional shapes. The goal was no post work, straight from fire to wall.

As always, I embrace all comments/critique.

Pictures by Heather Quercio

Theo

I love the mixture of rough and refined, and it's neat to see a ricasso on a seax, gives it an American twang.

Wow, your recent stuff is just so beautiful, especially the drop points.

Love the size. Have you tried any differential hardening?

Ah man, I love rasp and file knives. Here's what I did with mine http://www.beautifulblades.com/products/show/1470
It hardens nicely, if I remember right, older ones are simpler high carbon steels, occasionally you get lucky with W1 / W2.

I think the simple hamon works for the blade. How big's that handle?

My next project couple of projects are going to be about focusing on getting better at painting with crystals. Bought some high vanadium crucible steel and some 1080 - experimentation time!

Simply beautiful.

Here's a pic with the glue drying. Went with a damascus oval guard, fileworked my mark on both side. Soonafter it's finished I'll be handing it over to the photographer for better pictures.

Thanks guys! I'm working on the guard fit now, maybe I'll have some pictures tonight or tomorrow. Too excited to eat lunch, haha.

James, a coffin handle is perfect. I've already selected a piece of wood, but the shape is exactly what I'm looking for, Thanks!

Aden, maybe something like an oval guard, and cylindrical cocobolo handle?
Steve, in the future should I always grind smooth recycled files?

So I was just doing this dagger as a test for creating hamons, but it turned out so well I want to finish it... however I didn't think ahead with handle design.
The blade is a recycled double-convex file, stock removed to shape; the hard part was getting the clay to stay in shape (it's a dagger), so I used so arts-n-crafts pipe cleaners to give the clay better form. I heat treated with my own typical Japanese clay, quenched for half a second in water then moved to oil.
I was hoping you guys would have an idea as to what would match the style. I had been thinking damascus oval guard, and a simple tapering handle, maybe with groove(s) for grip - but I wasn't sold on my own idea.
I would appreciate any input,
Theo

I was finally successful in creating a hamon!
W2 file normalized, annealed, shaped, then my attempt at hamon clay, light oil quench, and 390 degree temper.


The process was first all tested with pieces of an similar file. I found water quench yielded cracks, so I went over to oil. Here's a few pics of testing, drying clay, and post tests next to right outta the oil.



Since it's to be used in a kitchen I went ahead and gave it an acid bath; plus I just like the way it makes the hamon pop.
What do you guys think?

Haha, thank you Loneforge. So far my most advantageous/inventive idea is to find fine tungston carbide dust and forge weld/trap it into laminated 1050 (I figure medium carbon is best)... maybe san mai it all with a S7 or 5160 shell so if it's a large blade it can absorb chops/slashes better. In my dreams it cuts through softer metals.
*ahem* anyways, I'm sure we've all got some wacky ideas floating around in the backs of our mind.

Thank ya Sharmus - I would much rather it be used and abused though, haha.
Robakyo the sheath is finished, the handle just happens to sit right over the loops/belt slits. I'm never too happy with my leatherwork, it simply works but ain't too pretty.

Wow, thanks guys!

Thanks Rhett!

Howdy again,
I'm back with a straight tanto style blacksmith's twisted handle knife.
Reforged car spring (5160 high carbon steel) Japanese style blade - clay heat treated to produce a noticeable differential quench temper line. I chose spring steel because it's ideal for absorbing the shock of chopping anything from meat to wood, with a hardened edge for great cutting ability and soft spine for absorbing shock. I wish the hamon stood out more, but it tends not to show on 5160 (hence the acid bath). This guy's for sale. I'm always interested in comments and critique,
Theo Rock Nazz

Wow, what a beaut... That's it, next knife is w2 for sure.

That's a mighty nice knife, love the roughness.

Thanks Don, she's one of my favorite from this years work. I really wish I had thought to countersink the wrist loop hole though.