Bendik

Good morning forum! It's been quite a while since I've been active here, so I figured it was time to post something. I'm 21 years old now, and was a blacksmith's apprentice from 2005-2007, in my hometown Trondheim, Norway. August last year I took my "Blacksmith's Exam" (don't know what you would call it in English), to get certified as a Blacksmith. The exam consisted of a main task, which I had to design myself, and two extra tasks decided by the two blacksmith's who would judge me. I had some time beforehand to draw out the design for the main task, which was to make a 17th century style chandelier, and then 5 days to make everything. The extra tasks turned out to be a heavy duty crowbar and a flat chisel (to test my skills in hardening). This was the result, and luckily, I passed More photos are coming in the gallery.

Wow, that is a beautiful knife. Very "clean", but also intricate. I like it!

Yesterday I was peeling a kiwi with a knife I made a while ago. When I was done I washed the knife with some water, and as I was drying it I noticed that where the steel had been in contact with the kiwi there had appeared tempering colors. From blue through purple to yellow. Is this normal when steel comes in contact with acids? I have never experienced it before.

Beautiful finish on the steel! How do you proceed to get that?

Thank you all. Todd: Couldn't find the drift, but I made a quick drawing of it with the dimensions. It's made from steel with about 0.5% carbon.

I have to say I completely agree with Ed Thomas here. I would never do anything like hammering the steel with a ball pein hammer just to get a different structure. If you have the time and the energy, forge the flatbar out of roundbar and then forge down any sharp corners slightly. That would be my suggestion. Whatever you choose I wish you the best of luck with your project!

Again, thank you all very much for the kind words! I couldn't find the AISI standard for the tool steel I used, but the Norwegian standard is NS 13840. It's quite similar to AISI O1 I think. The rest is just common construction steel.

Thank you very much everyone! To Tyler: The hole for the shaft is split up. It's a bit of work, but in blacksmithing, what isn't? :)

As a part of my blacksmith apprenticeship I have to learn the basics of making knives, axes and other tools. I have just finished forging my first axe and knife and would love some feedback! Both are made in the traditional scandinavian way of fire-welding a piece of tool steel into a piece of mild steel, or between two pieces. Since I am from Norway all the following measurements will be in millimetres The knife is forged from a piece of 25 x 25 x 4 angle iron with a 60mm long piece of 20 x 4 tool steel in the middle. The tool steel only goes about 40mm into the handle, the rest is just the angle iron fire-welded together. The axe is forged from a piece of 20 x 50 mild steel about 120mm long and a piece of 8 x 50 tool steel, about 45mm long.

Hi! Just thought I should introduce myself. My name is Bendik Eriksen. I am a blacksmith apprentice at the restoration workshop of the Nidaros cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. I am 19 years old and started blacksmithing a year ago. I always enjoy a nice chat or discussion about this ancient craft and I hope to draw some inspiration and knowledge from this site and also contribute in some way :)