Jump to content
I Forge Iron

Samal

Members
  • Posts

    9
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Samal

  1. I started using (cold) mink oil to treat two knife sheaths, fitted to the knives, and allowed to dry for 2 days. After I put the knives in them (overnight) I found that the the finish on the handles had softened so I could scrape it off with my fingernail and felt tacky everywhere it had come into contact with the sheath. If left out of the sheath, it hardens back up in a day or two. One knife had 5-6 coats of Tru-oil, cured for over a week and was rock hard. The other knife was treated with several coats of boiled linseed oil. I use vegetable tanned cow belly leather. I had been treating the sheaths with hot beeswax, and never had a problem. Has anyone else experienced this? I tried coating with hot wax, and it lessened the effect, but still softened some.
  2. Being fairly new to knifemaking, this build had many "firsts" to it. I forge welded an old bed frame around W2 in a taco san mai, made mokume gana from quarters, learned how to make the Japanese style handle and sheath, made an electro-etching rig, converted photos to line art, put it all together. I still have a lot of finishing to do, but so far I'm pretty happy with it. It's part of a project to make a knife for every type of aircraft mission I flew during my time in the Air Force. I'll be building a matching 1911 also.
  3. Point taken about the SS. Not ready to go that route. So far I've only made two san mai blades, so I still have some practicing to do with just the basics. With this project I'm trying to push my skills up a level or two, but not take on too much at once.
  4. I've looked it up now. I don't have that kind of talent, but it opens up a lot of options.
  5. Hmmm, had to look up the ivory micarta. I'll have to try some and see what I can do with it. The search also turned up a san mai blade made from 410SS over 1095.
  6. That would be awesome! Now tearing through my memorabilia looking for an old line drawing done by an old crewmember. I was also playing with some free programs that will convert photos to line art. So far I've just been putting tape on the blade and melting my initials through it with a woodburner, then etching it. The depth of the etch is just a matter of time. I'll PM you with some images and see what we can work out. Also, does anyone have any recommendations for different steel combinations or handle materials that might work better?
  7. I'm trying to design some knives and tools that would pay tribute to the aircraft and squadrons I flew in during my years in the AF. I'm sure many of you have already something along those lines. I'm hoping this would be a good place to share those ideas, and maybe get some help putting my ideas into practice. I'm thinking of making a three layer bowie that the edge would be darker (preferably gray) and the spine/cheeks lighter (preferably white), mimicking the color pattern of an aircraft. The handle would continue the pattern. Then I would electro-etch the outline of the plane, in this case an RC-135, on one side, and the other side the code name (Rivet Joint). Maybe put individual squadron designators (i.e. Quill & Key for 6916th, Bat for 6988th, Knight piece 6990th). What do you think? 1084/15N20 san mai, with bone and birch handl? I'm working on the stencils for the etch.
  8. Thank to you all. I'm still figuring things out, where and how and what to post. I'm sure most of my questions are already answered somewhere on here, just have to find them. As for me, I finally got around to my life-long desire to try blacksmithing early this year. Steep learning curve. All the cheapest stuff I could find, splurged for a $300 anvil and a good rounding hammer. Worked outside all summer, now have a a 3-sided shed with a roof and walls halfway. So far just making knives and the tools I've needed to make them, tongs, chisels, fullering tool, etc. I've made a few knives, with good results, but until I've come to terms with heat treating and forge welding I've just given them away to family while I practice. I'll show some pictures. I'm getting people asking for some, offering to pay, but the financial side is a whole different thing. Short term goals have become extended projects. For example, I have been milling my 1911 frames for a few years now, but I want to make one from damascus, with matching slide. So many ideas... Pic #1: bought 6" damascus billet online, Hammered a tip and tang on it, HT/temper perfect, razor sharp. My nephew cut up three deer with it, no sharpening, still as sharp as I gave it to him. Notice I forgot to put any pins through the tang. Pic #2: First knife, unknown steel, still have two 8'x1"x1/8" sections. Poor heat treat, fair edge retention. The steel came already hardened from the Schrade Cutlery Co. in the early '70s. Supposedly it's 1095hc, have not successfully heat treated yet. Pic #3: Same unknown steel, water quench, managed to grind out the surface cracks, put sawteeth to take out all but one... great edge though...
  9. USAF '78-'98, Airborne Cryptologic Linguist (Korean and Hebrew languages). Stationed Kadena, Osan, Hellinikon, Souda Bay, and Ft Meade mostly, but I got around a lot in 20 years. My Father and five other brothers also served, I'm the only one that made a career of it.
×
×
  • Create New...