Matthew Paul Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I forged these over the past two days. One is made from a Nicholson file, the other from 1095 stock. Both throw lots of sparks from flint and chert. These were interesting to make as the spine are much harder than the blade and the curved tang that make up the lower section of the handle. I fully quenched and hardened the knife, then tempered the whole knife as per usual for a flint striker. Then, instead of draw tempering the spine like I normally would in a knife, the edge was draw tempered. I'm happy with how they came out. Any feedback would be great. Detail shots of the scrolled leaf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 The smooth one is really very good. I just love the look, it gives me a snaky feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Very nice execution! Can you direct me to the originals that these were patterned from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Very cool....I've done similar combo tools like this but not as nice...I.thought at the time I might be doing something original....Nothing new under the sun....lol. Some history on these would be interesting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Paul Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 The smooth one is really very good. I just love the look, it gives me a snaky feel. Thank you! Very nice execution! Can you direct me to the originals that these were patterned from? Thank you! I don't have any specific copy. I remember reading about them on a few websites and just made them. I'll see if I can find the pages though. Very cool....I've done similar combo tools like this but not as nice...I.thought at the time I might be doing something original....Nothing new under the sun....lol. Some history on these would be interesting.... Thanks, I'll see if I can find it. I made another today. Its just the rough forging but Here is a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Paul Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Well I can't find any historical referance to them besides someone saything that they were used. No reputable source.. I'll have to do some more resarch and see if they were actualy used in the past, or if they are a modern invention.... Reguardless they are handy to me as I light fires from time to time with chert and charcloth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willis Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 I really enjoy making strikers and with the added bonus of also being a knife yours are now a 'must make' for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maillemaker Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 How are the strikeknives held so you don't run the risk of stabbing your hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Correct me if I am wrong, but you are hardening these knives and tempering the cutting edges only? If so is there not a great danger of snapping/breaking these items in the fully hardened state, Normally if I make strikers, the striking edge is left fully hard for best effect, the rest is relatively soft so they don't break easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34557564 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 They both look really nice. I particularly like the file one. If I may make a suggestion, the scroll on the smooth one would look better going the other way, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Might look better,but it acts as a guard to stop your fingers sliding down the blade in that position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34557564 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Quite true. I think if the scroll is large as on the file one, it would serve the same purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Paul Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 How are the strikeknives held so you don't run the risk of stabbing your hand? I hold them with the blade pointing up, and grip them on the rear curved portion of the tang. Correct me if I am wrong, but you are hardening these knives and tempering the cutting edges only? If so is there not a great danger of snapping/breaking these items in the fully hardened state, Normally if I make strikers, the striking edge is left fully hard for best effect, the rest is relatively soft so they don't break easily I am tempering the whole knife for an hour at 375, then drawing the edge and handle a little more. They both look really nice. I particularly like the file one. If I may make a suggestion, the scroll on the smooth one would look better going the other way, IMO. Thank you. You are talking about the one with the scrolled leaf going the other way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
34557564 Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Yeah, I am :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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