TheoRockNazz Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Last month my girlfriend took me to a great antique store that was also a diner. I had a conversation with owner about how he's sold out of knives, and he brought me to his personal shop where he had many of his grandfather's files. He had a wonderful shop where you could feel the generations that have used it. The files themselves were well used and abused - one had been designated a paint stirrer some time ago and probably was caked in lead. Only three had stamps or markings, all too pitted/rusted to make out. I tried not to bore the gf too much, she's very understanding of my bladesmithing affliction, nonetheless she's probably a bit tired of knives/steel/files by the time of this pic . You can see my double-handful of files sitting there on the table. Took JM's advice and hardened then snapped the tangs to test em - passed with good grain. There was a mighty thick (3/8"!) one that was calling to me, so I forged out a lot of handle material, distal tapered tang, and did a mediocre job of feeding the spike through the pommel. Still working on it, handle is drying. APG 36 and parks 50 quench. I need to take a picture of the other triangular file I used for the RR knife... it was an unwieldy shape, and had to be forged down quite a bit. I spliced it into a RR spike, and finished the handle with carnauba wax because I love it's smell. I may want to try a ring knot like Stormcrow at both ends because the handle is 1 1/4" too long in my opinion. Here's where things get interesting; when I took both pieces out of the acid I at first I thought I had screwed up the polish, because there were black "scratches" appearing. Upon inspection I noticed they flowed with the hammer blows and indentations from the file's teeth even though the teeth were gone, even more apparent on the larger blade. My conclusion was that the steel is older than I thought... but I can't identify when. Hopefully someone can help with that :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Also, anyone know if this is decent steel? Thanks again guys, Theo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Nice find! I like the look after your acid treatment. It would be nice to find out the age and steel type. too bad you couldn't make out the names on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I've found that many files when forged will "grain" out. Not totally sure what steel, probably a W series as the Simmons, Black Diamonds and Nicholsons didn't grain out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Might check out "alloy banding" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 Well there it is... thank you, answers that. I uncovered "Gold Medal" under some paint on one of the newerish files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Here's the larger file. The alloy banding is obvious in this one. Cocobolo and copper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dozuki Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 That is a great score and you did an awesome job on them. Your inspiring to get my forge back out and hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoRockNazz Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 It's wonderful to hear that! Have a great time at the forge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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