Right after the weld has taken place and the blade is still at relatively high heat, a good deal of carbon migration takes place.
Carbon wants to equalize.
The stainless is carbon deficient and the 1095 is carbon rich.
Keep in mind that TIME is also a factor here.
The shiny silver spot right above the 1095 is where the carbon has been "sucked" out of the tool steel. (Actually is wasn't sucked - it moved on its own).
So, with the absence of an iron/carbon matrix, it etches out almost like raw iron.
The black line above that is where the carbon went. With more carbon, it etches a bit like the 1095 - dark.
Not really visible in these photos is something I have seen before. Sometimes, when grinding a blade to the exact thickness I seek, I get the stainless a bit thin. After etching, I can see waves and layers of carbon migration in degrees of density.
And, a bigger knife will spend more time forging, so there's more time for migration to take place.
A small hunter will not take as long, so the deviations are very distinct and sharp.
Every one of them is unique when examined up close.
Syrupy (is that a word?) sweet Mr. Karl. I have a question about the laminates. Why do they have 2 black & 2 white/silver lines at the transition instead of single lines? I'll probably feel like a dummy when you explain it but I can't figure it out. I love the look of the double lines but it baffles me as to how it works.
