Trying my hand at a dagger

opaul

opaul

Well-Known Member
I went to the shop this morning I decided to see if I could do a dagger grind. I really didn't plan it out as I wasn't sure how it would go. And I'm still not sure how it will turn out but anyway, this is a picture of pre-heat treat and then post heat treat to remove the scale. It's tempering now in the oven. Any comments, suggestion and advise is very much welcomed.

 
Looking good opaul. Question though. In the top photo it looks like the grind near the tip is off a bit, where as in the bottom photo it looks to be spot on. Is it an optical illusion or is that something you'll clean up after heat treat is done?
 
Sean Jones said:
Looking good opaul. Question though. In the top photo it looks like the grind near the tip is off a bit, where as in the bottom photo it looks to be spot on. Is it an optical illusion or is that something you'll clean up after heat treat is done?
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Good eye. You are correct the top photo was pre HT and the line was off but I corrected it after heat treating and quenching. Hopefully I can keep it straight during the final and finish grinding.
 
You're doing good Opaul - to me a dagger properly done (as you have) really showcases ability to grind.
 
KenH said:
You're doing good Opaul - to me a dagger properly done (as you have) really showcases ability to grind.
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Thanks KenH but I'm a long way from properly finishing this one. Keeping the middle line is a chore. I freehand so it's drifting this way and that but I'm trying to nail this one down. In retrospect it might have been better to start with a shorter blade. Thanks and if you have any advise on how to control the grind please let me know.
 
opaul said:
Thanks and if you have any advise on how to control the grind please let me know.
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I sure wish I had the skill level to give useful advice. For the two daggers I did I got the bevels somewhat close, then finished walking them in on the disk grinder. I find it easier to keep grind lines where I want them with the disk grinder and it turning fairly slow - make only 500 to 600 rpm or so. It's slow grinding, but the mistakes happen a bit slower also.
 
Did a bit more sanding on the new blade this afternoon. This is the side that is sanded to 600 grit. The Hamon didn't turn out like I thought it would and I may just go with a satin finish. This is 1084 steel and 3/16" thick. It started sprinkling rain so there are a couple drops of rain on the blade.
 
Looks good Op. Why don't you give some 1095 a shot if you are looking for a hamon? I can say you are doing better then me. I have made one dagger about 5 years ago. Because I do this stuff for a living it was simple to trig it out and cut a 2X4 to the right angle. Freehand is way good. You have done a fantastic job!!!
 
springer82 said:
Looks good Op. Why don't you give some 1095 a shot you are looking for a hamon? I can say you are doing better then me. I have made one dagger about 5 years ago. Because I do this stuff for a living it was simple to trig it out and cut a 2X4 to the right angle. Freehand is way good. You have done a fantastic job!!!
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Thanks springer82.
I have some 1095 but this started out as a 'see if I can' grinding test run'. I started liking the grind so I pressed on. I just starting grinding away on a piece of 3/16" piece or 1084 that was lying on the bench, no profile just the rectangular piece. The grind turned out much better than I thought it would so I decided to press on with making a dagger. I've gotten pretty good hamon patterns from the 1084 I've been using, just didn't happen on this one though.
 
As a test of our grinding skill whether it is freehand or otherwise the dagger is about as good as it gets and you have passed any test you set for yourself with that one OP.
 
I know nothing of daggers but in my uneducated opinion, I like that one. Have you etched the hamon yet? It may still turn out good. I like subtle hamons too.
 
Go some shop time in today and got the handle epoxied up and rough sanded. I sanded a little into the tang pocket, thus the reason for the blue tape. I'll be able to get this one hand sanded and finished tomorrow - hopefully. PS - Arizona is beautiful!.
 
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