meteorite knife

Very nice - good work, GREAT craftsmanship.

I'd like to know more about forging the blade - how much meteorite, how forged, etc. Is the meteorite from one of the named sources like campo del cielo meteorite? I'm amazed and fascinated with forging meteorite into blades.
 
KenH said:
Very nice - good work, GREAT craftsmanship.

I'd like to know more about forging the blade - how much meteorite, how forged, etc. Is the meteorite from one of the named sources like campo del cielo meteorite? I'm amazed and fascinated with forging meteorite into blades.
Click to expand...
Glad you like my work! :D
I didn't think that someone might be interested in the ins and outs of making it.
Thank you for asking! I did make some wip pics of the process for my customer.

So, a gentleman sent me a mail one day, if I would be interested in making such a knife. Of course I jumped instantly at the offer. Not everyday does such an offer stroll into my shop. To be precise, this was the very first time I had such an opportunity. Never even saw meteorite iron before, up close.
Upon settling the details, like I can't promise anything, due to my lack experience in the matter, being the most important one :D , he sent me a few pieces of off cuts, which he bought earlier form the net. He also managed to make a chemical analysis on them, which booster my hopes in a positive outcome, since now I at least knew that it doesn't have chromium.
The pieces were irregular in shape and size, so I decided to use the canister method, which works great in forgewelding motorcycle chains and such.
Filled the gaps with steel powder and placed a piece of 5160 in the middle to help keep the whole thing together.
Welded the canister shut and put myself away for the next day.
 

Attachments

  • 9.jpg
    9.jpg
    158.3 KB · Views: 4
  • 8.jpg
    8.jpg
    161.8 KB · Views: 4
  • 7.jpg
    7.jpg
    149.5 KB · Views: 4
  • 6.jpg
    6.jpg
    162.4 KB · Views: 4
  • 5.jpg
    5.jpg
    159.3 KB · Views: 4
  • 4.jpg
    4.jpg
    222.2 KB · Views: 5
  • 3.jpg
    3.jpg
    114.8 KB · Views: 5
  • 2.jpg
    2.jpg
    137.4 KB · Views: 5
  • 1.jpg
    1.jpg
    102.6 KB · Views: 4
Next day I welded a piece of rebar to the canister for easier handling. Fired up the forge and when the canister soaker up enough heat, I started bashing it.
Removed the walls of the canister. And its sides the pieces of the meteorite were still visible so I decided to strengthen it temporarily with a bit of extra weld. Gave it another hammering.
Than I grinded the welding away, cut the billet into a couple of pieces and restacked it alternating with further 5160 (these gave the darker layers) I forgot to take pics of this part.
Threw it into the coal fire, gave it another heating and a good beating, till I arrived at the final form.
The billet was enough for four blades in total, of which one I have already presented.
Three more will come in the following weeks :)
 

Attachments

  • 98.jpg
    98.jpg
    401 KB · Views: 3
  • 97.jpg
    97.jpg
    149.2 KB · Views: 3
  • 96.jpg
    96.jpg
    140.5 KB · Views: 3
  • 95.jpg
    95.jpg
    193.4 KB · Views: 3
  • 94.jpg
    94.jpg
    270.1 KB · Views: 3
  • 93.jpg
    93.jpg
    190.6 KB · Views: 3
  • 92.jpg
    92.jpg
    233.2 KB · Views: 3
  • 91.jpg
    91.jpg
    157.5 KB · Views: 3
  • 99.jpg
    99.jpg
    455.1 KB · Views: 3
Sorry I missed your post until tonight - I see you posted yesterday.

Thank you so much for the photos and write up. YES!!! I think more than myself are interested in how you did it.

Let me understand, in the #6 photo you're showing the canister with the bar of 5160 in the middle, and pieces of meteorite stacked in? Then in photo #7 you're showing the steel powder you dropped to fill the spaces? Then photo #8 is showing the canister top with the meteorite completely covered with the steel powder and can just see the end of 5160 bar before you weld the end cap on?

I like your photos - especially the analysis meter showing the meteorite to have 90% Fe.

Ken H>
 
KenH said:
Sorry I missed your post until tonight - I see you posted yesterday.

Thank you so much for the photos and write up. YES!!! I think more than myself are interested in how you did it.

Let me understand, in the #6 photo you're showing the canister with the bar of 5160 in the middle, and pieces of meteorite stacked in? Then in photo #7 you're showing the steel powder you dropped to fill the spaces? Then photo #8 is showing the canister top with the meteorite completely covered with the steel powder and can just see the end of 5160 bar before you weld the end cap on?

I like your photos - especially the analysis meter showing the meteorite to have 90% Fe.

Ken H>
Click to expand...
yup, you are correct on all of those :)
That steel powder is a big help to fill in the gaps if I use weird shapes and prevent cold shuts.
 
There is a LOT of meteorite in that blade - sure does look good. Considering the cost of meteorite these days just the meteorite is expensive! Nice. Thank you again for posting the WIP photos.
 
KenH said:
There is a LOT of meteorite in that blade - sure does look good. Considering the cost of meteorite these days just the meteorite is expensive! Nice. Thank you again for posting the WIP photos.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't mind experimenting with it further, but yes, it is pretty pricey :(
 
I saw a meteorite slab in a rock and fossil shop a few years ago. It was about 2 1/2 ft in diameter and etched to reveal a lattice pattern. I wondered what metal was in it, and how it formed that pattern naturally.

Beautiful work.
 
soundmind said:
I saw a meteorite slab in a rock and fossil shop a few years ago. It was about 2 1/2 ft in diameter and etched to reveal a lattice pattern. I wondered what metal was in it, and how it formed that pattern naturally.

Beautiful work.
Click to expand...
I don't know much about their pattern formation unfortunately
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top