OK Dont laugh!

slatroni

slatroni

Well-Known Member
I bought a piece of Damascus off Ebay to build a big bowie. Turns out its pretty hard already. After grinding the blade. it took the rest of the day to draw file it. But I would like to heat treat it anyway. The seller says it is 1095 & 15n20 steel combination. Whats the trick for heat treating this damascus?

Damascus bowie and koa.JPG

Thank You
Steve
 

Attachments

  • Damascus bowie and koa.JPG
    Damascus bowie and koa.JPG
    55.7 KB · Views: 55
I am confused and not trying to be a smart aleck but, if this is the knife in the pics you can't heat treat. Heat treating needs to be done before a knife is assembled! Take a look at the sticky at the top of this page, maybe that will clarify for you!

I am not sure what else to tell you, cause the knife in the pic has a good look to it but, if it hasn't been heat treated at this point, it can't be HTed without disassemblely and a whole of work you missed to get to that point! Not unless there is something someone forgot to tell me about making knives!!
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply Mr Craft.
The knife is not glued together yet. The handle and guard slip on and off for now. I am at this point, still removing some scratches from the blade. I have been heat treating 1095 but this has the 15n20 in it. I am wondering if I use the same method as 1095. And just for the record, I like a good smart aleck!

Thanks
Steve
 
I am just guessing, but I would think, considering the chemical make of the two different steels, it would need to be treated as 1095 with at least a 10 minute soak. Soak at 1475° and quench in fast oil.
 
Steve I was hoping that was the case but after looking at the drawings of how the knife was to be constructed I will admit I had to wonder. I will say this the piece will have good fit and finish it appears because the rough fit up looks like a finished piece!

Here is some info on HTing 1095, http://usaknifemaker.com/metals-c-9...-c-93-35/heat-treat-information-data-faq.html

I am not familiar with 1095 but Wick is usually spot on when it comes to info. One person who might give more insight is Kevin Cashen, the moderator who wrote the sticky, you might want to send him a PM. I will say this much if Kevin don't have the answer about HTing, well................. it probably ain't worth knowing! He is the go to man in HT, his explanations can be very technical but always informative and if you ask for that in layman's terms, he will break it down to where I even get it. :biggrin:
 
I agree with LRB.

If you have the ability, you may also wish normalize that piece first, or at least thermal cycle it. Sounds like from your description, the steel is not in the most desirable condition.
 
Wick Covered it quite well, I would heat treat it as if it were 1095, a short soak at 1475F and quench in fast oil, Parks #50 preferably but if not Canola heated to 130F.
 
Nothing else to add except: That's a good looking knife. Be sure to post pics when it's finished and etched!
 
Thank you to everyone for the replies! Thats what I love about this forum, (PHP) people helping people. On my next days off, in the fire it goes! And I surly will post up some pics when its done! Here is a better pic after the blade is ground and some of the file work is done. Also my take on the Spanish knotch.
Thanks again
Steve
Damascus bowie and koa.JPG
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top