WIP - well, almost finished

[KenH]

Hello all, this is the first time I've posted with pictures of knife. . I've forged a couple of knifes from coil springs, but after having a couple others turn up cracks, and a mystery metal not hardening good after all the work, I'm now using known metal I've ordered from Aldo.

The Bowie is my first attempt about a yr ago, so does have some rough spots (understatement). The metal is mystery metal for sure, heated to non-magnetic quenched in Canola oil, then heated in wife's oven for an hr. It will shave even after chopping a bit of wood.


This one is stock removal method from a 2" piece of 15N20 from Aldo with Rosewood handle.


This is a WIP for the wife, also Aldo's 15N20 - she wanted a hen on her knife. Since the photo I've put the date of heat treatment in small text next to the bolster.

This was annealed in furnace before stock removal, then final heat treatment was heated to non-magnetic and quenched in Canola oil, then baked in toaster over at 370ºF for 2 hrs. I use a PID controller for toaster oven. I used a CNC mill for the engraving on both blades.

Both the 15N20 blades sure do seem to hold a good edge, and do pass the brass rod test nicely. I expect the shine will tarnish pretty quickly with use in kitchen.

Ken H>

 

[McClellan Made Blades]

Ken,
It sure is GREAT to see another ALABAMIAN on here!
I too have made kitchen knives out of carbon steel, well a couple, 2 or 3 or so. I finally found a good easy( or easier) to HT stainless steel, I bought some 12C27Sandvick, and man is it AWESOME!!! Cuts like crazy, I mean scary sharp, and no worries when it goes in the dishwasher! Tha is a huge one for me, the wife just chose NOT to use the first one I made for her, she just leaves it I the drawer, pulls it out every now and again but doesn't use it! Well, for me that just would NOT WORK, thats why I decided on a stainless steel to use. It's not expensive, the HT on it was almost out of my range, and it wasn't necessary to do ALL the extra stuff to bring out all the performance that this steel is capable of, it has great properties with an oil quench!

Great to see another Alabama boy on KD, maybe we can get together sometimes! If you're ever in Autauga County, I'm not too far from Prattville, and Millbrook, I'm sure you've heard of them! So where are you in South Baldwin Co? Is that around Macintosh? Or am I thinking too far south! Anyway, if you ever want to come for a visit, I have an open shop Policy, all you have to do is let me know when you want to come for a visit, and we will get together and make a knife or 2 or 5....or 10, with me you just never know! Have a knife DAY! Rex

 

[KenH]

Thanks Rex - Yep, I've read about your shop and been wanting to "get around" to visiting you sometime. Now that I'm retired I might arrange a time this summer to ride up for a day's visit. I could sure use the pointers I'm sure I'd get from you. I'm just outside Fairhope, AL, just across the bay from Mobile, Alabama.

Hey, I just checked - you're just north of Montgomery - not all that far after all. Give me a chance to stop at Priestess Pecan for some of those "free" samples they provide<

A question, the 12C27 Sandvick SS, where can I order in small qualities (4 ft or so) and can it be heat treated at home? I've read the datasheet: http://myhome.mweb.co.za/~20267940/Sandvik_12C27.pdf - good info, but didn't say just how critical the 1975 ºF hardening temp for 5 minutes is - would 1950 ºF be ok?

Right now, the 15N20 was my first venture outside simple steels (1084, etc).

Later - got to cut some grass now!

Ken H>