Back on the bench

Here I am,... back on the bench with another exercise in fit and finish. This is a 1065 fighter, 9 inches, with an integral bolster, strickly between the hammer and the rasp, (after the forging and rough filing.) I'm fixing to do some kind of clay quench line (hamon), but I don't think I'm going to go traditional Japanese style with this one.

[hammerdownnow]

Nice! Thanks Tai, always a treat.

[Rocket_Jason]

Man, I might have to come out there some time and study under you, Tai. Amazing work and it's not even done yet. Oh wait, I know... I'll teach you how to draw cool NT logos using the not so NT Computer and you cant teach me how to use a hammer and a file!

[SharpByCoop]

Ooooooooohhhhhhh.... This looks good.

I'm buying some popcorn and watching this one come along. This one's right up my alley.

Coop

[stoneman]

Love it already Tai, can't wait to see that beauty finished.
What is you plan for the handle and fittings? Some more of your amazing sterling work perhaps?
Thank you for showing it to us.

[Sammy Mickel]

Awesome blade! Just one question though, how'd you get that finish? I've seen metal worked with rasps, papers and disks but it never had that shade to it. It almost looks like alunimum as far as the shade of the metal.

[SKIVIE]

Im with Coop.....Cant wait to see this one come along. I love that little design on the blade edge near the Choil, sure adds a lot to it and catches your eye.

Thanks for sharing Tai and cant wait to see the next post. Dont make us wait too long...hehe.

Shane

Thanks!

Thought you might like this one Coop.

The shade on the blade came from rubbing it with WD-40 and some synthetic steel wool, just to clean it up for the pic.

I'm not sure on all the handle and fittings yet. It's a spin off of this old knife of mine, but a little larger. I'll change it here and there just a bit...

[Buddy Thomason]

Very nice, Tai. The tip, grind lines, plunge cut, decorative work, integral bolster and all the curves have a certain matching in-balance look - quite appealing to the eye. BT

[David Johansen]

Man that is going to be nice!! I really like the knife it is modeled after as well. Very organic smooth curves. Just beautiful!!!!

[SheepishLion]

Tai, what is the handle on that older knife??? Just carved wood??? Looks almost like braided leather or something from the pic.

Joe

Joe, it's just carved acacia wood.

It can be fun to go back and redo an older design.

Here it is heat treated with a rough pre-finish. There's still a lot of detail lurking in there. I wanted a mix between a "rainbow" quench line and a "hamon". I used a mixture of porcelain slip, wood ash and powdered charcoal. I coated the whole blade with the slip first, then added parallel lines about 1/4 inch apart, running down perpendicular to the back towards the edge, but not touching the edge. Then I just did a slow emersion edge quench in veggy oil. I think I'll call it, rainbow "Quenchmascus".

[Wulf]

Whoa. Ladder pattern quench. That's so cool...

[cactusforge]

A great project, it is always a neat thing to do to go back and refine a old pattern. What is synthetic steel? Scotch brite? Gib