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Hi all, So I've been making knives with 1095 steel and I'm wondering if you recommend I use another type of steel or To stick to this type to get more experience on forging, normalizing, quenching, tempering, sharpening, and once I get better change steel types?

Hi, I'm new to the forum, and to knife making. This is my first post. Thought I would post a pic of the first 3 Damsacus knives I made. These are the 4'th and 5'th knives I have ever made. The two matching knives I made for my parents, and they are made from 1084,1095, and 15N20. They are 64 layers with some raindrop pattern in them. The other knife is 1095, and 15N20, and is only 24 layers. Handles are Cocobolo. The handles on the two matching knives have a partially hidden guard that I came up with as a way to fix a mistake I made. I drilled the forward tang hole too close to the guard and it would have left less than 1/4" of wood if I butted the wood up against the guard. I was afraid that would crack over time, so I wrapped the wood around the guard by cutting it out in a mill. All together I have about 70 hours in the two matching knives. Those two knives were made from the same piece of steel, and the handle scales were all four cut from one piece of wood, then one scale from each pair was used on each knife so they are truly matching knives. I tried to make a cross pattern with the raindrop pattern, but didn't come out the way I planned, so they are hard to see. Hope you like them. Any constructive criticism is welcome as I am learning. I started making knives in September. Thanks for looking!

Nóż wędkarski , stal nierdzewna, długość ostrza 145 mm, długość całkowita 260 mm, rączka mosiężna, kość wielbłąda, G10, heban, orzech.

Hi, I am not sure if this is the right forum for my queries. If not pardon me. Well, first of, I am not a blacksmith/blade smith. However I have been entrusted with a project to revive the dying art of traditional sword and knife making in Bhutan (a small himalayan kingdom). It is not just preserving the art but also to promote as a viable livelihood. The last of the master craftsman is in his 80s. The attempt is being made to train some younger folks to take up the craft. However, to do it in a traditional way, the younger folks are not interested. It is considered dirty, physically exhaustive. Therefore, to make it appealing to younger folks, we would like to mechanize certain processes of production. 1. Require technical advice in adopting and using efficient forge. Traditionally and currently we use charcoal forge. 2. Advice in using mechanical/ pneumatic forge hammer. Currently it is manually done, engaging two persons for forge hammering. 3. The art of making sword with laminated still is sort of lost now. I would like to seek your technical expertise to revive this as well. We have initiated the project in a modest way with 5 learners through sort of apprenticeship under the only existing master artisan in a 4 X 6 mtrs workshop. We are also thinking about possibility of engaging an expert to help us in mechanizing the essential processes and train the user in proper handling of the tools. That way, we may also require expert advice in designing a proper production house subsequently. I am the project manager acting as the defacto expert, in absence of any, in the field of managing a iron craft project. Any kind of expert advice and opinion will be helpful and to initiate further collaboration. Help. Karma about_sword.pdf

Today I finished the first of two Kelly Carlson blades I was given by two collectors to complete. Kelly passed several years ago, and his son recently started selling and giving away his father's unfinished blades, tools, materials, etc.. This bowie is very hard mystery stainless that was already buffed when I received it. I forged the guard from mild steel, and the pommel is a tapped mild steel ball that I did some shaping on - both were media blasted then sealed. I welded a threaded rod to the base of the blade and assembled the guard, caribou antler, and aluminum as if it was a take-down construction but used JB weld everywhere so it ain't coming apart. It was a bit strange working on another smith's blade. His grinds are perfect, but I have no clue what his plans were for the handle, so I am sure I ruined whatever the original flow was supposed to be haha. The customer/collector was very happy with my "rough" addition to an otherwise clean and crisp blade - he likes my brut de forge style. Comments and critique always welcome. I would be interested in hearing if anyone else ever worked on another smith's blade, especially if he/she had already passed.

It's been quite awhile since I have made some post updates. I have had quite a lot going on. I will load some pics and blather on for a bit. I miss being active in the forum. I am not making just one off knives right now and that has me spinning in circles. I am in transition from my day job to my blacksmith job. I am 20ish hours a week at the day job and probably 30+ at knives and then I have another part time design job. That with the family I am quite booked. Anyhow, I managed to get back on Forged in Fire (thanks to people on facebook) and that ended up being a good thing this time. I know some of you hate the show. I don't. I see both sides of the picture, believe, I do. I have had my ups and downs with it. The first time I was on I lost in the final round. They made it seem like I didn't know how to sharpen a blade and that hurt my business. I didn't sell a single knife for 3 months after the air date. But I made more knives, put of videos of me cut testing and booked a lot of shows. I got out and met people, taught lessons and kept forging. My build up was slow but it grew and I started selling knives again. A little over a year after having been on the show I was back to selling knives at a decent rate and price. I had felt like I had at least repaired a lot of my reputation. I also started taking more sculpture work (I can't believe how much more money this can make... lot of work though). At the beginning of this year I was asked to come back on the show. I went. This time, though, I practiced a lot. I practiced the 3 hour forge time and the 3 hour handle time over and over. Some of my practice rounds I failed. I had a blade shatter to bits (I rushed and didn't heat the oil on a cold day while using 52100) and I had a couple handles that looked like horror film knife handles but I learned and pushed myself forward. I worked on my edge geometry and grinding. I worked on forging to shape. I worked on forging random steels and memorizing junkyard steel sheets. I poured over several of Jim Hrisoulas' books over and over. I won. It was very close and I made mistakes along the way but I won. It felt good to come back from a previous loss. I have a lot of you to thank. This forum is chalk full of information and help. Even if you don't know you helped, you probably did. I scour(ed) the forums for information and techniques that help me every day. I would not be where I am today as a bladesmith without you. Let's move on to post FIF. I don't carry a knife. Weird, right? A knife maker that doesn't carry his own knives. I don’t like the bulk. Plus I like to sell everything. But I don’t like full pockets I don’t like belts and though I like necker knives I hate how they fly around if you move. So, on a plane ride back and forth from Brooklyn I sketched up a wrist cuff sheath. I really wanted it to be more cuff accessory than sheath or bracer but yet influenced by both. I am selling these now. Working on a patent and have had an article written about them by knifenews.com. The reaction has been good. I have sold quite a few of them and continue to develop the product. A harsh year of feedback from the first time on FIF has prepped me to deal with the haters (can you believe how many just horrendously negative people are out there). Business is moving along. I have plenty of work and am getting paid a decent amount for it. I thank God for that. Here are a few pics from the last year.

Hi everyone I am new to bladesmithing and I would like a little feedback on a few of my knives. These are not the only knives I've made but they are the 3 I'm proud enough to show. All 3 are made from old leaf springs which I believe is 5160. I've made a leather sheath for two of them and I would appreciate feedback on those as well. Thank you for any comments or criticisms you leave, they are greatly appreciated. The thistle maker's mark on the third knife is my grandfather's maker's mark. He is an outstanding bladesmith but his motor skills have greatly declined lately. He can no longer smith and I want his knowledge of the craft and his mark to live on in my work.

Howdy to y'all. Last month I got to follow my wife to Tokyo, for a big tennis tournament, as she works for the WTA. So, what can a bladesmith do in Tokyo?... Needless to say, I caught the train and went to the Token Japanese Museum. Oh, well, I couldn't take pictures in the exhibit and I am still crying for that because there was a temporary display of the Masatsune workshop and his students... Well, I suffered from Stendhal Syndrome and almost cried in front of a tsuba on which waves were carved with such a grace and, yet, powerful and dynamic that the richness of golden pheasants and colored flowers on other fittings paled to its comparison. Anyway, I could take pictures, instead, in the Tokyo National Museum so, pictures of Katanas and fittings will come later, when I will have time to upload pics from my camera. For the moment...

Hi to All! This is my first post on this Forum. Please let me briefly introduce myself. Blacksmith. I manufacture both blades and other metal works. I show some of them on my blog: http://lipinskimetalart.blogspot.com/ When I was searching for inspirations I often landed on this forum, so I deceided to joinand not only read and watch but post as well. Many thanks for all of You sharing your knowledge and ideas. In this topic I will be showing my works. Today I’m gonna present some of my past ones. My viking sword test on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_HsO-eVzUM

http--,,--// Bill Moran at the Blade Show in 2005 http--,,--// A visitor stands in front of Bill Moran's shop in 2004

Thought I'd show off some more of our knives and leather work.... questions, critiques, comments, and especially compliments welcome... ha ha Blind tang, 1095, Clay & oil hamon, Cocobolo and Brass SAM_6068 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6069 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6070 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6072 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6073 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6075 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6078 by djs1984, on Flickr

Hello all it has been a busy few months since I last posted and I thought I would make a post to show what I've been up to over the summer months. Most of my time was taken up with teaching summer programs and opening the blacksmithing school, but in between the sixty hour weeks I found some time to make things and even injure myself :/ Unfortunately earlier this summer while working on a carving my chisel slipped and went through (yes as in all the way through) my left index finger severing some nerves, but thankfully it wasn't too serious and I have been able to get back to work making things. But onto the projects... This summer I received my first railing commission from the church my sister belongs to...Overall it was a fun and interesting project that I'd like to do more of in the future. It was all hand forged for both railings each one measuring 5 3/4 feet long and each structural upright is 1 inch square. I also found time to make this medium sized forester's axe. Mild steel body with a 1084 bit. The head is 8.5 inches long and the edge is 4 3/4 wide, the handle is 24 inches long. And last but not least I was able to finish up this pattern welded puukko today with birch bark handle. The blade is 1084, 1095, and 15N20 at about 500 layers and 1 inch wide and 4 1/2 inches long. Unfortunately when I took the picture I didn't notice the smudge of grease but it has since been cleaned off. Thank you all for looking...I'm looking forward to getting back to actually making some neat projects; I have a couple of ideas that have been gestating for the past four months...I'll keep you all posted.

I've noticed that there are quite a lot of bladesmiths that are proffessional at what they do, their knives are "perfect" for their application, and they have the best quality knives for hundreds of miles around. Yet, they are not "computer savvy", meaning it is difficult to set up a website, advertise correctly, or in general get their knives out to the public. Nowadays, quite a lot, if not most, of selling is off the internet. I personally do not sell yet, but I really doubt any of you have an actual store for customers to come and browse through. So, feel free to post ideas on pitching, how to get customers to notice, and overall what makes a good sale, other than the quality of the knife. Oh, and also, there is always one big question I've noticed from the general "ignorant" public. How come handmade pocketknives cost so much ($100-$500) when I can just get a good one from the local store for 20 bucks? There is an obvious answer, but how do you explain it to the customer so that they would want one of your knives, rather than get one at the store?

First, A HUGE thanks to all those who post information and work in progress threads. This knife was made possible with all of your help. This is one of our first 2 hidden tang knives, our very first stacked leather handle as well as our first peened tang. Learned a lot of tricks off this website along the way. Thank you! Second, a short introduction, My brother Marcelino and I work together on our knives. Neither one of us is a great knife maker, but we work together and use each of our strengths to make something more beautiful than if we worked seperately. My brother ghosts this forum regularly, since I'm better with typing, here I am. I'm still new to this forum, but I love what I see already. great atmosphere and helpful, knowledgable people. We hope to contribute and give back what we can considering how much we have learned from here. so without further ado, The knife.... SAM_6042 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6035 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6031 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6034 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6037 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6038 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6041 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6043 by djs1984, on Flickr SAM_6045 by djs1984, on Flickr 1095, clayed and differentially heat treated, Black Micarta guard/pommel, compressed stacked leather handle with a peened tang. No glue. Has anyone seen a carved / tooled stacked leather handle before? Curious... comments, critiques welcome Thanks for looking.