Mushroom Hunter's, Utility Knife WIP

[baugherbrouw]

Started making a mushroom hunter's/utility knife for an avid mushroom and ginseng hunter. The steel is from a Nicholson file and I plan to have the handle made from walnut with pewter bolsters. There are some interesting looking swirls in the blade upon etching. Not quite sure how that happened. Maybe someone can tell me? I normalized 3 times, quenched twice in canola oil, and tempered 3 times at 450F. I was worried that I may have messed up the heat treat but the blade can be bent and returns to its original shape and it holds quite a nice edge. Let me know your thoughts!

 

Edited September 16, 2013 by baugherbrouw

[Scott A. Roush]

The pattern in the blade is decarburization from your forge atmosphere. It will show up if you don't do a lot of post heat treat grinding.

 

I miss good morel hunting....

[baugherbrouw]

OK, that makes sense! Thank you!

[R. Yates]

That is very nice , I look forward to seeing it done .

 

Sam

[baugherbrouw]

Finishing up the handle. I still need to make some finishing touches. I think I'm going to rub the handle down with black tea, then vinegaroon to darken it up a bit and add an antique look.

[Miles Hebbard]

If you cover the entire blade with a minute layer of potters slip, it will prevent the decarb, I rub it on with my fingers then dry it in the sun (Afrca has lots!) or use a hairdrier, the alternative is to change your air/gas mixture less oxygen less scale. I'm lazy, clay works for me!

[Miles Hebbard]

If you cover the entire blade with a minute layer of potters slip, it will prevent the decarb, I rub it on with my fingers then dry it in the sun (Afrca has lots!) or use a hairdrier, the alternative is to change your air/gas mixture less oxygen less scale. I'm lazy, clay works for me!

[baugherbrouw]

Thank you for the advice! There is lots of clay here where i live, I wonder if it'll work for future knives. As for this knife I've actually kind of grown fond of the decarb markings on the blade.