WIP HUNTERS
Per recent requests, here's a WIP on how I make what I call my field grade working knives. I normally will work on several of these at the same time. This group will be 4-6" drop point & clip point hunters with wooden handles.
I am making these from some small left over damascus billets. Often as I build a large Bowie I will have a piece of the damascus billet left which won't make another large knife but is large enough for a small hunter and that's what these will be made
I got the five blades rough ground and my maker's mark stamped into the ricasso. Here's what I use as anti-scale while H/T'ing:
I H/T my damascus @ 1475:
As quenched in Park's 50:
Be sure to check each blade with a file for hardness. If the file bites at all, it's not hard enough.
The blades are in the tempering oven now. I temper my hunters @ 400 degrees for two 2 hour sessions.
