The Sam Cade Thread of Knifey Goodness

[Sam Cade]

Another quickie today:

Forged from a rusty US made "Wards" (that would be Mongomery Ward, so who knows who actually made it) branded file.

Pictured with the Wrench Knife from yesterday. Note how the Cro-Van alloy in the wrench knife has more shine despite both knives getting identical finishing.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

That pair would be great around the Farm or Shop.

 

[JShirley]

I'd like the shape...on a much larger scale. That shape is best suited to a sword IMO.

 

[Swami]

Sam, I love your work! I agree with JShirley that these would make awesome swords, especially the bottom one pictured - sort of like the Chinese "executioner" style. I'd love to see you do this design on an old 2 1/2" trucker's wrench - those 2', 10 lb. monsters I used to see hanging on shop walls back in the day.

 

[Sam Cade]

Sam, I love your work!

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment.

I agree with JShirley that these would make awesome swords, especially the bottom one pictured - sort of like the Chinese "executioner" style.

It is your most basic forged knife shape and ideal for general purpose knives that might see a bit of skinning.

Starting from a straight bar,as you start squishing in your bevels the blade is going to naturally curve away, the more the bevels are pinched in the more curve you get. The point is formed after forging with a cut.

I'd love to see you do this design on an old 2 1/2" trucker's wrench - those 2', 10 lb. monsters I used to see hanging on shop walls back in the day.

That is power hammer territory right there.

 

[Sam Cade]

Meanwhile:


This has got to be the ugliest G10 ever.

Maybe after I take it up to about a 2000 grit finish and oil, it won't look so much like dried coyote scat.

Anyway, it goes on on of these short coil-less "Merican Tantos".

Also, this is the paper micarta scaled martindale we are going to do a cord overwrap on.

Ugly stuff.

 

[Sam Cade]

Oh, almost forgot.

Rams horn scales.

...and I got tired of this Kershaw Thermite trying to jump out of my hand so I put some texture on the lock side with the drill press.

Huge improvement.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Oh, almost forgot.

Rams horn scales.


...and I got tired of this Kershaw Thermite trying to jump out of my hand so I put some texture on the lock side with the drill press.


Huge improvement.

Great custom work Sam.

 

[Sam Cade]

As it turns out, these overload springs for an F150 that I forged flat the other day are galvanized.
:banghead:

Foot for scale:

So I feel pretty terrible (and stupid) right now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_fume_fever

 

[Sam Cade]

This one is headed to Illinois. Blade length is about 2.5" so should be legal just about everywhere.

It is getting Ruby Red G10 scales.

I lurve ruby red G10.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Sweet little knife.

 

[Sam Cade]

Somebody photoshop out my hand.

Simple taper for the scales.

Quick snapshot before final finishing.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Very nice work Sam.

 

[JShirley]

That's a good looking knife.


For an American tanto, of course!

 

[hso]

Sam,

They galvanized the truck spring??? When'd they start doing that!?! Was this an aftermarket overload spring or was it factory?

The old black/blade smith rule of thumb on vehicle springs being 5160 just can't be applied for every vehicle after the mid 90's. There was a discussion on anvilfire on junk steels and one of the metallurgists was talking about a new steel that should have replaced it because of simpler heat treat. I don't remember reading if they have to galvanize it for corrosion protection.

Treat the symptoms like you'd treat flu and drink lots of water and milk (and beer).

Note for junkyard steel users - Be very cautious about any junkyard steel that doesn't have rust on it. The steel is probably coated and the coating is probably zinc and zinc fumes will make you sick (Sam can provide the details of how much fun that is) if you inhale them. Best to remove the coating with a grinder (wearing a mask to avoid inhaling the dust) OR toss the thing into an open fire well away from anyone that might breath it and roast the coating off.



***

The pair of slicers should cut pretty well. Are you planning a side by side test on them to see which material performs better.

 

[Sam Cade]

They galvanized the truck spring??? When'd they start doing that!?! Was this an aftermarket overload spring or was it factory?

Cold galvanized (zinc powder coat basically) I figure. Spring came off of a wrecked early '90s F150 we were hauling to scrap on the rollback. Dunno if they were OEM or not.
True galvanizing is a high temp process so you won't ever see it on a carbon steel spring.

The pair of slicers should cut pretty well. Are you planning a side by side test on them to see which material performs better.

Probably not since I don't have any way of knowing what they actually are so the validity would be limited to the two pieces.
I'd love to know what the wrench is though.

 

[hso]

More curious about just relative performance instead of anything absolute.

 

[Sam Cade]

"Primitive" pattern knife, 6 1/2" blade with small bellied tang for immature humans or those with XX chromosomal configuration.

Forged from 1/8" 1084.

 

[rbernie]

The blade shape looks like a good pattern for a kitchen prep knife, if you can make it thin enough and add more chord to keep the grip off the cutting board... Lord knows that I've been jonesing for a carbon steel kitchen setup for a while now...

 

[hso]

You going to make one of these anytime soon, Sam?

 

[Sam Cade]

It is on the shortlist for things to do. Probably get a pivot and spacers from AKS and do G10 scales. So closer to the Svord style peasant folder than a higo no kami.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Looking forward to seeing that one.

 

[Sam Cade]

...and the ugly G10, finished out.

Meh. Could be worse.

I like this pattern pretty well.

Did this one early this morning. I'll heat treat tonight once the sun goes down a bit.

 

[Sam Cade]

Post heat treat:

Now it is off to mount some scales.

 

[Sam Cade]

Ladies Knife, with Green/Black G10 scales.