My first forged knife

[rifleshooter2]

Well This is the first knife I ever forged. I have don a lot using stock removal but this is the first one I forged.

I used an old file, beat it to shape quenched in used motor oil then tempered in the oven at 455 deg.

Nice and sharp and she holds an edge.

[pilgrim]

     nice knife   

[hotfxr]

Very nice. Have you had a chance to test the edge for durability and/or brittleness? I have made knives from files before and always end up with the tips breaking off or chips in the blade edge. Not having a forge in the past and not really understanding the whole tempering process, I would heat them up and quench them in used motor oil. Haven't done it in a few years since I got so frustrated with broken blades.

[rifleshooter2]

I have had the same problem in the past with a few I ground out of some files.

What I do now is heat them up till they are non magnetic then let them cool slowly usually stuck in a coffee can full of vermiculite.

I do this 3 times then heat till non magnetic and quench in hot motor oil.

After that it's in the oven for an hour at about 455 deg.

I stabbed this one into some oak and pried out a chuck of wood so the tip seems ok. Time will tell. 

[Dogshirt]

My friend that makes knives tempers his at 350. I don't know, I'm a carpenter, not a blacksmith, but that is the temp he uses.

[bmtshooter]

Purdy !

[rifleshooter2]

You could temper anything from 325 F for a very hard blade to 550 F or so for a springy blade. I found 455 F is still hard but not too brittle.

[DandJofAZ]

Like the looks of that handle...Most of the curlicue handles I see look real uncomfortable to use.

and 450-500 seems about right....

Doug