Looks great Joshua! Can't wait to see the Blade! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

Minor progress to report.

ABS MS Tim Hancock taught me that you can use Rutland Furnace cement as a replacement clay for developing a Hamon. I used to buy the caulking tubes, but they would dry up and be wasted before I finished them.

I found these 8oz tubs of the stuff for $7. Hopefully, it will keep longer.

I finished the HT. Here is the blade out of tempering.

After cleaning the gunk off with a Scotchbrite wheel on a Dremel rotary tool.

I have a technique (also a Hancock lesson!) for keeping the blades straight in the quench.

This one came out pretty darn good!

Progress will likely slow down a bit. This is one of 6 knives I am working on in a group. The idea is to work on a group of knives in stages so I don't have to change tooling as often.

This dagger and a Bowie were #5 and #6 through HT. Now I move to finish grinding and hand sanding. It might take a while before there's any more progress to report.

I am curious to see what your hamon looks like Joshua. I use satanite after having so so results with rutlands and fireplace mortar.

Brion

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I am curious to see what your hamon looks like Joshua. I use satanite after having so so results with rutlands and fireplace mortar.

Brion

I know the feeling! I am always curious about how that will turn out... <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//unsure.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

This is probably the 6th Hamon I've attempted and I'm still playing with the development a little. One of the things I've learned is how different a vinegar etch compares to a ferric etch.

Yes Joshua. The vinegar is not as active as the ferric and can bring out fine details of the hamon like ashi.

Brion

For those of you interested in seeing the quench and how I straighten blades during the quench, the video is now online:

https://youtu.be/iWWtIAsIKGo

That's a cool video. I do something similar. But I like the shim stock idea. Thx

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That's a cool video. I do something similar. But I like the shim stock idea. Thx

Thanks Brian (twice <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> ) If you figure out any way to improve the method, please let me know.

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Thanks Brian (twice <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> ) If you figure out any way to improve the method, please let me know.

My method is more crude than your. I will be trying your next time. Mine involves aluminum stock and bar clamps.

I had the day off today and after running a bunch of errands and doing domestic chores, I started the finish grinding today. As I said this is one of 6 knives I'm working on in stages.

Other than the small full tang one, these are at 150 grit on the bevels on the 2x72 and 220 on the flats on the disc. There is still a lot of dust to make.

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Thanks guys. I'm hoping these ideas will spark some experimentation and help others, as well as me, work out sound design principles.

Greg, If you are interested in getting the book, the online retailer that does international orders is:

https://shop.histofakt.de/product_info.php?products_id=64&language=en&fbclid=IwAR3wJIoUO9NTIj42nQbpeNrDOa8-t-Hf1d0Bz0Jc_V5bbYy2SNhS8o_TyLs

This weekend I've been dealing with a celebration of life for a friend that passed away, and several roof leaks so not much more to show, but I'll get to it.

Awww, its sold out... well wish list it is.

place on the US side has it but its almost 90 with shipping.

small amount of progress. One side at 320 grit

Very nice.

Today was a shop day and time to work on gathering the guard and spacer materials for these 6 knives I'm working on. I'm making the guard and pommel for the dagger out of 1" W-1 drill rod.

I did the math and figured out how much I would need of the drill rod for each fitting and welded them to handles.

Here is an intermediate forging shot of the pommel in process.

The first guard forging turned out too small and the pommel turned out a bit oversized. Oversized isn't a problem, (that's what grinders are for!) but the undersized guard had to be redone. The second try also came out a bit larger than I need, but c'est la guerre. Here are the rough forgings after surface grinding to 120 grit. I will slot and fit the guard leaving the final shaping until the rest of the handle is 99% done.

On days like this, I wish I was Lin Rhea...... <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Well I got this hand sanded up to 320 grit in preparation for fitting the guard.

As I said, this is one of 6 knives I'm working on and after hand sanding these 6, I need a little break...…

Time to go out in the shop and forge something!