Actually found some time today to some grinding... Took everything down to 220 for heat treating... The small hatchet I was talking about in this thread.... Two small knives out of some cable damascus I forged a while back... and a 6150 cast replica of an actually bearded viking axe found in an excavation.... very cool... Now if I can just complete the heat treat without cracking... I'll see what happens tommorrow.... Then its off to finish grinding, etching and handles...
Heat treat went just fine... Quenched the small hatchet in some Parks 50... fast quench oil... And the bearded tomahawk and two cable knives in Texaco A... slow oil... Both heated to about 125 degrees... No cracks or warps.... paid attention to details and made sure there were not stress areas... Tempered at about 425 degrees for about an hour.... One of the reasons I love heat treating my own... is the colors... think I'll leave the bearded dude this way... nice heat colors... Now just need to final grind and sharpen... these will be on wet stones... then handles and a haft... Hope you all like the pics...
The bearded axe is just beautiful and I would also leave it like that with the colours. I have to admit I also like heat treating for the same reason. You do real nice work.
Thanks... I quenched it for a harder edge than normal... 6150 is the castable version of 5160 so its a good tough steel... or so I'm told... Should be good for wood working as well as throwing... just need to fit the handle to it and put a nice edge on it and she's done... The original version was contemplated to also be a handy tool .... When she's done I'll post a final pic... Thanks for the compliment... right back atcha!.... I admire the crafts you've shared... I like the bush craft stuff... Cut the scales for the little hatchet... going with dark brown micarta I think... and a nice dark brown kydex sheath... I know... not stag or leather... This one is a user... to abuse.... Thanks again for the friend invite... if I knew how to do that ... i would send you one too.... pm me ... Thanks again...
Go to his personal page, look on the right side for his friends list. There's a link to click on. But check first, if you've accepted his invite you might be already on his list.
Just can't let such a kind and generous comment go without showing my deep appreciation... For that and all the information and knowledge you share with us... This Bearded Axe is yours.... Send me your address and I'll get it into the mail for you... She's a good thrower... just a hair bit offset for woodworking... and unlike a thrower... she's got a nice hardened edge... I can finish sharpening her up for you or I'm sure you can put just the kind of edge you would like on it for your purposes... I can also include the hickory tomahawk style handle or I can also leave that up to as well.... Good times my new friend... Good times.... Thanks again, Bear
It's my pleasure and you're very welcome... Use it in good health ... and please post some honest feedback and pics in use when you have the time... You won't hurt my feelings :0) Take Care
Take me forever to finish things it seems... But finally finished this up... Its user grade... so it get's the crap beat out of it.. hopefully... Finished it up with black walnut burl I had laying around... nicer than micarta... quick and dirty finish that came out nice... And a leather sheath... fast ... copper rivets and a snap.... So there you go.... This one is off to the "Mule"... for some abuse and feedback... if I can find his addy...
I love the handles!!!! I have some black walnut logs I need to saw into lumber. I've been promsining DW that I would make her a nice dinning room table. BWM
Thanks... cut up some canvas micarta for it and then saw the black walnut and said "why not".... Came out pretty nice.... not perfect like Valkman's work.... but pretty nice.... I'll bet a dining room table would look great!.... Thanks for the compliment
If you have enough black walnut for a dining room table, you can retire. (Didn't know black walnus grew in the islands. Or does it?)
I don't know if it is a local tree... I'm sure someone has planted one... but for the most part no.... most folks like the Koa wood that grows here.... Yeah... this is nice wood.... I get it from a friend and Master Bladesmith out of Missouri... and he gets it from his brother... who gets it from a local mill.... phew... that's alot of traveling in this knife handle...
