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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 08-09-2009, 06:42 AM
huntforlife huntforlife is offline
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Odd feeling that I messed up

So, my first knife I made is being donated to a hunting website I belong to.

Its a 440C knife, and it looks good. It has a good edge on it, and it was done right (by a friend as I had no sharpening ability at that time). I have a buddy in MN that is making the sheath for it. (co-op project)

Im sure im freaking out for no reason, but people are going to be bidding on the knife, and other auctions have fetched $300+ for knives on the site. Its for a good cause, but I want the high bidder to have the best knife possible. Something they can use and not have to re-sharpen every 5 minutes.

Im thinking I should have waited, and tried the knife myself and put it thru it's paces prior to offering it as a donation.

I'm freaking because I'm making another knife for the PVA (seperate auction) but the steel hasnt been field tested. So, I think im going to wait and see how the next batch comes out. Use it hard and see how it performs before I go offering it out. (not the used one)

The first knife is on the auction block regardless. There is no turning back now. I just sincerely hope its a quality piece that performs well.

I know 440C isnt the best metal, and I think that is what is giving me doubt. Sorry for the rant.


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  #2  
Old 08-09-2009, 07:59 AM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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There is nothing wrong with 440C, in fact, it makes excellent blades if it is heat treated correctly. You didn't mention how the heat treat is being done (you, another maker, TX Knifemakers?). If you want the best from it, and who wouldn't, then HT it to about RC 59 and have it cryo processed (TX Knifemakers can do this for you). True, it still won't perform as well as some of the exotic steels but it will be far better than any of the commercially available knife that most hunters buy over the counter.

And by all means, make yourself a test blade and test it hard .....


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Old 08-09-2009, 11:35 AM
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SBuzek SBuzek is offline
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I'm with Ray,440-C heattreated correctly is a very good knife steel.The 440 steel gets a bad rap because of the cheap import stuff that is 440-A and no idea of H/T.
A test blade is a good idea, treat them like a rented mule
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Old 08-09-2009, 04:19 PM
huntforlife huntforlife is offline
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I have all my stuff heat treated at Tx knife, and have them do the cryo on any 440C that I send in. The next 3 I am doing are D2, and Im giving them to friends to beat on, before I donate anything else. Thanks for making me feel a little better.


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Old 08-09-2009, 05:40 PM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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Maybe you'll have better luck with D2 than I have but the last two blades I made cracked after being used normally for about a year. I was very careful with the HT but D2 is very particular when it is used as a knife blade. Even though Tx Knife will do the HT for you , I assume, I still don't rust the stuff any more. Besides, S30V and some other steels pretty well out perform D2 nowadays.......


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Old 08-10-2009, 05:58 AM
huntforlife huntforlife is offline
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Thanks Ray. I switched up to D2 just because I like the workability of it. Its easier for me to file everything on the D2 than it was on the 440C. Is S30V easy to file?


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Old 08-10-2009, 07:57 AM
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Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
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S30V seems to file easily enough. I know it is much easier to drill than D2 and the bandsaw cuts it more easily. Also consider 154CM or even ATS-34. These steels give good results with air hardening HT processes which, I believe, is the only way TX Knife will do a HT ......


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Old 08-10-2009, 08:43 AM
huntforlife huntforlife is offline
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Yes, Tx only HT's air hardening steels, so those would be good choices. I'll have to get a few pieces of the S30V and give it a shot. Thank you for the infor Ray, I appreciate it.


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  #9  
Old 08-10-2009, 10:40 AM
cliff fendley cliff fendley is offline
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Hunt, if it was heat treated and ground properly the 440C will make someone a fine knife. I've been playing around with several steels and keep going back to it. Almost all my personal knives are 440C.


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