Short sword or just big knife

[Raymond Richard]

Here's one I've been working on for at least the last couple weeks. Originally when I forged this blade I was thinking the steel was W-2. I thought that because that's what I had written on it. The steel for this blade started out as a good sized barrel shaped bearing. A couple years ago I took more of those bearings and some Hansen W-2 and had them forged out into more user friendly sizes. I should have marked the steel right after forging but didn't. I figured I could identify which was which by the spark. Was I ever wrong. Finally after the second try at a failed heat treat I was positive the steel wasn't W-2. The 3rd and final try I treated it as 52100 and it finally worked. I also used clay on the blade and did get a nice hamon although its not all that easy to spot in the pictures. The blade is 15 3/4" with an overall length of around 22". The blade is just under 2" at the widest. Its got wagon wheel fittings and a western elk crown handle. I'm going to hold off on epoxying it for a few more weeks. My son is getting married in July and I'm going to ask him if he wants to use it to cut the cake at the wedding.

[Don Halter]

Great looking knife! I really ike the "smokey" color on the antler with the wrought fittings.

I would have loved to been able to pull a knife like that out to cut our wdding cake!!!

[Raymond Richard]

Originally Posted by Don Halter

Great looking knife! I really ike the "smokey" color on the antler with the wrought fittings.

I would have loved to been able to pull a knife like that out to cut our wedding cake!!!

Don, I bet we used plastic spoons back when we got married.

[CWKnifeman]

Nice looking long knife. You can see the ahamon in the second picture.
Thanks for sharing.
Curtis Wilson

[Wade Holloway]

That is one great looking knife there Ray. I think you may have out done yourself. Thanks for showing.

[Joe Mason]

I really like this knife. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

[David Broadwell]

Great piece, Ray. Kind of an Americanized version of an old European hunting sword.

I don't usually care for modern versions of 19th century and earlier knives in this style, or many of the originals either. Many that I've seen are just too crude for my taste. Historically interesting, but crude and poorly designed. However, yours are not crude. Actually, they are quite refined, even with the older materials. I think if you had lived in the 19th century (I don't think you're that old!) you'd have put Michael Price, arguably the finest maker of that time, to shame!

Among other things, this really would make a wonderful cake breaker!

David

[Raymond Richard]

Originally Posted by David Broadwell

Great piece, Ray. Kind of an Americanized version of an old European hunting sword.

I don't usually care for modern versions of 19th century and earlier knives in this style, or many of the originals either. Many that I've seen are just too crude for my taste. Historically interesting, but crude and poorly designed. However, yours are not crude. Actually, they are quite refined, even with the older materials. I think if you had lived in the 19th century (I don't think you're that old!) you'd have put Michael Price, arguably the finest maker of that time, to shame!

Among other things, this really would make a wonderful cake breaker!

David

David, I don't care for the knives you mentioned either. I just make the ones that weren't made back then. Normally I'll just forge a blade and in this case it was an extra large one. Once I have the completed blade I then build the knife around it. I did have some specific ideas when I forged this one and the crown already picked out. Here's a couple pictures of the forging. There a picture of an old fart to.

[CWKnifeman]

Anyway that you look at it, that is a rally beautiful knife.
Thanks again,
Curtis Wilson

[Raymond Richard]

Originally Posted by CWKnifeman

Anyway that you look at it, that is a rally beautiful knife.
Thanks again,
Curtis Wilson

I went and held this piece for about a minute today.