Knife from plow steel

[anvil1231]

Finally after being stuck on hawks for a while I made another knife. Forged from a spring tooth cultivator plow. Shin bone for a handle and mild steel for a bolster.

 

[paulvallandigham]

A very nice knife! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[50cal.cliff]

Now I really like that. :thumbsup:
How the heck do you ever hammer out a plow share straight enough too make a knife. I have got some some spring teeth from a rake. They are over a 1/4" thick and 1" wide. Figured they would make great knives but I am worryied about the bend in them. Bent kinda like a half U Any suggestions?

 

[anvil1231]

These teeth are like that. They are 1 1/2 in. by 1/4 in. thick. We call them snake heads or twisters around here and they were used for cultivating. The end will like a snake's head or will be twisted 90 degrees and pointed. They work real well hot. I have not had any warp back up. I normalize 3 times before quenching. Then heat treat like 1095 steel. Hope this helps.

 

[JamesG]

Very nice i wanting to get some of those teeth t try them,nice job

 

[ameling]

Large amounts of Agricultural Steel is made from 1080 carbon steel - especially stuff like plow shares, harrow disks, cultivator/chisel points. Those old dumprake teeth (3/8 inch round stock)are closer to 1095 carbon steel - more like springs. And the modern hayrake teeth (1/4 inch round stock) are also close to 1095.

So they are all ... in the same neighborhood.

The rest is just a matter of hitting it the right way. As Frank Turley told John Teslow during one of his blacksmithing classes: "You're a blacksmith. Move the metal where you need it!" Um ... yeah ... easier to say than to do sometimes.

Nice simple classic knife.

Mikey - yee ol' grumpy German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands

 

[50cal.cliff]

Thanks for the info Anvil, you too Mike! If I ever get my forge up and running I will be tickled. Too many project's and not enough time and money! :haha:

 

[huntman58]

Well after seeing your awesome knife and some others here I can see when I move a forge and anvil will be on the shopping list.

 

[mazo kid]

:thumbsup:
Nice work! Looks like you have the technique down pat. Emery

 

[Blizzard of '93]

nice work, authentic look to it :thumbsup:

 

[anvil1231]

Thanks for all the kind words. I appreciate it

 

[BillinOregon]

Dang!

 

[Eric_Methven]

Now that's a very nice knife. Is it half tang with a pin through?

Eric

 

[anvil1231]

Now that's a very nice knife. Is it half tang with a pin through?

Eric

It is a hidden tang with a pin through.

Stuart