Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
1:05 pm
September 18, 2019
Offline
Hey folks, probably another dumb question from me, but I've looked all over here and the web and can't find the answer.
I see a lot of knives listed for sale from local forges and most of them have a dark grey color, then shinier where the grind is. How are they doing that? Is it the steel? I assumed it was an acid deal so I bought some muriatic acid and soaked a couple of mine for a while and although they bubbles and released the smoky bad gasses, the blades looked identical. I understand that muriatic works for damascus so I kept it and will use it when I get there.
I'm willing to bet that 99% of you know this answer and it's probably a no brainer, my dumb head just can't figure it out...
5:53 pm
NWBA Member
March 22, 2011
Offline
Irish Homestead Forge said
I see a lot of knives listed for sale from local forges and most of them have a dark grey color, then shinier where the grind is. How are they doing that? Is it the steel? I assumed it was an acid deal so I bought some muriatic acid and soaked a couple of mine for a while and although they bubbles and released the smoky bad gasses, the blades looked identical. I understand that muriatic works for damascus so I kept it and will use it when I get there.
Howdy, Irish Homestead. Could you find a pic to describe what you are talking about?
The first thing that came to mind is that the blades you are talking about are not completely ground all the way to the spine and the spine is left as forged, but hard to know without seeing a picture.
as always
peace and love
billyO
8:35 am
September 18, 2019
Offline
Hey BillyO,
a great example is what I see at Fallen Oak Forge. http://www.fallenoakforge.com is their website. I don't know anything about these guys, someone just suggested I look at their stuff so I follow them on FB. I've seen this a lot though. There's at least a couple other forges I follow and there's even some company that offers "man boxes" that apparently come with manly things and they show blades like this. If I didn't grind out my knives all the way they'd look like a hammered mess.
By the way, I checked out the bladesmith show and tell and you make some beautiful blades! I'm very impressed!
3:40 pm
September 6, 2012
Offline
I can't speak for the exact process Fallen Oak Forge uses, but what BillyO wrote above is correct and would apply to what I saw on the link you provided. Grinding the blade while leaving the spine raw would surely create a contrasting effect of shiny steel vs oxidized steel...
7:42 pm
NWBA Member
March 22, 2011
Offline
Hello again, Irish Homestead. Thanks for the compliment.
Now that I see what you are talking about, you might want to do a bit of online searching for "brut de forge", as that's what a lot of folks call this style.
Irish Homestead Forge said
If I didn't grind out my knives all the way they'd look like a hammered mess.
This style isn't easy to do well.
If it's not against forum rules, here's an interesting discussion that came up late last year on Bladesmith's Forum.com:
https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/40024-is-brut-worth-the-trouble/page/2/
as always
peace and love
billyO
7:41 am
September 18, 2019
Offline
Thanks BillyO,
That was a fun read and really informative. I'm pretty good on the hammer but could never get the blade as smooth as I like so this just isn't for me. The pics on that site you directed me to were cool, but sort of unfinished in my opinion. The curved handle ones were kind of neat, but to me they look like a display rather than a usable knife. Every knife I make starts out with a purpose, whether for myself or as a gift, I want that knife to be used.
Thanks again
Most Users Ever Online: 668
Currently Online:
8 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
Larry L: 1566
Grant: 1420
Bruce Macmillan: 625
Lee Cordochorea: 595
Lynn Gledhill: 572
JNewman: 520
Gene C: 504
J Wilson: 426
Eric Sprado: 383
Tom Allyn: 340
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 22
Members: 8728
Moderators: 4
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 23
Forums: 97
Topics: 3538
Posts: 20289
Newest Members:
windhaen, Jeffrey Funk, Tom, churndashmaven, cameliacity, fred.f.chopin, RuoYi, rodeoneerer, NWBABjorn, mddangeloModerators: Steve McGrew: 77, N.W.B.A.: 72, webmaster: 0, bluehost: 0
Administrators: admin: 540
Usage Policy