Benr.t
Well-Known Member
Hey guys! In theme with some of the fullered fixed blades I have been making lately, I thought it would be fun to try something a bit...larger.
I figured I would snap some pics along the way to share with those who are interested.
I decided to go with a 15" blade wakizashi. Oal will be just over 23". The steel is .250" A2 tool steel.
This is merely my interpretation of a hard use modern blade. It is heavily inspired by some of Dan Keffelers beastly blades.
At this point I am mostly done with it, so I will share all the pics I have up until now.
Laying out my design
Milling in the main fuller. I like to this before the blade is profiled, as it is easier to get everything lined up.
I also milled a false edge on the top of the blade.
Here I have the bevels roughed in.
Squaring up the shoulders for the Guard.
Truing up the bevels by hand. Since this is an air hardening steel, I can get the blade 95% before heat treat.
Had to pick up some new quench plates for this big guy. Not cheap!
So here is the blade post hardening. It was sealed in a high temp stainless pouch and clamped between the aluminum plates to cool.
A2 likes a nice soak in Liquid Nitrogen immediately after hardening, here it is after the soak, coming up to room temp.
Normally surprises during HT are bad. Much to my delight though I got a nice one.
The blade actually developed a bit of Sori during the quench. Pretty cool!
I figured I would snap some pics along the way to share with those who are interested.
I decided to go with a 15" blade wakizashi. Oal will be just over 23". The steel is .250" A2 tool steel.
This is merely my interpretation of a hard use modern blade. It is heavily inspired by some of Dan Keffelers beastly blades.
At this point I am mostly done with it, so I will share all the pics I have up until now.
Laying out my design
Milling in the main fuller. I like to this before the blade is profiled, as it is easier to get everything lined up.
I also milled a false edge on the top of the blade.
Here I have the bevels roughed in.
Squaring up the shoulders for the Guard.
Truing up the bevels by hand. Since this is an air hardening steel, I can get the blade 95% before heat treat.
Had to pick up some new quench plates for this big guy. Not cheap!
So here is the blade post hardening. It was sealed in a high temp stainless pouch and clamped between the aluminum plates to cool.
A2 likes a nice soak in Liquid Nitrogen immediately after hardening, here it is after the soak, coming up to room temp.
Normally surprises during HT are bad. Much to my delight though I got a nice one.
The blade actually developed a bit of Sori during the quench. Pretty cool!