Sean's KITH 2020 for Heikki -dropping out of KITH

Sean Jones

Well-Known Member
I've gotten started on my KITH knife for Heikki. This is the first time I've sort of let the design come to fruition as I worked on it. I've done this before when I've done free hand sketches before but not with a knife profile. So hopefully it's turned out OK. Though I would appreciate any feed back on the design.

Also I don't think this knife really qualifies as an EDC anymore. It grew in the making from a 4" blade to a 5" blade :). I guess that's what happens when you 'wing'. Besides better too big than too small. So right now it's just a point object.




Also I'd like an opinion on my selection of refractory cement for the hamon. I think this is the correct stuff, but I'm not positive.

 
Thanks for the input guys. Hope to work on it some more tomorrow. Though I do have several other knives to finish up first.
 
Does 1075 take a better hamon than 1084 or 80CrV2?
Yes. 1084 has higher manganese for higher harden-ability and 80CrV2 is a good bit deeper hardening than either with significant chromium alloying. You must have a shallow hardening steel for a proper hamon.
 
Yes. 1084 has higher manganese for higher harden-ability and 80CrV2 is a good bit deeper hardening than either with significant chromium alloying. You must have a shallow hardening steel for a proper hamon.
Thanks! Very helpful.
 
Where is your 1075 from? Not all of it is the same. Some 1075 has too much manganese for really great hamon.
 
Is there a percentage of manganese that it's too much, or too little, to obtain a hamon?
 
It's from Alpha Knife Supply.
They list their 1075 as having .75% manganese.

You'll be able to get some differential hardening for sure. But that manganese content is a tad high for the most activity in my experience.

Kevin Cashen could shed a lot more light on how carbon content and other elements or lack there of could influence the real fine activity. I saw one guy who got some insanely active hamon activity out of what he swears was 1084. I've personally never had any success with steels with manganese content that high.

The manganese content of Aldos 1075 from a few years back was allegedly .3% and that's what I've had the most success with.
 
You'll be able to get some differential hardening for sure. But that manganese content is a tad high for the most activity in my experience.

Kevin Cashen could shed a lot more light on how carbon content and other elements or lack there of could influence the real fine activity. I saw one guy who got some insanely active hamon activity out of what he swears was 1084. I've personally never had any success with steels with manganese content that high.

The manganese content of Aldos 1075 from a few years back was allegedly .3% and that's what I've had the most success with.
One thing is for sure...John Doyle can create a Hamon, I would listen to him.
 
You'll be able to get some differential hardening for sure. But that manganese content is a tad high for the most activity in my experience.

Kevin Cashen could shed a lot more light on how carbon content and other elements or lack there of could influence the real fine activity. I saw one guy who got some insanely active hamon activity out of what he swears was 1084. I've personally never had any success with steels with manganese content that high.

The manganese content of Aldos 1075 from a few years back was allegedly .3% and that's what I've had the most success with.
Thanks John. I appreciate your reply. That helps considerably. I'll see how this goes. Hopefully I get something.
Lately I've been buying all my steel from Alpha Knife Supply simply because they are closer and their response time is excellent. Next hamon I try I'll check out Aldo's.
 
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