Oh.....Emmm....Geeee....!!!

[druid]

Let me tell you, I have a newfound respect for blade makers and machinists.

I started this project some time ago but I didn't like the "end result" so I decided to "make it right"......

I started out with a 2" x 24" hunk of 1/4" bar stock and shaped it down but didn't like the point. I even handled it with wood but again...I don't like the handle.

So I decided to change it. I put a longer edge on the blade [old edge was too "short"], made a "false edge" that didn't previously exist but could still use some work and now have a large enough piece of antler for the handle.

...and by the way, all this was done with a common FILE : .....






1/4" thickness, false edge at the furthest end from you:



Full edge. It looks dark, almost like a "false edge' but trust me...she's sharp:



Rest:




The antler I got for the handle:






Can I tell you how stiff and sore my right arm is??? However, I'm much happier with how this is turning out than what it looked like before.

[AKScott]

Are you going to temper it, or go with what you got?

[druid]

I found this hank of metal next to a dumpster so I have no idea what 'kind' of steel it is.

But in reading around about tempering, it seems as if I've stumbled on a piece of "case hardened" steel. It's very difficult to file, meaning it's 'hard' steel and the filings are very fine as I remove them...I've about burned out my 8" Mill file in shaping it...lol.

The next part is the handle. The antler I have is a shed and it's pretty dry. I'm worried that it's "too" dry to sand and mill for the tang. Should/can I soak the antler to hydrate it? Or is there something else I should do?