Hey RELH - Forged in Fire??

[Roy]

On History Channel - have you checked this show out yet? Pretty cool to me. Would like to get a craftsmen's opinion on it.

http://www.history.com/shows/forged-in-fire

HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/

 

[RELH]

Roy I watched the first two shows and it is obvious that they are not selecting experienced blade smiths for the most part. Some seem to have more of a blacksmith background and not very experienced in crafting blades.

I could not believe that one guy who forged and ground his blade too thin and then quenched it in water to harden it and the blade cracked. Will happen most of the time the way he did it. Most blade smiths use a oil quench to prevent the blade from stress cracking. Takes a highly experienced blade smith to use a water salt brine as their quenching agent to harden a blade and they will still get a cracked blade every now and then.

Also their time limit of 3 hours makes it very hard to craft a blade from raw materiel to finished product. When I saw the guy who selected the old file for his blade, I guessed he would win the first show as he had less materiel work to finish the blade and those old files contain a good amount of carbon and will make a very sharp knife that will hold an edge. The very first knife I ever made was from a 30 year old file and I still have it today.

I will stick to the stock removal style of making knives instead of forging as they are doing. Beside the hammering noise would drive my wife nuts and it would be divorce time.

RELH

 

[Roy]

Yeah - I couldn't believe that either. I have never done anything of the sort, but even I know enough that you have to treat the steel with oil, not water. The 3 hour time limit did seem very short too.

It is cool to watch though. New season starts tonight.

HOOK 'EM!
_______________________________________

Since I am frequently asked about my religion on this site and others, I have created a profile that explains my beliefs. If you are interested in finding out more about my faith, please visit the link below:

http://mormon.org/me/6RNQ/