Great information Nick! That just proves there's more'n one way to skin this cat. Nice hamon.

Justin, I like your knife a lot. I think the hamon is fantastic... especially, like Nick said, it's difficult to capture all that's going on in a still shot. I'm the last person that should critique anyone else's work, but for what it's worth, the guard keeps drawing my eye. It may just be that the photo is a little blurry but the lower lug of the guard looks like its a tad thicker than the upper lug. I think that's what is catching my eye.

All in all a very nice knife! Keep up the good work!

Rick

Nick,

I hate to ask because I feel it's side-tracking the thread and taking away from Justin's work... But, I'm fascinated with the clay-less hamon process. Especially after seeing your photos that you posted. There is just something beautiful in the natural randomness of that blade's hamon. I guess the word that I would choose for it is "organic". I understand the process that is taking place to create it but I'm curious as to the science. Specifically... With W2 steel, which is a shallow hardening steel right? Do shallow hardening steels have to soak at temp to fully come into solution/fully harden? If so, how does the clay-less process provide for that, or does it? I hope I'm not coming across wrong... You've inspired me to break away from my normal steels and play with hamons now. I think I have the bug! Thanks!! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /> <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//unsure.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

Rick

Nick, thanks again for sharing, very informative.

Brion, thanks again for the Parks info, I think it's time I bite the bullet and get some.

Rick, thanks for the feedback. I don't think the lugs are uneven but I sold the knife so can't be sure at this point. This was the first time I tried doing this style guard so it is entirely possible, and something I will consider in the future. I think Nick had a point earlier when he mentioned the guard may be a bit to thick.

Don't worry about side tracking the thread, I'm curious too. W-2 should get a soak to bring the vanadium into solution. That said I believe it is mainly an issue of performance levels. I have made W-2 blades without soaking and they have performed very well, with the soak you are getting everything out of the steel you can. Currently I soak for 1.5-2 min in my gas forge.

I'm not sure if other shallow steels such as 1095 require a soak?

I don't want to answer for Nick but he said he was using salt baths so I would assume he gave a full soak. It sounds like he is using the tapering thickness of the blade to control which parts turn to martensite. So the thinner areas along the edge harden and the thicker areas along the spine don't have time. Nick please let me know if I have this right.

Thanks again to everyone for their constructive advice. I posted this knife on three other forums, but the feedback here was certainly the most helpful. Most people even if they see something wrong tend not to say anything, I am glad to have a place like this where people speak their minds, as that's how we learn. -Justin

Justin,

Thank you for the post... I went back into the thread and found what you mentioned regarding Nick's processes. I don't know how I missed that post, but I did. Thanks for straightening me out.

Nick, Never mind. You already answered my question before I had it. Keep my compliments though... I'm not taking those back! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

Rick

Thanks guys <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I feel bad that I threw Justin's thread off track, that wasn't my intention! <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//huh.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':huh:' />

I just went through the AWESOME thread in topic of the month about hamons. I probably should have posted this stuff there to avoid derailing Justin's thread. Sorry about that Justin.

-Nick-

Nick,

I don't think that you threw the thread off topic... I was by pursuing an entirely new line of questions.

I was thinking of asking my questions by starting a new thread on the HT forum but was worried you may not find it. Turns out I didn't need to even ask as the info was already there if I had paid attention. My bad, not yours.

Now I feel bad for even bringing up... needlessly. Sorry Nick and Justin!

Rick