So, I decided to give this a go and over the last few weekends, I have found some time to devote to it.

Here are the progress pics so far.

I started with three pieces of .187 by 1.5 by 6. cleaned the surfaces with an angle grinder and scotch-brite wheels.

Then, into a drill vise and TIG welded the edges closed.

The initial welds are done in the press. 3 complete welding passes.

Then I ground the edges clean to inspect the welds.All looked good and then a few subsequent welding passes were done in the power hammer with flat dies.

I did some preform forging, drawing the end down into a long taper.

I decided to forge the bevels in to get the width I needed (I like a little over 2 inches for big kitchen knives)

Satisfied with the rough profiles and sizes, I went to rough grinding and HT.

Finish grinding to 320 grit and hand sanding to 400 grit. I got two of them ready and fitted with a 410 bolster/guard.

That's where it stands as of tonight.

I did learn a very important thing about forging the width out and the bevels thin. It moves the decarb line down very close to the edge.

I'm not sure yet if that's a good thing or a bad thing...…..

You cannot see the line yet in the photos.