Bastard Dirk Progress

Custom handmade knives and high performance cutlery for hunters, collectors, and chefs

Michael H Mara   sales@radharcknives.com  

(708) 330-5101   Cell: (708) 299-4631

Here are the knives. Some are sold, and some are currently available, as described in the captions. I can duplicate a sold knife, or work with you to create a custom piece. Lead time for custom orders is currently 6 to 8 weeks.

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Bastard Dirk Knife in progress

This is today's attempt at doing differential tempering on a blade and creating a visible hamon, or temper line. Prior to hardening the blade, I took Satanite powder, a refractory (fireproof) clay, and mixed it with water, and applied it to the spine of the blade, continued down the sides. I then harden it as usual, and it creates the visible line. This one was quenched in lukewarm water. Etching afterwards makes the line show up better. This blade started life as an old rusty Nichols Mill Bastard file, rumored to be W2 steel. The top pic shows the blade packed with clay, in preparation for hardening. Lower pics show the successful hardening. Although the blade banana'd a bit (tip swept up in the quench, it started straight), that's cool, it adds character. There are some incredible patterns in the steel, besides the hamon. I don't know if that's grain structure or what. The hardening results were a measurable HRC 45 at the spine and HRC 65 at the edge. Soon to become a unique, one a kind knife. Hard to photograph though.