Crossed Heart Forge

Photo Essay: Forging a Knife

Talented Vancouver Island photographer Jordan Wende stopped in at the Island Forge in mid-July to document the atmosphere and some of the work going on. In this installment of the series, forging a small outdoor knife from an antique carriage spring.

Photographed and edited by Jordan Wende

Wakashinobe – Lengthening the Billet

Rough drawing out with the heavy mukozuchi sledge using the low striking method.

Using a hot cut hardy to separate the work from the larger bar.

Switching to the lighter mukozuchi sledge for shaping.

Controlled blows on edge controlling taper in both directions.

The striker aims for the centre of the anvil and allows the smith to move the work as needed.

Forging the Sunobe

A heavier tezuchi hammer is used to clean up the taper of tang and blade areas after wakashinobe.

Using a thin layer of water on the anvil during the later stages of forging keeps the scale from building up.

Forging and moving steel is done early in the heat and later planishing and straightening as the work cools.

Using the edge of the anvil to set the munemachi.

Beginning Hizukuri

Beginning the rough beveling with a larger tezuchi hand hammer.

Later beveling is done along the edge of the anvil to prevent the hammer contacting the anvil.

The blade is alternately flipped and the other edge of the anvil used to bevel.

Using a stump to straighten and correct the curve without marring the spine.

Hizukuri & Yaki-Ire

see the finished kotanto knife
see the rest of the photo series

Island Blacksmith: Charcoal forged knives from antique steel.

Posted

2020/07/10

in

Blacksmith Shop

by

davej

Tags:

island forge, jordan wende