curious forged tip.

Lew · 2nd April 2006, 08:33 PM

Tim

These knives are forged from rebar steel which has a very low carbon content and even if given a proper heat treat would't harden more than 40 rockwell. Before I collected ethnographic weapons I was heavily into custom forged blades so I know a little about heat treating steels. I really think this is the result of some idiot trying to pry open a car door or something. I have one of these daggers with a bent tip and the steel is soft but I am not going to stick it in a vice and bend it just to prove my point

no pun inteaded

Lew

ham · 2nd April 2006, 10:00 PM

Lew's right. The thing has been used to [attempt to] pry something open, in 2 directions.
If handled carefully, it can be straightenend.

good luck

Ham

ham · 3rd April 2006, 02:39 AM

Lew's right. The thing has been used to [attempt to] pry something open, in 2 directions.
If handled carefully, it can be straightened.

good luck

Lew · 3rd April 2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ham

Lew's right. The thing has been used to [attempt to] pry something open, in 2 directions.
If handled carefully, it can be straightened.

good luck

Tim

Here is a Q and A from a blacksmithing website on rebar steel.
Is rebar good for tool making ? Can it be hardened ?
Mark - Tuesday, 01/16/01 19:29:13 GMT

Rebar: Mark, There are three different grades of rebar with different hardenabilities. Then there is OLD rebar which is generally non-specific as to specs or quality. No version is designed to be used as a tool steel. It IS done but I don't recommend it. You are much better off to use spring steel or recyle old tools

Mild Steel, Normal Strength or Ordinary Weldable Steel
These trade terms are often used interchangeably to describe standard carbon steels used for structural purposes, a typical example being AS3679 grade 250 or grade 300.

The term ‘mild steel’ is also applied commercially to carbon steels not covered by standard specifications. Carbon content of this steel may vary from quite low levels up to approximately 0.3%. Generally, commercial ‘mild steel’ can be expected to be readily weldable and have reasonable cold bending properties but to specify ‘mild steel’ is technically inappropriate and should not be used as a term in engineering.

So with a carbon content of 0.3% a smith would not be able to harden a blade making it very easy to bend when applying lateral force.

Lew

Tim Simmons · 3rd April 2006, 05:17 PM

I cannot tell what type of steel this knife is made of but it is certainly well tempered, As I am able to inspect the bend I am going to hedge my bets and leave it as it is rather than take it into the workshop and do anything to it. I just cannot make up my mind. I have a small Dha knife that has definitely been damaged at the tip and it is kind of different and more obvious. Thanks for the comments.

2nd April 2006, 08:33 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim These knives are forged from rebar steel which has a very low carbon content and even if given a proper heat treat would't harden more than 40 rockwell. Before I collected ethnographic weapons I was heavily into custom forged blades so I know a little about heat treating steels. I really think this is the result of some idiot trying to pry open a car door or something. I have one of these daggers with a bent tip and the steel is soft but I am not going to stick it in a vice and bend it just to prove my point no pun inteaded Lew Last edited by LOUIEBLADES; 3rd April 2006 at 04:51 PM.

2nd April 2006, 10:00 PM	#2
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Lew's right. The thing has been used to [attempt to] pry something open, in 2 directions. If handled carefully, it can be straightenend. good luck Ham

3rd April 2006, 02:39 AM	#3
ham Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 190	Lew's right. The thing has been used to [attempt to] pry something open, in 2 directions. If handled carefully, it can be straightened. good luck

3rd April 2006, 05:17 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I cannot tell what type of steel this knife is made of but it is certainly well tempered, As I am able to inspect the bend I am going to hedge my bets and leave it as it is rather than take it into the workshop and do anything to it. I just cannot make up my mind. I have a small Dha knife that has definitely been damaged at the tip and it is kind of different and more obvious. Thanks for the comments.