WHAT YOU SAY RELH???

elkassassin · Dec 10, 2017

I Met this Guy Several years ago!

I Always wondered about Knives made out of Files?

I Always thought Files were too Brittle to make Knives out of?

I've Broke many Files,but maybe if they're Re-Tempered,maybe their OK?

Just wondering what your Thoughts are RELH?

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=46215033&n...ast-obstacles-to-impress-history-channel-pros

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!

RELH · Dec 11, 2017

Bess, many good knives have been made from files. It is a very high carbon steel that will take a very good sharp edge and hold it. Only big drawback it is a high carbon steel and will rust if not cared for in the field.
In it's file state the steel is harden to around 65RC and is very brittle at that hardness. When made into a knife, the knifemaker will temper the steel back to 58-60RC where it is not as brittle and less prone to snap into.
My very first knife I made 10-11 years ago was made from a old file and I still have it.

RELH

eelgrass · Dec 11, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-11-17 AT 01:44PM (MST)[p]RELH, how does a knifemaker get the desired Rockwell hardness?

I watch "Forged in Fire" and they never talk about that, that I've seen. They heat it up and then quench in oil, and then take a file to see how hard it is, but never talk Rockwell hardness.

Edit: We had a Rockwell hardness tester at work. We checked the hardness of our saw blades to make sure they wouldn't explode up in the mill, but never understood how the maker got to that hardness.

RELH · Dec 11, 2017

The way they do it on "forged in fire" is just a general way to see if the blade has reached a certain hardness of around 57-58RC. If the blade is harder, file test will not tell you that.
To reach a particular hardness requires more precision such as a KNOWN FORMULA for heat treating to a certain hardness along with a digital controlled kiln to hold the steel at a certain temp for a certain amount of time.
Then after the quench the steel is too hard, around 64-65RC and must be tempered to bring it down to the desired hardness for that steel.
On most carbon steel blades it will require tempering to around 400 degrees for one hour to bring the steel down to around 58RC. I have never seen them temper a blade on "Forged in Fire".
On my S30V blades I harden the steel at 1950 degrees for 20 minutes, remove from kiln and pressure plate quench to room temp. I then temper at 550 degrees for 2 hours and I do that 3 times ending up with a blade hardness of 60RC.
On about 2% of my blades I will get a hardness of 59 or 61RC, but 98% are dead on at 60RC which is the best hardness for that steel. I use a Ames hardness tester to test the blades for the desired hardness.
If you get the blade too hard, the cutting edge will chip out on hard use because it is too brittle. If you fail to get it hard enough, the cutting edge will roll over on hard use and feel dull.
I was lucky enough that a very well known knife maker gave me the formula for heat treating the S30V and D-2 steel I use in my blades. He also preferred those two steels in his knives and you better have 4-5 Ben Franklins in your wallet to buy one of his knives.

RELH

elkassassin · Dec 11, 2017

Gonna Put Some Blood on the Knife you Built me Bob one of these Days!

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!

RELH · Dec 11, 2017

when you do, send me a photo.

RELH

BIGJOHNT · Dec 11, 2017

I use mine every year !

Great Knife !

eelgrass · Dec 12, 2017

I've used my RELH knife on a couple pronghorn and a couple blacktails. I suppose I'll have to sharpen it one of these days, but not yet.

overton · Dec 12, 2017

>I've used my RELH knife on
>a couple pronghorn and a
>couple blacktails. I suppose I'll
>have to sharpen it one
>of these days, but not
>yet.
>
>

Must have been fawns?

Gator · Dec 12, 2017

Now that was a fine Jab. Don't throw a slow ball to a fast ball hitter he will knock out the park. LOL

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

RELH · Dec 12, 2017

Eel you will have to forgive my Cuz, he can be a little ornery at times. That Hillbilly blood makes him do it.

RELH

eelgrass · Dec 12, 2017

overton will never forgive me for the (sort of) accidental fire at Shelter Cove....never

RELH · Dec 12, 2017

Do you need some more kerosene?

RELH

kilbuc · Dec 12, 2017

A Big shout out to RELH. Bought one of his knifes last winter. Highly pleased. Highly recommend.

Went through 3 antelope and 2 mule deer with just a touch up.

If you need/want a high qauility durable knife for a reasonable price they are hard to beat.

On another note, My Taxidermist is a Hatfield, mentioned your knife and that you are a direct desendent of Devil Hatfield. He indicated that his family can be traced back to the Hatfield clan.....small world.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"