A new san mai in progress

[Bear_Blade]

Hey guys, this a 7/8 (measured from the stone contact point on the spine, 8/8 high) 1/4 hollow

San Mai construction, comprised of an O1 core, with 88 layers of 1084 and 15N20 on either side. The last one I did, had a black etched core
this one I polished.

As you can see, it has a slight smile, and a barbers notch.

I now have to choose scales, likely going to go with horn. Stay tuned...

Thanks for looking, comments welcomed!

 

[Firewalker]

Wow!

 

[KW Driver]

uh huh...

and uh... if it needs a test drive, I'll take one for the team!

 

[wherndon]

Damn, you're getting good at this, I remember your first. Hmmm, I shouldn't said getting, you were good at the start.
Excellent workmanship.

 

[Shawn557]

SHOW OFF!!!! JK.....absolutely beautiful blade!!! I think any scales you put with that blade would look awesome! I like scales with a solid color and a complex shape as to not take away from the blade. I also think lined scales with an interesting wedge look classy. That said, I'm also a fan of traditional horn....

 

[ANeat]

Bear when you make a billet of damascus is it just enough for one blade or a big enough hunk for several, razors/knives or whatever.. just lovely

 

[Bear_Blade]

Usually a billet ends up being 16 to 20 inches long, and 1 1/2 to 3" wide, depending on the intended result. Both the san mai blade I have don and shown here are from the same billet. I should have enough left for 2 more blades...

If its for a knife, usually the most I get out of it is two, typically its forged for 1 blade.

Its a lot of work, but its kinda fun at the same time... And a bit confusing! I want to let my wiskers grow, not bother shaving, enjoy the fire, heat and the clang of hammer and anvil, but then I know its gonna end, 'cause I'm making a razor, and I got to go see SWMBO who figures if I made it, I can use it!

 

[life2short1971]

The only thing I would have done different is have the grind not so far down the tang. Other than that it looks like perfection Bear!

 

[tomjr]

wow is right.

 

[ANeat]

The only thing I would have done different is have the grind not so far down the tang. Other than that it looks like perfection Bear!

Thats pretty funny, I was thinking I liked how he took the grind down the tang a little farther I think Boker and Wade and Butcher both done some that way, just something about it I like.

Ill take that one and he can just make you another ....

 

[Doc226]

 

[life2short1971]

The more I think about it the grind into the tang really isn't that far off. Especially if you have big thumbs. I will do a scoring correction to nearly perfect Bear! I love it!!! I would be happy to hone it for you free of charge.

 

[Firewalker]

I cant wait till you make a San Mai Kamisori, we all know it's coming sooner or later!

 

[Bear_Blade]

Thanks guys, I have a lot to learn. Thanks for the comments and direction.

 

[Haiku]

Another beautiful blade.

 

[DirtyDusty]

Do you ever have problems heat treating the San Mai? I read on blade forums a while back, that some guys where having problems with the spline slitting during the quench.

 

[Bear_Blade]

Do you ever have problems heat treating the San Mai? I read on blade forums a while back, that some guys where having problems with the spline slitting during the quench.

Simple answer... No.

Here is what typically happens with a split, or a de-lamination. One, if the steel are not cleaned, properly, they won't weld properly. If the temp isn't high enough, it wont weld properly, also if there isn't good fluxing, it won't weld. Then during other processes, it will come apart, partially or completely.

A more interesting scenario is when two or more steels are used that HT differently, or have different expansion/contraction rates. Another maker I spoke with welded up a beautiful San Mai blade, ground and polished it, put it through HT, and quenched successfully. BUT he laied it on his bench instead of tempering right away. He was doing some paper work, and kept hearing popping/tink sounds, he went and seen his blade peeling itself like a banana in front of his eyes. It didn't de-laminate, but the core steel was literally ripped down the middle.

You can't just use any two or more steels. You have to plan it, and be careful.

 

[Bear_Blade]

I will complete this build as a process of what I did. Balance this with it might not be what i always do.

So the blade is at 95% in the pics above. Here is my on the fly handle... Little planing.

So I went with horn... Shattered the first piece, not sure what happened, it just came apart...
So piece #2 Scribed with a rough shape to place the pivot in the right place.

Roughed out shape...

Couple drops of CA to hold them together...

And profiled to say 90%

Wedge? Sure, lets go with Nickel/silver...

Ground into a wedge like shape...

Next test alignment, plan location of wedge, and drill pin hole...

Trim to shape and filework/polish...

Shape the scales, and flaten/sand to 500 grit...

1000 grit...

And after a white diamond buff... These puppies are translucent!!

 

[Bear_Blade]

So after assembly and pinning, here is the finished razor. Please let me know if there is something you see me doing wrong, or something I could do better, or more efficiently.

Thanks for following me on this build!! I hope it encourages some of you to try it for yourselves!

Bear

 

[Mike H]

Oh My!