220mm Gyuto WIP

Time to WIP it, WIP it good!

This is the initial layup of what will eventually become a 220mm Topography Damascus Gyuto with forged integral bolster and recurve heel. After I snapped this first photo, I ran a bead of weld down this and the opposing side to hold the pieces together, then welded on a handle.


This is after the first round of forging. The steel is almost 2ft long while my forge is only 11in long, which results in my thermo-cycleing the billet in sections. From here I grind off the forge-scale, cut the billet into 6 equal length pieces, re-stack and tack them, then forge it out a second time.


Here the billet has been forge-welded and drawn out a second time. Next I'll cut a chunk off and begin forging the blade out. Thank baby Jesus it's suppose to be a little bit cooler tomorrow.


To be continued . . . .


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Topography has become quite popular hasn't it?

 

It has indeed.


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From a little chuck of steel and a lot smashin like BamBam, a blade is born. In the bottom pic I'm prepping to draw out the tang.





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Blade is all forged out and ready for some serious grinding.


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Amazing to see it come together. That's a lot of thin layers! And if the markings on the forged blade are any indication, that's going to be a great example of you topography pattern. (Which is only chosen by people of impeccable taste!)

 

@Lucretia, Thanks! I'm glad you're diggin' it.

Here's another one!

The blade has been primary-ground and is now ready to be heat-treated.



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How thick do you leave the edge before HT?

 

Thanks for the question! Around 1/16in. That way I can grind away any material that might have lost some carbon during the HT process.


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Amazing how quickly it goes from a stack of metal to a recognizable knife.

 

Tang slot is bored out and fit up to the bottom shoulders of the bolster perfectly!


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Next I need to get the silicon bronze spacer fit up and handle profile roughly cut out so I can rivet the handle on from the pommel.


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Shaping up nicely. What wood is that?

 

Amboyna burl.

 

Spacer is made and scribed and ready to be slotted.



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First you have to drill a whole, then use the cheap ass needle files from Harbor Freight to open up the slot.



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The whole for the pommel rivet has been drilled and everything seems to be fitting up quite nicely. Also did a light etch on the blade to see what's happening in the steel. I'm pretty happy with it!



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I love the WIPs. No matter what anyone says this stuff is voodoo!
Looking forward to the end.

 

Finally finished! A look from all four "corners" of the handle.


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Some kinda sexy, right there, sir! :cool1 ump :like