I did stock removal methods with some success. Heat treated in my charcoal chimney with my shop vac blowing the air, quenched in used motor oil (use a bunch...story later on using too little), then final in hot oven. Blade came out pretty good for my first...it is rough Americana woodsman is how I'd classify it.
The story. Use a bunch of oil, say 3 to 5 gallons. I used about a gallon and the cherry hot steel heated the oil to its flash point and it began to burn. And boy does burning used motor oil put out smoke!! When heating in the chimney, I used hardwood coals and with the shop vac set to blow, was able to get the steel hot enough to be non magnetic (test with a magnet). Also, clean the blade of all traces of oil BEFORE putting it in your wife's kitchen oven!