Fergy,
THat is, as all the others have said, an outstanding first (second) effort! Beautifully made!
Another easily available and easily worked alloy (especially if you decide to do more forging) is 5160, also called OCS (Old Chevy Spring). I forge only this and 1095, and they work very similarly. Decent results are achieved by HT'ing 5160 just like 1095, but leaving the temper 1 shade or so lighter for the spring steel for similar edge holding.
I've had good results using both coil and leaf springs as stock for my forgeings. It's free at any old car rotting in the woods. Perfect material for practicing. and makes knives that will take and hold a razor edge. I don't do stock removal so cannot comment on its suitability for that purpose.
As to tools for knife making, you don't need much. I've gotten along for some years now making mine (admittedly crude) using only a charcoal forge, anvil (first 2 years this was a 12" RR track section), a couple hammers, an angle grinder, a 6" bench grinder and some sandpaper and files. Not having fancy tools is more excuse than reason. Many of my knives used only the forge, hammer and anvil and the bench grinder (for refining the blade shape only, ie. grinding the spine and belly profiles).
Watch out, it's a mighty addictive hobby.
J