Would shotgun barrels make good knife steel?
- Thread starter 4v50 Gary
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Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
I'm not really the one to ask. I'd get in touch with Tim Lively (I know I keep recommending him, but I swear I'm not putting him above other smiths--he's just very good about answering questions.)
There are ways to "recarbonize" steel, but I wouldn't trust myself to do it. Better to talk to an expert.
What you can do with almost any steel is make two flat blanks of the steel and one of the carbon steel you prefer for its cutting ability. You can weld (if you are able to forge weld) the three pieces together with the cutting surface in the middle. Then when the blade is shaped and ground, the outsides will have the strength of those damascus barrels but the center will hold an edge. Another way is to make a U-channel out of one blank for the "outside" and weld the center bit into it. This is VERY difficult, at least for me. It's enough challenge for me to get two correct flat welds without removing all carbon from the steel. Forge welding is tricky that way. You almost have to heat to the point of some decarb, because it's the clear sign that you've reached welding temperature. But every second you keep it sparking like that, you're losing carbon from the finished steel. It's a balancing act.
However, carbon steel heated to yellow heat and shooting sparks in all directions is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I'm not sure why, because a child's sparkler or steel being ground is somewhat similar, but there's something special about steel in a forge.
Those damascus barrels . . . . I have no idea how much carbon is in something like that. I'd ask Harley Nolden or Jaeger who to ask about the steels used.
There are ways to "recarbonize" steel, but I wouldn't trust myself to do it. Better to talk to an expert.
What you can do with almost any steel is make two flat blanks of the steel and one of the carbon steel you prefer for its cutting ability. You can weld (if you are able to forge weld) the three pieces together with the cutting surface in the middle. Then when the blade is shaped and ground, the outsides will have the strength of those damascus barrels but the center will hold an edge. Another way is to make a U-channel out of one blank for the "outside" and weld the center bit into it. This is VERY difficult, at least for me. It's enough challenge for me to get two correct flat welds without removing all carbon from the steel. Forge welding is tricky that way. You almost have to heat to the point of some decarb, because it's the clear sign that you've reached welding temperature. But every second you keep it sparking like that, you're losing carbon from the finished steel. It's a balancing act.
However, carbon steel heated to yellow heat and shooting sparks in all directions is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I'm not sure why, because a child's sparkler or steel being ground is somewhat similar, but there's something special about steel in a forge.
Those damascus barrels . . . . I have no idea how much carbon is in something like that. I'd ask Harley Nolden or Jaeger who to ask about the steels used.
Ol' Badger
Member
Carbon this is steel "How do you do"
Steel this is Cabon "Nice to meet you"
I think Don's suggestion of forge welding the barrel material onto a good billet of knife steel is an excellent idea since it will minimize the work you will need to do and produces a nice laminated blade.
Consider the shape of the blade first though. If you cut the barrels lengthwise and flatten them out in a press or by heat/hammer you could forge weld them onto a billet with 01 or D2 or even 5160. This will leave you without a damascus spine, but will preserve the barrel pattern. If you want the damascus on the spine you'll want to cut/flatten/weld the barrel into a single billet that you could wrap around the core and forge weld.
If you decide to use the barrels for handle/guard/bolster material you could just not worry about the blade properties.
Don, I'm headed to Larry Harley's later this summer to spend a week with him learning how to smith blades. I'll post pictures even if the thing is butt ugly.
Consider the shape of the blade first though. If you cut the barrels lengthwise and flatten them out in a press or by heat/hammer you could forge weld them onto a billet with 01 or D2 or even 5160. This will leave you without a damascus spine, but will preserve the barrel pattern. If you want the damascus on the spine you'll want to cut/flatten/weld the barrel into a single billet that you could wrap around the core and forge weld.
If you decide to use the barrels for handle/guard/bolster material you could just not worry about the blade properties.
Don, I'm headed to Larry Harley's later this summer to spend a week with him learning how to smith blades. I'll post pictures even if the thing is butt ugly.
brownie0486
Member
Rob Patten makes some knives out of minigun barrels that are absolutely gorgeous in final apprearance.
You might want to ask Rob a few things along your way to geting your questions answered.
His website and contact info here: http://www.pattonknives.com/
Tell Rob Brownie sent ya and I'm looking forward to training with him again one day.
Good luck with this project.
Brownie
You might want to ask Rob a few things along your way to geting your questions answered.
His website and contact info here: http://www.pattonknives.com/
Tell Rob Brownie sent ya and I'm looking forward to training with him again one day.
Good luck with this project.
Brownie
sevenpoint62mm
Member
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4v50Gary go on ebay and buy some planks of high carbon spring steel. You will never go back once you do. Only thing is its hella hard of your tools and time.
But the finish product is a knife thats nearly impossible to break or chip and keeps an edge for nearly twice as long as file steel.
But the finish product is a knife thats nearly impossible to break or chip and keeps an edge for nearly twice as long as file steel.
bayonet-barrel combo
Somewhat OT:
Would sharpening the muzzle be a way to get a post-ban bayonet functionally on the barrel.
Sharpen the muzzle crown so it could stab a .72 inch core out of whatever you stabbed with it? a legal bayonet?
Really, i am just kidding.
Might be a cool thing to do in Mad Max, The Sequel.
C-
Somewhat OT:
Would sharpening the muzzle be a way to get a post-ban bayonet functionally on the barrel.
Sharpen the muzzle crown so it could stab a .72 inch core out of whatever you stabbed with it? a legal bayonet?
Really, i am just kidding.
Might be a cool thing to do in Mad Max, The Sequel.
C-
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
IMO, you're a lucky SOB, HSO.
Have fun.C, I don't think it would work that well, but maybe. It would sure hurt, but just getting jabbed with a pipe hurts. On the other hand, apparently Riddick does something similar with a tin tea cup in the new movie.
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