Flared Finger Guard...how do you do it?

[tippit]

Lin,  That is exactly the way I did it...in that I could not coordinate holding the pre-forged blade in my tongs and trying to hit the flared groove.  Once I put it in the vice it became very manageable.  Thanks...tippit

[tippit]

I gotta say this forum is remarkable in the sharing of info!  Thanks again to the pros who are so willing to help...Karl, Lin, Jon, Doug, etc...    Us wannabes are forever grateful...tippit

[sticshooter]

DITTO to what Doc said. I thought about putting the one I was messing with today in the vise but did not. It will be there first thing in the morning!LOL <><

[Lin Rhea]

The hammer type that Joe uses is called a planishing hammer. If you do a search, you'll come up with some of the large metal working tools, but keep looking and you'll see the hand held hammers. You'll also see that you may be able to manufacture one that will do the job. But, looking at it will give you the idea of the shape.
                           Lin

[theunluckyhunter]

ok this may make me sound like an idiot (well even more so than other things i say) and i know little about forging but,

couldnt you put the knife in a vice like lin said then lay a piece of round stock where you want the gaurd to be and knock the piss out of the round stock? that way you could have more control and not need a different hammer?

[kbaknife]

I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Get a piece of 7/8" O1, heat it up with a little soak, quench it. Temper it a couple of times at 350. It'll stay hard until it's been used a couple times.

[osageo]

joe picks up all kinds of special little hammer heads when he goes to france every year, he and his wife own a house over there. osageo