Forging 416 stainless (pro photo pg 2 & 5)

[Lin Rhea]

I thought you might want to see what I did yesterday. I have been wanting to make a "D" guard Bowie for some time and had one on the drawing pad a few weeks. The weather was bad but I could get into the shop so I gave it a try. Some may not know that you can forge 416 stainless and that is what I was going to make my fitting from. This is how it started.
   

That is 1 1/4 round X 2 inches.

When I got mostly done it looks like this. This also includes some grinding on the surface, but the forging looked basically like this:
   

After it cooled I laid it on the drawing to compare the curves. Pretty close.
   

The fittings are still oxidized and need a day or two of work but I can "see" it happening now.

It all goes on this blade. 12 inches laddered W
   

[srtben]

I really like where this one is going Lin!

[Bladepeek]

That is going to be one spectacular Bowie. Your "pretty close" would be most people's "REAL close.

Since 416 is a non-hardening stainless, is there any thermo cycling necessary to relieve stress, or is it good to go when it cools?

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks.
Yes Ron, I thermo cycle. This is prone to air harden and it will split while forging if you don't work it in the orange zone. I split the first attempt at the ball guard and did better on the second.

Another thing. When I heated the lugs with a torch and went straight to finishing, there was a "hardening line" right where the heat went to. So now I fully normalize after I knock the forge scale off.
 
The guard started off as 1 1/4 round X 1 inch long. It's more than enough but I want the mass while forging.

[Lin Rhea]

I can believe the amount of work in this guard.    

 

[Doug Campbell]

WOW! You are an artist Lin. Can't wait to get to LR and pick your brain...

[Kevin Evans]

Amazing!    
Like you told me one time ,
don't look at the amount of time it took,
 just look at how beautiful & perfect  it is!

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks Kevin and Doug! I really appreciate it. Here is something to look at. Pardon the speck of dust.
 

[srtben]

Lin, I really enjoying seeing all of your unique ways of doing fittings and the fresh designs you keep coming up with.
It is refreshing to see such innovation.
Keep up the fine work, some day I hope to add one of your fine blades to my meager collection!

   

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you Ben. Here is a shot of most of the parts. I forgot to put the spacer assembly in the pic. Everything behind the guard is still rough. I am progressively finishing each part as I go toward the rear. I'm referring to my drawing often.
   

[4est trekker]

Wowzerz!     :eek:    That piece is (and is going to be) gorgeous!  You really are a master, Lin.  Kudos!    

[Bill Kissner]

Holy Moly Lin! Your work is unbelievable!

[akaboomer]

I really like the whole idea and how it is coming together.  There is an amazing thing going on here in seeing the progression of the fittings and guard and how they all have to correlate with all the parts to make the whole. Thanks again for showing a little of your process.

Chris

[gables]

It is a privilege to have watched the progression of your style over the years. Your design aesthetic in past few bowies has been stunning!

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you gentlemen. This knife has to go together in a logical sequence not only to work mechanically but so I can understand how to get the job done. For instance, you'll notice in the last picture that the swivel attachment is not permanently fastened. It's because the swivel would be too wide to fit into the guard slot. So I fit the guard and will also fit the spacer and fasten them to the knife after which I will pin the swivel and drill the handle to let he swivel nut pass through them.

I can use a different arrangement of nuts and screw, true, but I find this works for me. I will end up soldering a ball to the machine screw and only cut it to length when I am ready for final fit up.

[Steve Nuckels]

One word..... Incredable!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS, AP

[Lin Rhea]

Here is the spacer assembly started but pretty rough.
   

[gudspelr]

You amaze me...  There is sooo much going on at a bunch of levels in your knives, especially this one. I can't wait to see this progress, particularly the fitting of the d-guard.

     


Jeremy

[Lin Rhea]

The rope is filed in. I wanted the rope to be rough polished similar to the ball ends. Now for the ivory.

[tomsm44]

That's awesome.  I see you've found something you like in that back sloped choil and minimal ricasso.  Looked great with the ball end s guard a while back and seems to be going your way with this one as well.  Years from now, smiths will be building custom Damascus bowies with s guards, ivory, and 'Rhea' choils.

Matt