All About Pocket Knives

Well, I just finished experimenting with my first Nitre Blued knives. I used different times and slightly different temperatures to get different effects on 3 different knives that all had 1095 and 15N20 Damascus steel in Birdseye, Ladder, and Random patterns with a tool steel handle (from top to bottom in that order).

I have some more complex Damascus steel - steel that has 5 or more types of steel that will provide far greater range of colors than what I have pictured. The temperatures/time are from top to bottom 625 F for 15 minutes, 575 F for 10 minutes and 500 F for 15 minutes. Once the coloring starts - it goes fast so I'm leaning toward a lower temperature with a little longer time to get a more dramatic effect. These are all different Damascus patterns but all are 1095 and 15N20 (15N20 has 2% Nickel), essentially they are the same steel.

These are blanks that I purchased years ago - but never used.

That's a pretty dramatic difference, considering the blades are the same chemical composition ! Did you buff the blades after removing them from the bath ?

I wonder why the fillet blade came out so much darker than the others ??

Take care,
JR

It does give a nice effect on the blades.

Dale

Ringmaster wrote:That's a pretty dramatic difference, considering the blades are the same chemical composition ! Did you buff the blades after removing them from the bath ?

I wonder why the fillet blade came out so much darker than the others ??

Take care,
JR

No, these are right out of the quench bucket - using hydraulic fluid. The dark blue was only in the tank for 10 minutes. It would start to lighten if I left it in longer. All the others were at different temperatures and for 15 minutes. The top one would have been darker if I had pulled it out at 10 minutes.

Pretty cool Hukk!

I see a lot of makers nowadays bluing their guards, some look really nice.

gmusic wrote:Pretty cool Hukk!

I see a lot of makers nowadays bluing their guards, some look really nice.

Thanks Gary, that was one of my primary reasons - to hot blue guards and butt plates. It gives a nice look and after seeing nothing but brass, nickel silver, and stainless, the look of hot blued mild steel or Wrought iron or Damascus seemed like a nice option.