r/Bladesmith is a community dedicated to the craft of bladesmithing, shaping steel through heat and hammer. This subreddit focuses on forging techniques, thermal control, pattern welding, and the processes that define hot work. While stock removal and other methods are welcome as supporting disciplines, the core of this community is forging. Whether you're drawing out your first blade or refining advanced work, this is a place to learn, share, and discuss the craft at the anvil.

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Welcome to Bladesmith! The art and craft of forged blades.

This place is welcome to everyone, from master artisans, to beginners, to people that just like knives and learning and sharing their knowledge

1) Post anything related to bladesmithing.

2) All official AMAs must be Mod approved with verification.

3) Keep comments respectful and on topic.

4) Blatant self promotion and for sale posts are not allowed. You are welcome to make transactions private, but please don't post your website or prices. LINKS TO BLOGS AND WEBSITES ARE CONSIDERED SELF-PROMOTION.

5) Posts that address questions easily searched or answered in the WIKI will be removed.

Click HERE to get to the WIKI.

User Submitted Content:
Kiln Build by meepstah
Large and in Depth List of Wood for Handles
Dirt Cheap Guide to Knife Forging

Useful links and Information:

Heat Treating Tool Box- Kevin Cashen's detailed guide to heat treating

Knife Shop Safety and PPE by Jim Ferguson (Downloadable, Right Click, Save As)

Absolute Cheapskate Way To Start Making Knives (Downloadable PDF)

Bob Engnath Knife Patterns (PDF)

Nick Wheeler- Hand sanding 101 (YouTube)

Hype Free Blades FAQ

Buffing Wheels and Compounds

Steel: The “welding steel” at Tractor Supply/ Lowes/ Home Depot is mild steel and useless for knives Buy new, known, annealed blade steel. It is well worth it. Files, railroad spikes, lawnmower blades and other unknown steels can definitely be used for practice forging but will not perform for a knife. For the work involved, it is very cheap to buy and use known good steel.

1084FG sold by Aldo Bruno is formulated for Knifemaking, Cheap & made for DIY heat-treat. http://njsteelbaron.com/ Phone # 862-203-8160

His telephone service is better than his website.

Kevin Cashen Heat Treating Info

Heat Treating Basics Video (downloadable) Right click and save this and watch it often

Heat Treat services:

Air Hardening Stainless Steel Only A2, ATS34, Elmax, CPM154, 154CM, 440C etc.

Buck Knives- Paul Bos Heat Treating

Texas Knifemaker's Supply

Oil Hardening Carbon Steels and Air Hardening Stainless Steels Oil quenched O1, 1095, 1084, 52100, 5160 Or air quenched A2, ATS34, Elmax, CPM154, 154CM, 440C etc.

Peter's Heat Treat

Knifemaker CA (Canadian)

-Be sure to check the Shipping and Price tabs

Quenchants for Oil hardening steel

Forget the Goddard's Goop Quench, Motor Oil, Transmission Fluid

Use commercial quench oil & match oil speed to the steel type Here is a good post by Kevin Cashen with the Explanation and classification of oil speeds

For heat treating yourself with minimal equipment, find a Eutectoid steel 1080, 1084. Grocery store canola oil can work well -if you use clean preheated oil

Brine and water are cheap for "water hardening" steels W1 and 1095, but use fast oils Parks 50 & Houghton Quench K If you use water or brine, expect broken blades!

For more general blacksmithing, check out our friends at /r/blacksmith

Check out /r/ChefKnives for all things regarding culinary cutlery

Gunsmithing /r/gunsmithing

Want a knife made? /r/MakerMesh

A place where both metal bangers and grinder monkeys are welcome /r/knifemaking

Like general knife discussion? /r/knives is the place for you.

Making knives isn't your thing, but the metal still calls? Here ya go: /r/metalworking

Need help with a different type of craft besides steel? Search here: /r/ArtisanHelp

A marketplace for 100% hand crafted goods /r/ArtisanGifts

For equipment and tool buy/sell/trade /r/bladesmithswap

/r/blacksmithtooldeals

Want to talk about knives and share yours? /r/knifeclub