Wormy Shiv

[tsterling]

While I was on a road trip this summer, the steelworms got into my pile of blade steel, including this little knife that I had partially finished. Damn nasty little critters!

4 1/4 inch 1080 carbon steel blade, 8 inches overall. Blued and file-textured blade, Snakewood handle with fossil ivory pins, copper worm (forged in place, and soldered in, for those interested).

Thanks for looking!

Wormy_Shiv.jpg

[Daniel Houwer]

Sweet knife Tom!
Thanks for showing.

Can I ask how you mix tempering the blade and soldering the worm? Or do you solder and temer straight away?

Thanks,

Daniel

[tsterling]

Thanks for the kind words, Daniel. I carved the worm tracks and holes and fitted the uncarved (but basically shaped) worm to the steel, then hardened and tempered the blade.

The worm is basically inlaid into the steel, but is open at the head of the worm so it isn't completely captive.

After the tempering cycle, I soldered in the uncarved worm (using fairly low temp paste solder), then finished the engraving and carving of the copper. I also covered the blade with wet paper towels during the soldering to keep the unheated areas cool.