Thanks Rick and Gimp. Here's a finished pic, as requested. Yeah, Rick, the blade was quick, but the devil, as usual, was in the details. FINALLY finished the little demon on Sunday, after re-doing most of the parts except the blade. A real PITA. Yes, Gimper, convex, 1/8". I would maybe, while you're just practicing, work with hardened steel with no heat-treating, but learn what you can and then move on. You run a lot of risks doing that, and once you get the hang of heat-treating (normalizing, annealing, hardening, and tempering), you'll have much more control over the qualities of the blade. Making a nice knife is, in my mind, WAY too time consuming to then not have an optimally crafted blade. Differentially hardening a blade can create some almost magical qualities. You can make your own propane forge, use a coal one, or even use an oxy-acetylene rig, in a pinch. Anyways, here's the finished piece:

Hi Michael, the knife looks beautiful. I like all of the intricate details, i'm sure the client will love it.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

You really outdid yourself. This looks beautiful.
The combinations of colors and textures is just great.

SmokyRick
Rick Crawford at Smoky Forge

Thanks, Jake and Rick. I don't think it's that great of a creation, personally, but the client is happy and has paid, so that's what counts. I'm just glad to be done with the bastard. The knife, not the client. LOL! I really prefer working on 'play' pieces, stuff that I just feel like making, but it's hard to turn down commissions when they're waving cash in your face. I'm overwhelmed with them right now, honestly. I have like 8 or 10 people that want knives, and I simply can't keep up. I did accept one the other day for a $650 knife, figured what the heck, you know? 

Really, really nice work. You are a true craftsman.

Kerry Pinkerton
Metalshaper

Hi Will, I'm not sure if I'll ever try to make a knife, but I find this process fascinating. Post picts of your results if you can.

Jake Balcom
Mettle Design
Lincoln, NE

Will, ask Michael what happened to the chainsaw chain that I took to the Shindig.

I all know that it is a heck of alot of heating and beating.

www Metalrecipes -- heat and beat to the desired shape, repeat as necessary.
warren

Thanks, Kerry, glad you like it. Yeah, Will, it'll getcha, and then you can't stop. LOL!

Yeah, Warren, that was a train wreck, eh? I figured out why it was such a disaster. Number one, I was working with coal, which I am SO not used to. Number two, I was rushing, to just 'crank something out', and number three, I really don't work well with people watching, asking questions, other smiths elbowing me out of the way, etc. That bruising heat didn't help either. Will, suffice it to say, I was able to create nothing but sweat, frustration, and junk hunks of metal. It was NOT fun.

Neat, Will, the pics are small, but that looks pretty cool. Here's one I did awhile ago, out of chainsaw chain:

Know what you mean.. I don't like working with an audience much - and don't produce the same quality of work away from my little workshop.
That's a nice pattern from the chainsaw..I like big bold patterns more than the very subtle ones you get after umpteen folds - but my bike chain pattern was a little too course - Next time I'll fold it over a couple of times and see what i get.
Will Jones

Hi Will. I've had people say they want to watch me work, and it's like 'No, sorry'. I get focused into a very tiny area, and get into a Zone, and it's almost like the presence of other people on the flippin' PLANET is distracting to my focus. LOL! We do these somewhat informal 'demo' things at the Shindigs, and Warren was kind enough to bring some chainsaw chain, so I dove in. Was thinking 'oh, coal, cool', forgetting how hot it can get, and ended up melting parts of the billet more than once. Also, I flew from Chicago, where it was in the mid 70s, down to NC, where it was mid 90s and humid. Add to that working in a medium-small area there with 2 coal forges going full blast, and it was probably like 110 right by the forge. Kind of zapped me. Propane, despite it's drawbacks, provides a very consistent, even heat. Understood, same here. In my own shop, I know exactly where every one of hundreds of tools is, what it will do, etc. Just no way to have that same mojo when you drop by someone else's shop. I like that pattern too. It was as you mentioned, I did no deformation to get that pattern, just welded the stack together. In person it's pretty neat, like a mosaic. I've had people tell me they see dragons and such in it. Fun!