Overheard a guy at the supply shop say he never tempers his blades

I was picking up some 1095 steel and this older smith was telling the clerk he just quenches and calls it done. That made me wonder how many folks actually skip the temper step and still get by.

3 comments

3 Comments

rubyk2623d ago

Wouldn't a blade that's never tempered be way too brittle for actual work?

linda11423d ago

Just quenches and calls it done" is asking for a snapped blade.

stone.lisa23d ago

A buddy of mine tried that once with a hunting knife he made. First time he tried to skin a deer, the blade snapped off clean at the handle and went flying into a bush somewhere. I told him at least he made a very expensive throwing knife by accident. Sometimes you learn the hard way that skipping tempering just makes a fancy chisel instead of a blade.