Ashi Honyaki and Watanabe Honyaki polishes

[brooksie967]

First is a 300mm Ashi:

Next is a 240 Watanabe Honyaki:

 

[Barmoley]

Now, that is pretty.....:bigeek:

 

[Andreu]

Wow! That’s all I can come up with for now. Great job!

 

[FoRdLaz]

OMG :jaw drops to floor:

 

[Anton]

Damn, sir
That Watanabe won the lottery

 

[Matus]

Wait, what that structure in the steel? It looks like a damascus ... [emoji15]

 

[brooksie967]

Thanks for the nice words guys! Just messing around over x-mas break giving them some love!

 

[brooksie967]

Wait, what that structure in the steel? It looks like a damascus ... [emoji15]

Just the grain of the steel

 

[Matus]

Just the grain of the steel

I would have not expected it from a steel as pure as Hitachi makes them

 

[milkbaby]

Matus, I only skimmed this but applicable info here:
http://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/2703-understanding-alloy-banding/

Hitachi steels are known to be clean but they still make big batches and it seems this banding can be a residual effect.

I'm more surprised that the Watanabe looks like it wasn't clay coated but differentially hardened by partial quenching. Both are beautiful knives.

 

[Micioarch]

They are both amazing knife, where did you get the Watanabe?

 

[brooksie967]

They are both amazing knife, where did you get the Watanabe?

Traded a 270 yoshikazu Ikeda for it! From an amazing member here.

 

[Matus]

milkbaby - thanks. Great link, I am just reading up on it.

But I think that Watanabe uses clay for his honyaki, as otherwise his tempering line wouldn’t be so clean. Look at honyaki by Robin.

 

[RDalman]

milkbaby - thanks. Great link, I am just reading up on it.

But I think that Watanabe uses clay for his honyaki, as otherwise his tempering line wouldn’t be so clean. Look at honyaki by Robin.

Very different steel. It's impossible to say what technique (or mixes of) was used really. I use a little clay sometimes too.

 

[Kippington]

Matus, I only skimmed this but applicable info here:
http://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/2703-understanding-alloy-banding/

Hitachi steels are known to be clean but they still make big batches and it seems this banding can be a residual effect.

That's a good guess actually, it does look a lot like alloy banding.

On top of that, the Japanese bladesmiths love to solution/lamellar anneal in a pile of ashes, which would make the effect more pronounced. I believe they tend to do it as the heat-treating step just before the quench.

I'm not 100% convinced, though - It could be something else.

 

[Jacob_x]

Jeremy you ever tried bringing out the banding on a mizuno honyaki? Would be interested to know if it's possible! They look amazing BTW, congrats

 

[ashy2classy]

Wow! 😍

 

[brooksie967]

Jeremy you ever tried bringing out the banding on a mizuno honyaki? Would be interested to know if it's possible! They look amazing BTW, congrats

I don't have one but would love to try

 

[valgard]

sweet Christmas [emoji7]

 

[Jacob_x]

I don't have one but would love to try

Maybe I'll send you mine one day!

 

[Jacob_x]

Wanna share how you did it...? Honestly who needs damasus and pattern welded steels with polishing skills like this :tooth:

 

[HRC_64]

Wanna share how you did it...? Honestly who needs damasus and pattern welded steels with polishing skills like this :tooth:

Yep...what are the magic stones

BTW, great work OP!

 

[LucasFur]

Unreal polish.
Exactly what i was thinking ... what are the magical stones, have we seen them?

 

[fujiyama]

I don’t know what’s going on here.. :eyebrow: but it’s incredible!

 

[chinacats]

Sick job Brooksie! Especially love the Wat, but outstanding job on both...agreed that maybe you should do a WIP next time around...full details please.:doublethumbsup: