How to forge a knife from round bar stock - Full process explained in detail

How to forge a knife from round bar stock - Full process explained in detail.
This was recorded during a class with the forges running so the sound is not 100% but the process is what you are after. Any questions, drop then below and i'll get back to you.
Thank you for checking out my videos! Subscribe and I'll see you in the next one ... :)
Neels van den Berg
Journeyman Bladesmith with the American Bladesmith Society
Member of the Knifemaker's Guild of Southern Africa
Black Dragon Forge, Lanseria, South Africa
As a full-time Bladesmith and Knifemaker, I spend most of my time in my studio workshop. Almost every second is dedicated to learning and / or perfecting some or another aspect of my craft.
Website: www.blackdragonforge.co.za/
Instagram: @blackdragonforge
Twitter: @BlackDragonF
Facebook: / neels.vandenberg
Facebook: / neelsvandenbergblackdr...
American Bladesmith Society: www.americanbladesmith.com/
Knifemakers Guild of South Africa: www.kgsa.co.za/

[@richardjohnson2913]

Another awesome lesson on black/blade smithing techniques. Very knowledgeable indeed. 👍👍

[@jellyfinger]

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. I like your style, sharing for the hell of it and not asking for anything in return. You sir, are a class act.

[@crazyst3ve01]

Here because Alec Steele gave you a mention, and I am always interested to see when South Africans are on youtube! Keep it up.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

You know Neels after watching many video's on smithing and going out to my little forge everyday, I understand the difference between a good smith and great smith like yourself. The difference is so small most people don't see it. The first is when you strike you strike your steel dead on. What I mean is your work is rigid. It doesn't move or dance around very much if any at all. Almost as if your work is fixed to the anvil by a nut and bolt. Very few smiths on KZbin are capable of this, and it's because it takes a perfect accurate blow on metal that's completely flushed. If your off the steel will pop, shoot, move, slip. And the other thing is your conservation with your hammer. You maximize the most with fewer blows. And trying to mimic these two qualities I find in great smiths has made a much better smith.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Jay Muzquiz, thank you Sir! Really appreciate the feedback! Pop in and say hi on IG @blackdragonforge

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@Marlon Lachlan They said it couldn't be done! Wow! Now that's impressive!

[@OEF_Vet_0331]

it always seems like on KZbin, the workpieces always stay hotter, longer, than when I’m forging. It feels like my workpiece loses heat so much faster than when I’m watching videos like this 😂

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Don't worry about it to much. The magic of video editing. You never see me heating up the steel either 😉

[@wayneheitz8390]

Thank you for all of the helpful tips. I learned a lot of what I was missing or not doing correctly. Always striving to do better and follow rule #1

[@d.gregorybrown7779]

I like the "handle on your tongs" bit, I will use that in a pinch. Thanks.

[@Arthurian.]

Such an informative video

[@joarflesja1516]

Great video. Thanks for shearing your knowledge. I hope i will have more time in my smal forge

[@domlosurdo3432]

LOVE the tong handle trick! Great in a pinch love it

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

The handle's on my tongs.....! Dam it! Neels! Here I am killing myself trying to make a guillotine tool and you come out with " .... use the handles of your tongs! " As a matter of fact I am going to use the handle's of my tongs.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

LOL ... I was shown this little gem by a very good mate about 10 years ago. It's by no means a long term solution but it helps in a pinch ... :)

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@@NeelsVandenBerg I bent them.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@@NeelsVandenBerg Do you think making a fuller tong tool would work? Where you smack the jaws holding the work? Probably not ...? Because if it did people would already be using them and there would be video's on fuller tong tools and how to make them.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@The MorriganNo seeing that I'm an automotive diagnostic technician and service manager, there's no need for me to have a F@cking clue now is there. Do you have a clue on the parameters of a lean 3. volts / stoichiometeric ( 14.7: 1 air/ fuel ratio ) ideal combustion 1.5 volts / rich 0. ; Operating conditions of a zirconium O2 sensor in close loop operation? Since were on the subject of having F@cking clues there you @$$hole.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@The Morrigan You should care as much as I care about your job. Then again I don't have a clue now do I.

[@danoontjes]

Not sure what I love more. The video or your name.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Lol ... I like you already!

[@Mountainmonths]

great video!

[@NKG416]

learned a lot!

[@tobystout7363]

Awesome explanation. Very easy to understand. Now if only i had better hammer control I could follow along with you.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Practice, practice and practice .... :)

[@tobystout7363]

Yep, every chance I get

[@cpmtrad250]

excellent video, without thinking about it, I actually tried to blow the scale off of your anvil, through the screen on my mobile device lol....

[@andrekilppdefigueiredo.1539]

TOP.

[@stancoironworks]

awesome!! 1/2" round bar?

[@MrFlamingJester]

At 6:30 would there be any issues if you didn’t create the curve and instead allowed it to hold two edges?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Not at all. Go for it

[@luciusirving5926]

Doing this with 9260 steel would be a great deal work.

[@SouthdownWatersForge]

Awesome. Any chance of a pic of the completed picture on your instagram if it isn't already?

[@user-rv2vm6ku1s]

Лесные братья.

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

Mr Van den Berg I am new to this trade in which I got into for all the right reason which is to impress and meet women, though my wife hates it because of all the pounding noise smoke choking and coughing. So my question is, are there any other method to acquire your level of mastery in bladesmithing without the whole hard work, dedication, years of apprenticeship and discipline? Maybe like a performance drug or something that I could take in a simple capsule form? That's not too expensive and easy to use?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Jay, brother I like your senses of humor! If you are going to Blade Show 2020 in June, I'd like to buy you a couple of beers ... ;)

[@jaymuzquiz2942]

@@NeelsVandenBerg Hey! Do you think Alec Steel will attend this year! Because me and you and couple of the other real traditional Masters could like corner him by himself and give him a good shake down, I mean like really rough him up, put the fear of God into him! We could be like, " WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!" and " YOUR NAME ISN'T REALLY ALEC STEEL YOU LIAR! " Maybe put him in a headlock, while using the knuckle of the middle finger drive it up and down that little scalp of his! Or maybe we can form a circle put him in the center and push him back and forth to one another, say stuff like, " BLACKSMITHING ISNT A SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON!" ....." YEAH....!" " IT'S SERIOUS BUISNESS! "......" YEAH! .... and ...." YOUR NOT THAT F@CKING GOOD! " "then make him pay us some protection money from that lucrative KZbin channel racket he's got going! That'll teach him a thing or two!

[@Alwaysfishingne]

Corect me if im wrong but do u forge the shape grind the profile grind the bevel then heat treat temper and then grind the final blade to sharpness ?? Thank you in advance.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

yes sir ... :)

[@leonivaneeden8792]

Hi there Neels..great video thanks..Do you offer apprenticeships or do you know of anyone that does in South Africa?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Hi Leoni, I don't offer apprenticeships and i'm unaware of anyone locally currently offering apprenticeships. Sorry

[@s4tsug4i74]

😅 Hey man where do you buy your steel?

[@donoday8101]

Would love to see the finished knife. Alot of your videos end abruptly.

[@Trolleroftrolls707]

Do you make any major changes to the handle before adding the handle scales, such as grinding the thick portion to the same length as the spine of the blade? Or are you putting handle scales on this knife to begin with. Edit: I know I’m extremely late but I would just really like to know.

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

This video deals with the forging part only. HNdle setup is up to the maker

[@Trolleroftrolls707]

Neels Van Den Berg So if I was trying to put scales on this exact design, would I want to flatten the whole knife to an equal thickness or would I want to leave it as it is?

[@donoday8101]

Neels Do you put handles on these?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

Yes I do

[@schmidtforge1946]

What size stock was this. Awesome video man

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

THE Justin Schmidt 16mm 5160

[@schmidtforge1946]

Neels Van Den Berg thanks buddy +

[@kamo-]

Do i normalize it after i grind it a bit or after i forge and make a shape ?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

ALWAYS normalize directly after forging.

[@kamo-]

Thanks

[@edgreywolf]

neels what size rod were you using?

[@NeelsVandenBerg]

16 mm