The above is an example of “percussion” knapping, this blade in a heat-treated jasper. Percussion knapping removes flakes by using a small but dense object to strike flakes from the stone. Percussion flakes are larger, wider and deeper than pressure flakes. I usually simulate percussion flakes in my steel blade work - simply because I like the looks better.


Here’s my blade blank, along with a kozuka-like handle in copper (see Ford Hallam’s kozuka making tutorial on The Carving Path Forum - (http://www.thecarvingpath.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=950&hl=kozuka). This will be a small, narrow blade so the blade blank is from 1/8 of an inch thick 1080 carbon steel. For larger blades I normally use 3/16 to 1/4 inch thick carbon steel. I previously designed the blade length and shape, and I’ve rubber-cemented a paper copy onto the steel blank for use as a reference during grinding and shaping. The blade steel has not been hardened or tempered at this point, the blade portion is 5 3/4 inches long, 8 3/4 inches overall (not including the handle).