Forgecraft Restoration

So, a friend of mine named Julie is a home chef. She's a full time nurse as well, and a single mother of two. Still...she has a passion for good food, and my Instagram and Facebook feeds are full of beautiful pictures of the dishes she makes, both finished and in preparation.

Pictures like this:



The problem is...most of the pictures include this garish, stainless contraption of a knife. The word 'Global' should clear up any misunderstanding of what I mean, lol.

For example:



Soooo...after no end of harassment by yours truly, she contacted me about what kind of knife I could recommend to her on a realistic single parent's budget. Obviously a high end custom was out of the question (though I did offer, which she declined graciously the first five times, and not so graciously the final time!), but her question got me thinking. I know there are a TON of acceptable mid...and even low end Japanese knives that would surpass Global in performance, but Julie has a thing for antique and vintage things. She would absolutely appreciate something with more history and character to it.

Enter my very, very good friend @sachem allison

We'd talked about Forgecraft before, and he'd even sent me his to look over in the past. We both felt this would be the perfect solution. Then he let me know that he had a PERFECT candidate. It turns out that in his possession was a new old stock chef's knife. The thing was still covered in dried up cosmoline, and had never even had an edge on it! Into the mail it went, and a few days later I opened the packaage to see this:


The knife was in such great shape that it was almost a shame to rehandle it!!

That said, a repolish and rehandle would fit the bill perfectly for Julie.


First, a quick overlay of a handle I'd already made with materials from Mark at Burl Source, which ended up being just perfect. Koa, ancient bog oak, Oregon maple burl, and reclaimed copper water pipe.


Then...a number of passes on my 72" platen to clean up the factory hollow grind (LOTS of hollows!), and thin the knife a bit more. Once that was done, I went up the grits (120g to 1500g) quickly from heel to tip. The idea was basically to smooth the blade both for performance and reduced stiction, but also to maintain a well cared for antique look. To top it off, I etched the entire blade in ferric chloride, then rubbed it out with Barkeeper's Friend and Brasso to restore the luster and eliminate that 'cutting through an apple' squeal you all probably know well...lol.

Here's the results:



After that...a quick edge...and she was finished!!


This is what a 10°(ish) edge bevel looks like on a thinned Forgecraft. Pretty respectable!!


And this is what a 10°(ish!) edge bevel performs like on a thinned Forgecraft...with just the lightest pressure.

Definitely respectable.!

 

Very nice Cris! Now I want one....

 

Love that movie!

Get me a Forgecraft, and we'll talk!

 

Almost makes me want to get a Forgecraft. Glad you found a good use for that handle. I think it's a good match.

 

Thanks man! And yes...the lines and aesthetics are just perfect for this knife for some reason...like I made it for it. Plus, it'll have meaning for a friend...so it's even better .

On another kind of funny note btw...the copper is reclaimed piping from Peoria High Scool (built in 1921) here in Peoria AZ, and the blade was made in 1963. Add in the bog oak...and who knows how old the koa and maple trees were before they were cut down...and there's no part of this knife that's 'new'...lol.

 

Dead sexy!

Like restoring a classic car outside, and leaving the interior totally original.

Very nice job!

 

Really like that, great job!

 

Great job on this Forgecraft. I love mine and it sure doesn't look like this. A gift she'll never forget.

 

Did you convert it to a hidden tang? Looks like it used to be full tang

 

That looks very good!

 

Thanks everyone!

Yes Jared...I converted it to a hidden tang .

 

WOW, Cris!!! BAK!!!

 

Nice work!

 

Final pictures .

 

Cris, tell your friend that I'll do a saya for her, on the house, in the new year, if she's interested. Single mom's are amazing (single dads are cool too ).

 

^

 

Wow

 

That my friend...is incredibly generous of you! I pointed her over to your Instagram. You're going to love her...she's a complete sweetheart .

 

Quite handsome! The handle certainly complements it. At first I thought the overall look was very masculine -- and still think so -- but the handle is also quite understated (IMO) and conservative and tasteful, so I can see how it would appeal aesthetically to a woman too. Sort of swings both ways, I suppose.

 

Thanks Larry!

Sometimes a little masculinity makes a girl feel more feminine . Particularly understated and tasteful masculinity.

By the way, this is a picture of the young lady receiving the knife. With her preference for natural tones and colors...I think it will suit her well.