Christophe Nicolas, Smith Cutler :

The proper tools of the blacksmith :
hammer, anvil, and a clamp bar spring steel with 0.8% carbon, which will, ultimately, our knife.

And here, of course, the necessary and essential "tool" of Smith to know: The Forge Foyer.

The blacksmith cutler begins dilating and stretching the steel bar. It has previously heated to about 900 degrees, which gives the color orange.

The steel bar is stretched to the proper thickness, the blacksmith forge now the end of the bar edge.

The peak shape is obtained, he forges now expanding that becomes the edge of the knife.

The draft of the knife is now complete. You will notice that the tip is not too thin, in order to avoid overheating in the heat.

Then the blacksmith subjected to the knife blade heat treatment for grain refining of steel. We heat treat a knife 3 times.

As a jeweler who punches her jewels, the blacksmith cutler raises his knife on his "brand".

Then, selective hardening of the blade (Melt fields) in vegetable oil. Thus the edge of the knife is harder than the back. This held good for cutting and resistance to the efforts and impact.

After two incomes to one hour at about 220 ° which are intended to soften the structure (if the metal is brittle like glass) Work begins assembly: Cut the handle wafer, different materials can be used. Precious woods, Timber region: olive, juniper ... Or horn, andouillier deer, deer. We can put brass bolsters, the blacksmith will be riveted and then solder the tin to seal.