[Dylan K Bettis]

My name is Dylan Bettis. I am a brand new member of the ABS as of earlier today.

I am a senior at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. I am an art major specializing in Glassblowing, but if I were able to declare a second specialization, it would be metal. I have two years experience with the "small" metals (copper, brass, nickel-silver, silver, gold) and about 5 months of experience with the "large" metals (steels of many types), not to mention my 5-6 years of experience with chainmaille of various types and metals. In the Fall of 2011, I enrolled in the Beginning Blacksmithing class taught by another member of the ABS, currently seeking Journeyman status (name withheld). Normally, the final project of that class is a decorative window grille, or a large sculpture, but due to the fact that the graduate student teaching the class specializes in bladesmithing, we were given an option that no class had been given before: we were allowed to choose to make a kitchen knife.

My first knife was what I like to call a French-ified Santoku Chef's knife. Full-Tang, W-1 sandwiched between two pieces of etched wrought iron, padauk teardrop handle with brass pins. It was a decent knife, and I gave it to my significant other for Christmas.

I currently have access to the entire L. Brent Kington Smithy, and I just ordered more W-1, as well as my own files and waterstones. I may soon order some 5160, but am hesitant to as I have never used it before...


(If anyone has a link to a site where I might be able to buy small amounts of wrought iron, that would be wonderful, as I would like to finish a set...)


Well, I suppose this has been a rather long introduction, but I would like to say that I look forward to conversing with many of you in the future.

[ABS Webmaster]

Dylan

Welcome to the American Bladesmith Society and the ABS Forum and thank you for introducing yourself.

You will find that 5160 is a good steel to start making knives with and I am sure that Master Smith Kevin Cashen will be offering you some expert advice on heat treating it.

[Dale Huckabee]

Welcome to the forum and the ABS. I saw some wrought for sale on another forum. If I can find it again I'll send you a link to it.

Dale

[Kevin R. Cashen]

Hello Dylan, Dan sent me a note bringing your question to my attention, if there are ny specific concerns regarding 5160 that I can help you with feel free to let me know.

Sincerely
Kevin R. Cashen

[Lin Rhea]

Dylan,

Welocome to the ABS forum.

5160 is a great steel and it's pretty easy to find.

I saw some wrought iron on the big auction site in managable lot sizes.

[BrionTomberlin]

Welcome to the ABS and the forum Dylan. Good to have you aboard. Like Lin and Kevin state 5160 is a good all around steel. As for wrought iron, you might check any architectural salvage places in your area. Sometimes you can find it in old fence railings and the like.
Welcome again.
Brion

[Russell Roosevelt]

Hello Dylan

Welcome, to the ABS Forum. This is the place to find answers to your questions.

Russell