Hit my 1,000th leaf spring knife today, never expected that number

I've been recycling old truck leaf springs for blades since 2019, mostly as a side gig after my regular forge work. Today I stamped number 1,000 on a camp knife and it felt strange, like the count snuck up on me while I wasn't paying attention. Anyone else track how many pieces they finish in a certain style, or do you just lose count after a few hundred?

2 comments

2 Comments

rubyshah1mo ago

Found my rhythm around blade 300, @tylerpark, then grind time dropped way off once I stopped overthinking heat treats.

tylerpark1mo ago

Actually, leaf springs are usually 5160 steel, so they're perfect for blades, but 1,000 knives in five years means you're cranking out about 200 a year, which is a solid side hustle.