Hellcats

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Some time ago i found this M18 Hellcat (used as a AT target), and noticed that turret rim is busted open with rocket hit.





I've managed to get some of steel balls out (turret rim is large ball bearing)



They are 32mm in diameter (1,26"), and after some cleaning...



i weld them to a handle.



After some drawing out



They look like this in various stages of forging



I already made two test pieces, treated them as 52100 (full process), and they perform great. (didn't take any pictures)
Sorry for lots of pictures, but i thought this can be interesting project.

 

Thank you!
It's a quite piece of history. According to Wikipedia article only 2,507 has been produced by the end of 1944, and it holds the record for most effective American tank destroyer during World War II.
It feels good to make something with back story like that.
I will post pictures of future progress.
Thanks for watching.

 

Some more pictures...
After tempering in electric oven, i clean the blades with sandpaper to see temper colors, and do final tempering with torch while part of the blade is dipped in water.





Today, after first sharpening, i did some blade testing and all went well.
Made a short video (part of testing)

[video=youtube;Egpz6C6oRAM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egpz6C6oRAM[/video]

Thanks for watching.

 

Just a quick update.

Plum tree handle, blue fiber liners, brass pins and lanyard tube,



and nice leather sheaths for both



They need some final touch and finish, but its almost over
Thanks for watching.

 

Had some free time, and forged three more of them. One wip picture.

 

Thank You guys!

 

Few pictures of finished knives.

 

Thank You.
Our educational system is different than US, and it's hard to compare. It's seems like equivalent of High School Diploma of metallurgy (4-year technical program).
Besides that, i grew up in metalworking shop.

 

Today's trip to M18 was completely success. This time i had two of my friends and some heavier tools with me.
We were able to lift one side of the turret with two large crowbars and to pull out a lot of remaining ball bearings.





Inside the vehicle, there is a plate with some info about type and dimensions, but it's damaged


A turret hatch was nice catch too, i plan to use it for laminated blades with some high carbon core layer


This was just sitting on the floor. Piece of fire extinguish system with markings


And here they are. Before the cleaning

 

Some more wip pictures (the way i do it...)

I start to forge ball to roller,



and then draw that roller out longer,



and longer



When it's drawn out to desired length, i make it flat but still thick



Then i start to divide material for the blade,



tang,



and draw them out to desired thickness




Three of them, in various stages of forging



Flat and ready for edge cleaning



After edge cleaning and profiling,



with nice distal taper



Thanks for watching.