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Hi Ed – I have a blacksmith setup with a forge/anvil etc but for this job either the torch or briquettes would work fine and speed of heating is not an issue. I would use the torch personally as I have one and it would be much quicker than firing up the forge.
Remember you are only trying to harden the sharp end. When I make blades of any sort the aim is to have the cutting edge hard enough to keep an edge and the rest of the steel softer to absorb shock and be less brittle and likely to break. Tempering the edge to a straw colour and the rest to a blue/purple colour is the aim, don’t stress if you get it wrong steel can be re-hardened and tempered many times.
For the record different types of steel harden by quenching in different liquids ie some steels need oil to quench and if you were to use water it will become so hard it will shatter like glass. So use a steel like 01, 1085 etc that you can find out the best way to harden and temper.
I hope that helps, have fun -
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