Blade Body Engraving Or Carving

I have been doing some reading on this subject and have been wanting to try my hand at this. Was wondering if I where to use chisels to engrave or carve into the body of the blade or make a guard (like on conans sword) how soft would the said metal have to be in order to do this?

Does anyone here have any experience with this or might be able to point me in the right direction?

Poppa bear

 

Normalized or as rolled is soft enough from what I saw of my short ugly endeavour

 

This was done after the blade was hardened to Rc 61 but it is etched.

 

When I see stuff like that I just want to give up
One day I hope to be half that good

 

Same here awesome job. The reason why I am asking is because I was challenged to it. But I am extremely humbled by your etching.

Bows in awe

 

Well to be quite honest I made the knives 100% ,one thing I can't do is draw.
A fellow in Saskatoon did the etching of the wolf in the moonlight after the knife was completely done.
His artistic talent is unbelievable and he can etch anything on a blade.
If you take a close look, the pictures are the same but different and each done freehand.

 

Freehand...damn I was hoping a template

 

Agreed

 

Those are awesome!