Ruined a leaf spring knife at the forge in Abilene, and I'm done quenching by eye
Was working on a leaf spring blade at the shop in Abilene last month and pulled it out of the quench when it looked right, but the steel was still around 800 degrees and the tip snapped clean off the next day at the grinder, so I bought a $60 infrared thermometer that afternoon and haven't guessed a color temp since, and now I'm wondering what temp you all actually pull yours at.
Wait, you pulled it at 800 degrees and it still looked right to your eye? That's the part that gets me. I always thought the color would give it away way before that, like you'd see it glowing way too hot. Guess that's the whole point of your post though, the eye just isn't reliable once you're in the middle of it. I've seen guys pull at all kinds of temps and swear by it, but a thermometer takes the guesswork out for sure.