cliffrat Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 (edited) Here's a knife I took to the ICCE show in September. While there, I had Eric Eggly shoot a couple of pics. (his on bottom, mine on top)Damascus Dagger Specs:10.75 inch blade, 16 inches OAL 1095 and 15N20 DamascusMammoth Ivory handle scales. Guard and frame main body are 416 SS. Liners are silicon bronze. Seppa is silicon bronze. Spacer package is 50/50 Shibuichi (copper and fine silver) with red bronze center spacer (Baldwin's patina) and silicon bronze thin separators. The ball finial and washer are 50/50 ShibuichiAll the Mokume, red bronze, and Shibuichi is made in my shop by me. Edited October 6, 2015 by cliffrat forgot something Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibrariaNPC Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 That is gorgeous. Reminds me of how far I still have to go as a smith.How many layers did you end up with on the Damascus, if I may ask? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Beautiful work as always Cliff. I'd have to hold it and see how the handle fit my hand before passing final judgement for my desire level. I have this thing for wanting any tool to have good utility but that's MY thing.Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Lovely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffrat Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 Librarian: The blade is made from 9 separate twisted bars. 5 are 50 layers twisted clockwise, 4 are 25 layers twisted counter-clockwise. Each is about 5/8" square. Stack the bars in a 3x3 square with alternating twists so that looking at the end grain you see a checkerboard of left/right twists. Forge weld together, re-square and flatten into a rectangular bar about 1/2 inch square by 1-1/4 inch wide. Accordion cut and flatten again. Forge and shape as desired. As for "how far I still have to go as a smith", I strongly suggest finding a mentor hat you can visit and watch, ask questions, bring your work to critique or guidance for how to do the next step, etc. Becoming and ABS apprentice flattened out my learning curve substantially over the last year.Thanks for the compliments guys!Frosty, it too bad we live so far apart. Maybe I'll get up your way someday and we can hang out. Maybe even invite that Teeny Little Metal Guy over for a cup of coffee too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibrariaNPC Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks for that information! I have a general idea of how you did that by the description, and I still stand by my comment about gorgeous!I'm currently looking at moving (two interviews lined up), so if things pan out well, I'm hoping to start working with smiths more often than I have (second shift with weekend hours). Thanks for the advice, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 I'd dearly love to Cliff, who knows we may make it down that way. Deb can visit spinners, dog trainers and who knows who else and I'll meet up with blacksmiths at coffee shops and hammer ins. That was actually my retirement plan but life happens.Frosty The Lucky. I'd dearly love to Cliff, who knows we may make it down that way. Deb can visit spinners, dog trainers and who knows who else and I'll meet up with blacksmiths at coffee shops and hammer ins. That was actually my retirement plan but life happens.Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) Just remember I smith and my wife spins---one stop shopping! (She just got back from the Taos wool festival) Also the week before Quad-State is usually the Wool Gathering at Young's Dairy near Yellow Springs OH. When we drive out we usually plan to hit both and see the kids in between. Edited October 7, 2015 by ThomasPowers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenylittlemetalguy Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Librarian: The blade is made from 9 separate twisted bars. 5 are 50 layers twisted clockwise, 4 are 25 layers twisted counter-clockwise. Each is about 5/8" square. Stack the bars in a 3x3 square with alternating twists so that looking at the end grain you see a checkerboard of left/right twists. Forge weld together, re-square and flatten into a rectangular bar about 1/2 inch square by 1-1/4 inch wide. Accordion cut and flatten again. Forge and shape as desired. As for "how far I still have to go as a smith", I strongly suggest finding a mentor hat you can visit and watch, ask questions, bring your work to critique or guidance for how to do the next step, etc. Becoming and ABS apprentice flattened out my learning curve substantially over the last year.Thanks for the compliments guys!Frosty, it too bad we live so far apart. Maybe I'll get up your way someday and we can hang out. Maybe even invite that Teeny Little Metal Guy over for a cup of coffee too!heck if you make it up we will throw a forge party and light a fire to cook that coffee on. Fantastic knife by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffrat Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks for that information! I have a general idea of how you did that by the description, and I still stand by my comment about gorgeous!I'm currently looking at moving (two interviews lined up), so if things pan out well, I'm hoping to start working with smiths more often than I have (second shift with weekend hours). Thanks for the advice, though!I did the second shift weekend schedule for three years too. I found full time smiths that I could hang with on Monday or Tuesday.New Jersey Blacksmith's association: http://www.njblacksmiths.org/of.htmLooks like they have open forge night on Monday nights at 7 PM. http://www.njblacksmiths.org/of.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Just remember I smith and my wife spins---one stop shopping! (She just got back from the Taos wool festival) Also the week before Quad-State is usually the Wool Gathering at Young's Dairy near Yellow Springs OH. When we drive out we usually plan to hit both and see the kids in between.Oh yeah, I may not remember details like conference dates but if we ever do a US tour you can bet we'll be letting everybody know. Deb thinks I came up with, "steel wool couple," I don't have to tell you where I heard it do I? I have quite a list of folk I'd like to meet face to face and you're top of the list. the top of my list is kind of crowded though I'm no good at making favorites decisions.Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch4ging Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Beautiful job! Love the handle choice and the fluting. Youre pw is fantastic. thanks for posting, great eye candy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwistedCustoms Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Great job cliff rat. I really like the fuller on the spine of the tang, another layer of dimension to draw the eye. First class all the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliffrat Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 And just in case anyone was wondering, this knife is a full take-down design. Which means it comes apart..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikecopXXX Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 it's a rare item that gets better as you zoom in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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