BenF

Thanks for the kind words!

The handle is actually pretty comfortable; as its quite short it sits nicely in the hand. But I would choose it if I was prying up floorboards

Thanks Thomas, those are definitely wise words! I'll be sure to follow that future

Just finished my first piece of damascus into a letter opener for a friends birthday present!

The damascus is pretty faint due to it being 1095 and mild steel (Thanks for the explanation Steve Sells), antiqued brass ferrule and spalted maple burl.

Blade itself if 5" long and 1/2" wide, sadly though there is a cold shunt on the edge. But I'm still happy for a first attempt! Kinda sad to be giving it up!

Thanks for looking, all comments welcome!

Thank you both for the help.

I'll definitely give that a go: got some bandsaw blades I saved for just such an endeavour!

Hi all,

I recently forged my first ever piece of damascus, made from 1095 and some mild steel. Welded and lightly twisted, and will be made into a letter opener.

It has gone through heat treating as I read somewhere that helps with contrast. After sanding down too ~600 grit I etched it in a mix of Ferric Cholride and White Vinegar, I did this for about 5 minutes then took it out and rubbed it down with 0000 steel wool before etching again, I repeated this several times. But the etch just seemed to rub off and be faded, so how do you manage to keep the high contrast without it rubbing off?!

The photo below is of the blade straight out the etchent. It hadn't been etched very long at this point, as I etched it again for photos just for this question.

Then, below is once it was rubbed down with the wire wool, and the pattern is really faded.

The last photo is where I've rubbed the blade with some oil using kitchen towel, as you can see the black is coming off of the towel and the pattern is still faint.

All comments and advise welcome and appreciated. Thanks for looking

Hello,

This is my first commissioned piece, I was requested to “make something awesome” as long as it was a utility knife, and here is the result. This is only really my third blade, but I’m very pleased with it!

The blade was etched in ferric chloride, which gave it that strange mottled pattern you can see – not sure how that happened?! Any ideas to the reason?

This was also my second attempt at any realy leather work. I left it undyed as it think it goes nicly with the oak handle.

The Knife
Overall Length:  241mm
Blade Length:  114mm
Thickest Point on Spine:  2mm
Weight:  170g
Steel:  1095
Handle: American Oak Scales

All comments and critique welcome!

Thanks for looking.

Thank you all for the kind comments.

@mitch4ging
I hadn't ever considered copper. But I had planned on doing another with bronze: as a patina can be applied.

Hello all,

This is my second complete (as good as) peice. My first is over in the Swordsmithing thead, which is now just waiting for me to fit the pommel.

I posted this on the Bladesmiths Forum a few days ago, but thought id also post it here...

Sadly, its not perfect, I caught the blade on the linisher which shows, along with some other scratchs from early sanding which didn't show until the final polish.

Something I need to improve on in my next projects.

The Knife
Overall Length:  315mm
Blade Length:  95mm
Thickest Point on Spine:  2mm
Weight:  190g
Steel:  1095
Handle:  Pippy oak, with knots filled with polyethylene resin mixed with aluminium powder.

All comments welcome, and thank you for looking!!

Handle scales before fitting and final polish

The knife

Hello,

thank you for all your comments.

@ThomasPowers

It currently weighs in around the 613 gram mark; without the pommel. I have tried to locate a vibration node and I think one is towards to top end of the grip; but I'm not certain of that. I just measured the distal taper and its just over 3mm. I did think about that, but I think the only local swordsmith sends his stuff off for HT. But I'm only planning knives for the near future as they shouldn't take as much time as this project.

@Lenaghan

Thank you, I think I will take your advice on that. I imagine it will be interesting to look back everything I've done in years to come :) (and eaten) :P

@2Time215

Thank you for the kind words, though I very much doubt that!! Maybe with a couple of centuries practice :P