I got bored last weekend and had a hot forge so i found this piece of 5/8" crane cable that had very fine wires.  Usually I avoid these cables due to decarborization that occurs during the forge welding process.  But I've been experimenting with putting charcoal in the flux with the idea that the carbon wouldn't be able to burn off and the borax would carry it into the core.  In the past with cables like this I could bend them over without breaking and drilling wasn't to difficult out of the quench.  I've been pleased with the performance enhancements this process has imparted.  I used the knife to cut the 7oz leather out for its sheath.  The cable was squared, stacked and forge welded then forged out with the cable running stacked down the blade.  The guard is 1/2" cable with cocobolo handle and brass pommel. 

I think I can see the carborization in the close up.  I've not ever seen one etch like this.

 That's a really cool pattern, jmc. Good lines on the knife, too. Nicely done.

Wow that did get a beautiful pattern. The cable in the guard turned out awesome too. Nice work. 

Beautiful! The matching guard is a great touch

Great knife, and the cocobolo has some great coloring in it.

Beautiful! Love the guard. The handle is awesome too. The blade is sweet. I guess I like the whole knife!

Wow, that's striking!

Very nice! That one would be staying in my personal collection if I had made it.

super cool. i guess u know u are a good knife maker when you make something like that just cause' your "bored."

32 minutes ago, Tubalcain2 said:

super cool. i guess u know u are a good knife maker when you make something like that just cause' your "bored."

Thanks guys.  One day I'd like to be a good maker.  This was an experiment that worked out.  Sometimes it does, most of the time, not so much. 

But you did it. I'd say you are a good maker. Success isn't judged by the failures getting there, it's judged by your triumphs. 

Very cool, that pattern turned out great!

Yup, that turned out nicely.  After all, what can beat a success and learning experience at the same time?

Great work jmc, that's one of the best cable guards I've seen. The rope edge looks great. The fine pattern is cool too but that guard would look good on any cable knife even if the blade pattern was done with the larger wire size.

I keep coming back to look at this one.  The blade pattern is almost reptilian.  No matter how many times I look at it, it's still a handsome piece of functional art. 

6 hours ago, Buzzkill said:

I keep coming back to look at this one.  The blade pattern is almost reptilian.  No matter how many times I look at it, it's still a handsome piece of functional art. 

Thanks, I'm planning on revisiting the pattern with a more appropriate handle material.  I'm thinking snakewood, but I haven't found the right piece.

That's the nicest cable Damascus knife I have seen

Good job