Dodge Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 The blade started as 11 layers of Lennox commercial band saw blade alternating with 10 layers of steel banding. Both were 1.25" wide by not quite .06". The 21 layers were eventually forged into 63 layers. The pattern is a combination of ladder and raindrop. The handle is "bovine ivory" (beef bone) with brass hardware. I processed the bone at home and will not do it again but it was an interesting experience. LOL The blade is 4.5" and overall length is 8.5". Its also my first sheath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primtechsmith Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Outstanding!....your firsts are better than my hopeful aspirations! Peyton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markb Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 First knife, Outstanding! There's nothing I don't like about it, the damascus looks great and the leather work is impressive. What was the bone processing, and what was your objection? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks, Peyton. I have to say, this wasn't done in a weekend and there's a lot I would do different if I had to re-do. Mark, I bought the raw bone from a butcher. Had to boil in a TSP solution to remove meat, marrow, grease, etc. Took the finish off the cabinet above the stove. Mrs. Dodge wasn't happy. (They need refinishing anyway. I said, "Its a start!") Then, figure how to cut to get the best usable pieces. I thought I had enough to make several knives, but as it turned out, I had to glue two pieces together. Might as well have done a full tang. Then there's the health issues with grinding bone. What a mess!! I really like the natural bone look, but next time I will just buy it ready to use. You still have to take precautions when grinding, but is not as bad as starting from scratch. I'm glad I did it though. Just another item I can add when I write my memoirs. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger1875 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Is there a word better than outstanding? I will not even think of comparing my first blades with this one showed from you! Congratulations!!! Badger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucegodlesky Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 No redo, just get started on the next one.. Good job, Dodge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markb Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thats enough for me, I'll not be trying that. Looks very good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy seale Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 outstanding job. well done.one of there days i'll get the,,,, to try damascus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 wont admit it was mine You did great job, Very nice work, as for my first blade? NO one will ever see it, and IF somehow they do I will deny I made it. Great Work Dodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Not only is the blade work beautiful but I really like the bone and brass set up. I think I will go shopping at the meat store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 LOL Steve. Photography certainly does this one justice, and it will never be one that anyone was sorry they bought. Besides, how could I sell my first born Anyway, thank you and everyone else for your kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skunkriv Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Great knife Dodge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Congrats Scott, really nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 considering how vast the time span was for the completion of that project, it came out very well indeed......good job Scott!.....:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Covington Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Beautiful Peice. Travis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Boiling obnoxious substances is what the great outdoors--or a junked stove in the shop was designed for! My wife has made that clear to me as well! Alos to her as she sometimes dyes fibers for spinning and the dyes and mordants can be toxic as well---even the natural ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 12, 2008 Author Share Posted March 12, 2008 We were looking for an excuse to buy a new stock pot and I promised her a new one. So it wasn't ALL bad LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerkid Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 Thanks, Peyton. I have to say, this wasn't done in a weekend and there's a lot I would do different if I had to re-do. Mark, I bought the raw bone from a butcher. Had to boil in a TSP solution to remove meat, marrow, grease, etc. Took the finish off the cabinet above the stove. Mrs. Dodge wasn't happy. (They need refinishing anyway. I said, "Its a start!") Then, figure how to cut to get the best usable pieces. I thought I had enough to make several knives, but as it turned out, I had to glue two pieces together. Might as well have done a full tang. Then there's the health issues with grinding bone. What a mess!! I really like the natural bone look, but next time I will just buy it ready to use. You still have to take precautions when grinding, but is not as bad as starting from scratch. I'm glad I did it though. Just another item I can add when I write my memoirs. LOL GREAT LOOKING knife! Hmm! I can get all kinds of bones ! My grandpa is a butcher. LOL :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRobb Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Great looking knife Dodge! Looks like another one for us first timers to aspire too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I would have thought that you forgot where you started,. oh so long ago, that you missed something along the way......:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 It was a challenge, Richard LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Dwyer Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Sweet looking knife Dodge. Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of your handle. Can you explain a little more about the usage of bone. For instance, why did you have to do the handle in pieces? Is it an inherent limitation with the dimensions of the bone, as in its walls are just so thick, or some other reason? How about the hardness and density of the material? Does it need sealing? Do you think it will stain easily? Etc??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 Thanks Phil, The leg bones (Tibia?) are just too big in diameter to use as is on anything but a very large knife. The smaller (Fibula?) was the wrong shape. I still would have had to use two pieces and a lot more grinding. That dust is NASTY! Perhaps there are other bones that would be more suitable but thats what my butcher had when I wanted to buy it. It is a very hard material and drills like real hard plastic or "Bakelight", but it will split on the exit if your not careful. Wall sizes vary greatly along the length. Thickest in the center and thinning and increasing in diameter at the ends. Many people stabilize bone. I did not. I have heard that it takes stain very well and I almost did but decided I like the natural look. I have many scraps I plan to experiment with tho Right now all I have on it is Pledge. (It was handy LOL) I plan to put MinWax on it. I anticipate it yellowing with age but this is fine with me. Bone is a very nice material for handles but I would buy it ready to use next time. For more on the subject search the keyword, "bovine ivory". JPH (Jim Hrisoulas) explaines it well on another thread here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.V.Reeve Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Great Looking knife, Dodge! Everything about it looks right. Nice work on the scabbard, also. We do alot of bone processing (my wife and I) for various uses in our craft-work. My wife once cleaned an entire cow skull... now that was an Undertaking!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 Thanks John and others. John, Do you use TSP in the process? When I did, I noticed that the top layer calcified or developed a very white chalky surface that had to be scraped and sanded down to get to the smooth "bone" colored bone;) Are you using precautions when cutting and grinding? I hear the health hazards are bad enough to make this much more than an option! I didn't learn this until I had cut and ground quite a bit with out a dust mask, but I use one all the time now or do as much sanding as possible with wet or dry under running water to reduce dust hazards. Hope I didn't close the barn door too long after them pesky horses went on the lam :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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