Frazer Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Just finished my most recent knife. Integral bolster, twisted damascus using 15N20 and 1095. I like the look of the low layer damascus. There are 39 layers total (yes I know that's an odd number) but there are only 12 layers you can actually see. 2.9" sharpened blade length. Handle is a sandwich construction with walnut in the center two layers and a darker wood on the outer two layers. I don't remember what kind of wood it is on the outside. Copper insert and pins. Forged the pocket clip using spring steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus_Aurelius Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 That is one great looking blade. I love the low layer count damascus, there is something very unique about it, did you etch in Ferric Chloride? The handle is beautiful, I'm sure the fit up of all the intricate parts took a lot of patience. The handle really pops, especially the grain, what finishing method did you use? Thats a very intresting method for attaching the sheath to your pocket, I havent seen it before. How do you like it? Does it work well? Overall great job, definitely an inspiring knife. -Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 Marcus, Thanks, I also find the low layer really pops and you see some strange artifacts in the pattern that you wouldn't see if there were more layers. Yes, I did etch in FC, then sanded it lightly with worn out 2500 grit and finished in instant coffee. Didn't do a very dark etch, but it looks a lot lighter in the pictures. The handle took a long time to get right, putting that plate in on an angle certainly complicated things a bit, but the wood grain of the darker sides line up pretty well on either side of the plate, which definitely adds a little something. As far as finishing, I just sanded everything to 1500 grit, used a natural wood stain and sealed with several coats of poly, sanding from 400 to 2500 grit (going up one grit per coat). The whole handle is glassy smooth, and has a very steak knife feel to it. These were from before it was sharpened. I always have my knife in my right leg pocket of my cargo pants, so this is made to be clipped where the flap for that pocket covers the end of the handle. It actually holds the pocket and stays in place pretty darn well. Definitely not worried about it falling out. I wish the fit up between the handle and the bolster was a little better, right now there is a step about the thickness of a piece of masking tape on all sides, but it really doesn't bother me too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 They call that kind of fit an archival or museum fit. It is a feature, not a defect. It allows the wood to shrink slightly over time without having the metal protrude. All it needs it the very slightest radius on the front edge of the protruding wood to be perfect. You can do that with a jeweler's file with one edge sanded flat. I like what you have done with the blade and handle here. The only thing I would question is the location of the copper divider on the handle. From an aesthetic perspective it seems a bit too centered to me. Of course aesthetics are wholly subjective... Hope I get to see you sometime at at NYSDB meeting, once things open back up here. Going to have to try the lade in the cargo pants thing myself and see if it is comfortable. They are a standard for me over the summer. Thanks for the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 Latticino, I'm glad that has a name. I would have considered it a defect. Thank you for the info and the tip. From my initial sketch, I planned on putting two spacers in. However, I realized that one was going to be challenging enough and decided to center the one. I agree that, perhaps centering it wasn't the best place for it aesthetically speaking, but it did lead to the ex post facto name of "the divider". Now I don't make enough knives or honestly care enough to start naming them, but to cover for a possible design lapse, this one gets the name! I plan to go to the Genesee meet in August at Arc+Flame if NYS regulations permit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welshj Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I like it. Job well done from where I can see! The grain pattern in that wood looks alot like zebra wood, but it usually has a lighter yellowish color to the light grain... either way, looks good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazer Posted July 21, 2020 Author Share Posted July 21, 2020 Welshj, Thanks! I can say with certainty that it is not zebra wood since that was one of the different boards I went through when I found this one. I bought it a while ago and the person that sold it to me told me what it was at the time, but it seems to have slipped my mind. It has a pretty open grain, which you can kind of see in some of the pictures. I usually prefer harder more closed grain woods, but I really like the way this one looks with a natural stain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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