Anyone interested in a Damascus knife build?

[bldsmith]

The blade is turned a dark gray but a little work with the 2000 grit will bring it back.



The finished blade.



Another benefit of parkerizing is it protects the simple carbon steel slowing rust. The bright silver is nickle bearing that has its own rust resistance. It will rust if not cared for but not nearly as bad as bare steel.

Now onto the guard and handle.

[37L1]

Gorgeous!

[rabiddawg]

Gorgeous!

^^^^

[65Whelen]

Man, that's sweet. Love it.

[Cuppednlocked]

That is fine work!

[bldsmith]

Made progress on the handle today. The customer wants a Stag handle. Luckily I had one in the stash. For the guard I normally use 416 stainless. Stock selected from material I had already surface ground.



I have used a layout fluid to provide better contrast wile working. Scribe the center line.



Then I go to the mill and slot the guard material to fit the tang.



I like to use bronze and stainless spacers in my guards. It allows for a wider profile but the spacers break it up so it does not look to wide. I used vulcanized fabric for years until I got one of my old knives back. It had shrunk significantly. I now use metals to prevent that.

material selected cut and slotted.

[bldsmith]

I stack the material and then I drill 1/16th holes for dowel pins through the bolster, spacers, and into the guard. This allows me to shape the guard and still be able to take it apart to do additional operations if needed. I also like to be able to take the handle off for fitting. It helps to keep the handle aligned.



I braze on a piece of all thread that will hold the handle and guard in place along with the epoxy. The all thread does not need to super strong as the epoxy does most of the holding. It is basically there to hold it together tightly while the epoxy sets up. It makes for a super strong handle. I have had to take some of these off before and it is not easy. I have to literally break them off with a hammer or grind them.



And here it is waiting for the next step.



Hope to have this done by Friday.

[Cuppednlocked]

I am looking forward to the finished project. It looks great so far.

[bldsmith]

Not able to work today. Will finish this up Saturday.

[bldsmith]

Here we go. First I need to shape the guard. I like to use a sacrificial piece of wood as a handle. It allows me to shape things like I would if I glued it all together but allows me to take it apart if I desire. Also it is impossible to do a heirloom fit without shaping the guard independent of the handle material.



Guard rough shaped. I will almost finish it before moving on.



Now I need to fit the handle. I use a mold release so the epoxy will not stick to the tang or pins. This will allow for proper register when I take things apart.

[bldsmith]

Now I need to shape the stag. I knock off some of the high spots to make it feel better in the hand. I also shape to the guard and blend it all in. The butt cap is shaped and domed then finished to 600 grit. And it is finished.







4.5" blade, 416 stainless guard, phosphor bronze and stainless spacer, sambar stag handle, stainless butt cap. Overall length 9"

[rabiddawg]

You sir are one fine craftsman. Absolutely beautiful.

Can you educate me as to the advantages and disadvantages of this type knife steel?

Any special care required? Do’s and don’ts?

[bldsmith]

The only advantage to this steel is the aesthetics. I creates life in the steel. There is no magical properties to the steel as some may profess. If done properly the performance of the blade should be the same as the parent material started with. It can be made from many different types of carbon steel. The only requirements are they have to similar in heat treat and one needs to be higher in nickel or chromium to create the contrast.

Care is the same as for any carbon steel knife. Keep it clean and oiled when not in use. Because I parkerize, if the steel patinas and you lose a bit of contrast it could be brought back easily, at least a few times.

I would not be digging in the dirt or trying to cut items not normally intended for knives. The pattern could be washed out but it would require significant abuse.

[65Whelen]

Very impressive.