It's been a while since I worked in Damascus, I love the look of it but as any knifemaker knows it's a very challenging material to work.
I had this design on paper for some time itching to make the pattern in Damascus and a nicely figured hardwood. The blade profile and handle geometry is inspired by the woodlore, with a slightly more severe drop to the point making it almost more spearpoint. And flat ground. The handle also has a slightly more contoured shape for grip and a more downward curving back.
When a customer emailed me and asked for something similar to a woody, I had to make it!
Damascus supplied by damasteel (as with the majority of my steel) is 4.2mm stock, full flat ground with a 90 degree spine and hardened to ~57HRC in a coal forge and pizza oven tempered! Then acid etched in 30 baum ferric chloride to bring out the pattern of the Damascus.
flamed beech scales with a slight distal taper for comfort and control. Oiled finish and sanded back to 800g. 4.8mm mosaic pins turned 45 degrees against each other (because why not it's different!) and brass lined lanyard hole. 0.2mm black vulcanised fiber liners more for function than aesthetics.
This knife is a beast. Totally solid and fills the hand well, as it will be used as a kindling splitter and for battoning. But I daresay he can knock a nail in with it if he fancies!
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Originally Posted by shepherd
hope the customer does too
