That is a long title for a small knife like this ...
but hey there is a lot going on in this little knife
you can just look at the pics and skim over the story
but I am telling a tale familiar to all knifemakers
Knife making is a journey it is a road of challenges
there are dangers and rewards (LOL) must have had too many nips in my coffee
I posted a really bad pic a few weeks back
but even these next few pics don't show all the colours and overall beauty of the materials used
pic below
a close up of the texture of the mokume
I made this stuff myself
it is pure silver and pure oxygen free copper (for best results)
its layered and patterened as it is flattened in the forging processes
arrgh look at the dirt in there (above) :sick2:
thats just the bolster
then there is the Black lipped pearl shell
this stuff is very hard to work
it can chip and flake when cutting and drilling
only some of the best knives use the really full coloured black lipped pearl shell
the good stuff is dear to buy
... in the guts...
it is always important to get everything nice and smooth and scratch free
inside and out
that takes time
and while you work it all together there are steps to be taken in the right order or else there will be problems later
the liners shown above are Titanium (6Al4V)
these are pretty hard to cut and shape and at this small size it gets harder again
the liner locking geometry is critical for proper operation
I have stuffed a few knives by sanding just a thousanth too much at this late stage
Also the back spacer is important to get it right so it doesn't touch the blade edge
and support the pins or screws holding everything together
they are another story again
this knife is fully assembled with screws and can be taken back down to individual parts
then there is the blade itself
this is the important bit the sharp end
I used Stainless damasteel
it has a tight maidenhair twist pattern
that is done by twisting a billet one way and flattening out and later twisting the opposite way
thus revealing the twists with an extra twist, causing nice 4 point stars along the spine aswell
thats just the raw metal there is
the shaping grinding fitting and sanding polishing etching
cryogenic heat treatment is next
a full soak in about 1700 celcius
then quenched and tempered in liquid nitrogen
then its back to ...re sanding re etching re polishing and re fitting (phew)
so in the end ...
after fitting everything together a few times
there is also the consideration of the finished piece
does it come together ok
this is always a dilemma for the custom maker
pics really don't do a custom knife justice
even the best pics can't compare to holding it in your hand
I have held many knives before
some of them really speak to you
they bring out a magical aura ,unexplainable
until you feel the energy of it
I think a lot of collectors are people who get that rush when a good knife is in their hand
this one does it for me
even if it is only 2" long
it still has a power
it is easy to open
it is also very sharp
it can cut easily
it should last a life time
being made from all the best materials
I believe it will
I made it as a challenge
I really like it and I don't really want to sell it
but a good friend and talented knifemaker once told me
always sell them
it is what you do and you can make another one
So thanks for looking
feel free to ramble on a bit like i did
and cashed up millionaires ....please send applications by P/M
but hey there is a lot going on in this little knife
you can just look at the pics and skim over the story
but I am telling a tale familiar to all knifemakers
Knife making is a journey it is a road of challenges
there are dangers and rewards (LOL) must have had too many nips in my coffee
I posted a really bad pic a few weeks back
but even these next few pics don't show all the colours and overall beauty of the materials used
pic below
a close up of the texture of the mokume
I made this stuff myself
it is pure silver and pure oxygen free copper (for best results)
its layered and patterened as it is flattened in the forging processes
arrgh look at the dirt in there (above) :sick2:
thats just the bolster
then there is the Black lipped pearl shell
this stuff is very hard to work
it can chip and flake when cutting and drilling
only some of the best knives use the really full coloured black lipped pearl shell
the good stuff is dear to buy
... in the guts...
it is always important to get everything nice and smooth and scratch free
inside and out
that takes time
and while you work it all together there are steps to be taken in the right order or else there will be problems later
the liners shown above are Titanium (6Al4V)
these are pretty hard to cut and shape and at this small size it gets harder again
the liner locking geometry is critical for proper operation
I have stuffed a few knives by sanding just a thousanth too much at this late stage
Also the back spacer is important to get it right so it doesn't touch the blade edge
and support the pins or screws holding everything together
they are another story again
this knife is fully assembled with screws and can be taken back down to individual parts
then there is the blade itself
this is the important bit the sharp end
I used Stainless damasteel
it has a tight maidenhair twist pattern
that is done by twisting a billet one way and flattening out and later twisting the opposite way
thus revealing the twists with an extra twist, causing nice 4 point stars along the spine aswell
thats just the raw metal there is
the shaping grinding fitting and sanding polishing etching
cryogenic heat treatment is next
a full soak in about 1700 celcius
then quenched and tempered in liquid nitrogen
then its back to ...re sanding re etching re polishing and re fitting (phew)
so in the end ...
after fitting everything together a few times
there is also the consideration of the finished piece
does it come together ok
this is always a dilemma for the custom maker
pics really don't do a custom knife justice
even the best pics can't compare to holding it in your hand
I have held many knives before
some of them really speak to you
they bring out a magical aura ,unexplainable
until you feel the energy of it
I think a lot of collectors are people who get that rush when a good knife is in their hand
this one does it for me
even if it is only 2" long
it still has a power
it is easy to open
it is also very sharp
it can cut easily
it should last a life time
being made from all the best materials
I believe it will
I made it as a challenge
I really like it and I don't really want to sell it
but a good friend and talented knifemaker once told me
always sell them
it is what you do and you can make another one
So thanks for looking
feel free to ramble on a bit like i did
and cashed up millionaires ....please send applications by P/M