I'm making a rather large blade of damascus and thought you guys might want to see a few pics along the way. I will be taking more photos as I go so this will be one of those that will have to develope and will be a few days till it's complete. Right now the blade is partially ground but I will be working along to get it done soon. The blade is an accomplishment to me in that it's damascus, it survived the heat treat, and the pattern needs to be right.
I'm learning to make lemonade from lemons. The first weld was good but the pattern was not exactly the way I intended but I'm trying to out smart it by turning the pattern around to get things back to an even keel. This works well for me. Karl said this once and it applies to me. This is a "how I do", not a "how to".
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7760691726_e5a6a8e7ed_c.jpg)
I made the above weld, cut into 5, restacked, and welded again, then forged a crude, thick blade from part of the billet. It has to have these grooves ground into it before the final forging to shape. Man this is ugly!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7809084002_dcfed73524_c.jpg)
Ugly indeed. ;) You say the grooves were ground into it? Using what?
BTW, the reason I'm assembling a forge (hopefully this week) is a thread you posted a while back titled "forged Integral Caper". When you showed the "ugly" piece of spring steel you started with followed by the thing of beauty you crafted from it, I decided then and there that I wanted to start forging knives. So thanks for posting this "ugliness". I can't wait to see the work of art it will become.
Rusty
Thanks Rusty. That's great to hear.
I used a side grinder to cut them in. It does "waste" some material but I like the pattern it leaves. If you'll notice the spine of that grooved blade, you can see the layers though the scale. After that is heated and pressed or hammered flat, those layers will be zig zagging the length of the blade.
This is going to be one of those GOOD ones
This is the very rough blade that comes from flattening the piece in the earlier picture. Pretty rough. Makes you want to throw it away. But, it's my job to find a blade in it. It still has remnants of the grooves on the surface. That will go away in the grinding.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8287/7809085242_2e1549fe75_c.jpg)
I rough ground it and did a quick etch to see if the pattern was ok. It looks consistent, so I know I can go forward. This is right after the light etch.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8429/7809086376_7caf06afc4_c.jpg)
Lin, in the last photo had you already harden and tempered the blade? I think I see some temper color left in a few areas.
Did you grind the false edge in the clip before or after hardening?
Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
I filed and smoothed one side of the clip. It's (the clip) still not finished but has a good start.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8284/7824121784_11f3241fac_c.jpg)
In this blurry picture, you can see right up the choil. I tried to get the plunges too. I'll admit it's not a good picture.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7824094708_12092d4dcb_c.jpg)
Steve, I had not hardened and drawn it back at that point. Once I had done that and it survived, I knew I could start showing pictures. The photos below your post is after the heat treat. To answer your question, I do grind the clip in , about 75%. Now I'm refining the clip. Those colors are from the ferric chloride I use to etch with.
That ziggy-zaggy "stuff" adds a new dimension to the laddering.
That's super-cool!
Thanks for the explanation, Lin. At first look, I hadn't noticed that the grooves alternated from one side to the next. Now I see how the pattern is created. You'd want the grooves to be "ugly" to an extent so you get more "character", right? You get a pattern but not an exact pattern, if that makes sense...
It's turning into the beautiful work we are accustomed to seeing from you. Thanks for taking the time time show us your process.
I was talking to John Perry MS Saturday and he stated that grinding the pattern in on a ladder pattern always comes out uneven for him. So the different methods work for different people.
Chris
Lin that is so nice - I just cannot help thinking of all the steel going back into the water bucket below your grinder. I have to take my damascus up a notch!!
Is there a name for that pattern - it looks great!!
Bob Urban
Thanks. Here's another picture of the grooved blade showing the whole thing. Sorry it's blurry, but I just wanted you to see the general shape is established before the grooves are cut.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8304/7827396970_378b8ca131_c.jpg)
Bobby, The name is "Laddered W".
Here is the plunges ground and filed about the same.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7824098032_9c52e79ee8_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8440/7824091296_ea6017794c_c.jpg)
This blade is 11 inches long from where the guard will be to the tip give or take a fraction.
I have some finishing to do so it will be a couple days before there will be any noticable changes.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7824089312_c763329f71_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7264/7824094198_18c74aff6a_c.jpg)
Lin,
I really like this one's pattern. Looks like a lot of work.
Steven
Thanks for posting these pictures Lin & I like How You Do.
REALLY nice... cant wait to see the end product.
Got started back on this blade after a hard week of regular job. I'm refining the clip which takes quite a while for me to get things just right. This one is sharp and when you think about the geometry of a sharp clip, it has to be "right" from several angles, all meeting up in one gentle curve. Plus it has to be straight if you look up the spine. Notice the burr curled up on the clip edge.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8288/7857325336_ba874d4795_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8442/7860619540_7cece8021e_c.jpg)
Wow! That's awesome that you were able to get that done evenv with all the irritating phone calls!!!!!
:bigsmyl: :help: :campfire:
uh oh,, i may be seeing my new favourite Lin Bowie shaping up!
Pardon the traces of polish.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7860777786_c708c1631e_c.jpg)
crazy good. what you thinking for guard/handle?
I'm thinking damascus fittings with stainless accents. I also want to try a wood handle texture that resembles the texture of leather. :scared:
I can't wait to see how this one goes. I love the direction it is headed now! My wife and kids enjoyed looking at the pics finding faces in the pattern.
Chris
Very nice Lin, thanks for all the pics.
Is that mark etched or stamped?
looking fwd. to seeing it progress.
Thanks.
It's etched Ben.
Here's a snap shot of the blade that's finished. I "thought" I had it finished Saturday evening but I saw something that bothered me and I decided to re finish the blade. I worked on it yesterday in the afternoon, working the sides in a little, thinning it and get rid of a tiny remnant of one of the grooves that makes the pattern. It was about the size of this: '
It really was bugging me. As many of you know, you just cant simply file or sand it away in the immediate area of the problem. You have to take the material down all the way to keep the flats flat, etc. It is damascus, and it would seem that it might get lost in the pattern, but you can see it. Could see it. I spent all afternoon and it's right now.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7871999640_a931174aa5_c.jpg)
This blade has nice chatoyance, which you can see some in the clip area. The cell phone is not the best way to show case a blade.
Possibly the most beautiful blade I've seen!
Holy moley, Lin!! That is amazing. I always think you have reached the pinnacle of what can be done with a blade, and then you go do something like this. You have outdone yourself, my friend.
Allan
Thanks guys. I just got back on. Our power was out a while with the storms.
I got some of the fittings forged and shaped today. I put in a long day. This is the guard before I final sanded it and etched it. It's damascus. I'll try to get some more done tomorrow afternoon. I'm thinking of trying something new. If I do, it will run over into the week but that's ok.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/7958739756_d5827218a7_c.jpg)
lookingfwd to seeing this come together, really like the guard shape.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/7964682516_e4a26de784_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7964680408_d466f89237_c.jpg)
doing a little hinge action for your butt plate? Clever work!
That's right Matt. Self leveling.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/7965482048_786f282807_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/7965479864_035539923f_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8309/7965483470_d9eb44a3b9_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7965721550_6c9808e466_c.jpg)
NICE! You have my shipping address?? ;)
I'm trying to imagine it textured like leather- waiting to see how this turns out!
Lin, that self leveling butplate dohickey is a stroke of pure genious. I'm probably gonna have to steal that idea. Pulled me out of the lurking shadows just to compliment you for that one.
Beautifull blade as well, it's been awesome watching you progress over the years, you've come a long way since the days on Terry Primos's old forum.
Darcy:)
Thanks Darcy. And Welcome to the forum! Some one showed it to me so steal away!
One thing, you'll notice that the slot in the guard is narrow to fit the tang tight. It's the same with the ferrle/spacer. You'll have to leave the coupling nut un peened untill after they are fit and set. I also grind off the hex corners of the coupling nut so as to drill as small a hole as possible in the handle material.
The mention of Terry's old forum brings a smile. Thanks. You're here now, so stay a while. :campfire:
y'all leave Lin alone so he can finish this Bowie! :D
Love this, thanks for the work-in-progress pics!
Lucas
I did not get anything done on it last evening.
I was distracted by the arrival of some special material for another knife. I cant say much now, but it's interesting. I'll show more as I go along about that project too.
Back to this bowie. I did some shaping on the blackwood making it look nearly finished, but the texture I want to try is yet to be started. I'll try to do that during the week and as I get time on the weekend. There's an event in Old Washington over the weekend so that will pull me away some. We'll see how it goes.
Here's a shot of the butt cap that I just etched.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/7989020652_f2969029d3_c.jpg)
YOWZA!!!!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/7989647106_369677b8d8_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/7989640671_2d70868e62_c.jpg)
Guys, I think I may have to back up on some of my plan for this knife. The leather texture might wait for another knife. I am thinking with the damascus blade and the fittings like they are, a textureed handle might be too busy. Not sure yet. I'll do some testing, but I think this knife will be finished like it is. My wife has a good eye for such things and she says "no texture" on this one. I do think a Carbon Steel blade would look better for the texture. I'm gonna study on it.
I say go with your wife! That looks incredible!!! WOW!!!
Yep. And that "looks like a leather grip like on an old golf club. Beautiful work- really like the butt cap and finial
Beautiful knife,congrats Lin.
Don't change a thing, Lin! That is another museum piece. All I can say is "HOLY S#%T" that's a BEAUTIFUL knife!!!!!
Allan
Thanks. Here are a couple more of the fittings.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/7990351993_4676e8ef2a_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/7990362358_d9065e6002_c.jpg)
knockout!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8000621288_1fbe8ce236_c.jpg)
That is my favorite blade you've done. Incredibly work, Lin. The contract, contour, and flow is just gorgeous!
Crikey! That's a dandy! I really like your flares at each end of the handle.......and that steel is nuts.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Yup, 2 thumbs up :D
Darcy
Stunning!!! Its even beter than I had envisioned.
Chris
Beautiful !!!
Lin that's just grand!
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Awesome, what more can I say ? Love your work Lin. Truly amazing... :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Lin, that one is just so far over the top. :thumbsup: :notworthy:
:) Thanks. I really appreciate you guys.
Wow, that is one pretty knife, amazing!
wow as always Lin
thats amjazing Lin,I love the flow in the blade.
WOW! Nothing more, just....WOW!