Inspired by John Cohea & Daniel Winkler

The blade is cut from an old L6 sawmill blade, with some of the rust-spots left visible. I clay backed the flat-ground blade before I quenched in the hope of producing my first visible hamon. The quench was 10 seconds in cold oil & 20 in hot saline. HT was 1 hour at 200C followed by 40mins at 180C. I polished the blade to 600 grit before quenching & finished it at 1200 before etching in a mixture of orange juice & vinegar. A final polish with a home-made compound (light green polishing soap & 3-in-1 oil mixed Thanks Jeremy ) revealed a nicely active hamon that I'm chuffed to death with!

The handle is Sambar antler, polished smooth with just a little bark left for effect & grip. It's held in place with epoxy & 3 brass pins.

The sheath is rawhide (dog chews!) over soft, buckskin-like leather. Decorated with fringing, buffalo bone beads, horsehair, steel tacks & antique tin cones. I have to say, the sheath took a lot of figuring out, I certainly take my hat off to Daniel, John & all those 18th Century trappers!
I hope I'm not alone in my satisfaction with the finished article!

Anyhoo, enough of the pontification..........

KEWL!!! like the hamon

Absolutely beautiful! This might be my most favorite of all your knives! Amazing hamon! Super job, Rob!

Dang!  I never would have thought dog chews could look that good!    

The hamon turned out awesome!!  That last polishing step is a time-consuming pita but it really makes the hamon pop!

Ron LeClair see this one yet?lol

Way cool.  That one would be right at home in Kentucky (or Tennesee). Larry

Very Nice!!!

Now THAT is "sharp"!!!!!  

i think that one would be right at home in odessa texas  

Dang, Rob, that's outstanding!

I take my hat off to you on that bad boy!Any mountain man would be happy with that....matter a fact "any man" should be happy with that!!  

Friend, my hat is off to you.

Beautiful!

Im waiting for Mr. LaClairs response to this

Beautiful work Rob!!!!!!! Very cool Sheath....

My Gawd! that is a complete package, I love that for sure!  Would you take a trade for that Knife and sheath?  I have a mother-in-law that cooks on occasion and will do laundry every once in a while.  Let me know!  I will pay for relocation! lol, Just kidding she don't cook anymore!

Seriously that is a thing of beauty!

That'll cut some cheese!
Mike

Rob
Thats one Beautifull Outfit!!!      

WOW!    :eek:  that's gorgeous..  and thank you for the details of the build.That sheath looks like it took more time than the knife!


Gene

Thats an outstanding knife! ..and sheath
amazing work rob        

I got a lot of Raw Hide Dog Chews at the clinic...But they never looked like that!  Beautiful job Rob...simple eloquence to the blade    Doc