Andersen Forge Damascus "Debut"

[kbaknife]

I couldn't take it any longer.
I've been putting it off as long as possible, 'cause I know that once you start, there's no turning back.
So, thought I'd show the process from concept to finished knife.
I want to thank Don Hanson - again - for holding my hand a little bit.
And Jerry Rados for all of the inspiration.
I think I called Don twice prior to lighting the forge.
Anyway, here is the direction it's headed.
I like to cut out a profile of the knife I want before I forge and make some drawings. Then, if I like what I see, I can forge my blades to shape.
This is 405 layers of 1084/15N20.
Will be mated up with a hot-blued mild steel "Lazy 'S'" guard, stabilized "feather" walnut handle and the blade will be hot-blued as well.
I've got two customer knives ahead of this one, so, like Arnold said, "I'll be back."
 

[skullworks]

Looks good!

[Nosight]

Quit teazzing us....Want to see this one done....

Looks good.....

Later.........Buzz

[Doug Campbell]

   :D    

[Lin Rhea]

This'll be fun. Looks good so far Karl!    Lin

[d. ward]

oh yeah I think we been waiting on this one.bd

[chiger]

Hey Karl,

Don't ever remember seeing you do a recurve before.  Cool!

Couple questions.  Is this the first laminated billet you've made?  And, why blued instead of etching?  I know you've thought it out...just wondering?

[kbaknife]

It will be DEEPLY etched!
Then hot-blued.
Just wait.

[prarieboy]

Hey no patience here wanna see it lets go Karl!            C-Ya Bob

[Butts2]

The men that make great knives also can draw pictures of knives very well also. Ever notice that?

[imskippy]

I can't wait for this one. Between KArl and Lin and everyone else this place rocks. Skippy  

[chiger]

Ok, now I'm tracking.

Cool!

[kbaknife]

Here is what's in that steel!
No bad welds, on my very first billet, which thrills me immensely!!!
(Means I didn't waste my time!)
So, for those on this forum that may not understand what happened here, I forged two different steels together in a stack of five pieces.
1 type of steel in the #s 1, 3, and 5 position.
Then, a different type of steel in the #s 2 and 4 position.
Forged out the stack into a long bar.
Cut the bar into three pices and re-stacked them into one stack.
That makes 15 layers.
Forged welded them together and once again forged the stack out into a long bar.
Cut into three pieces and re-stacked into one stack.
45 layers.
Welded, forged, cut and re-stacked - 135 layers.
Welded, forged, cut and re-stacked - 405 layers.
Forged out into a bar and then forged the knife blade.
Here are three pics - one just before I started in the as-forged condition.
followed by rough grinding.
Then I took to a A45 Gator and dipped in acid!
No bad welds for my first time.
This is just a rough idea.
Still a LOT of work to do o this knife.
 

[Doug Campbell]

Looking good Karl      

[Kevin Evans]

Good job Karl.I know what you mean about the good welds!!!  
I wasn't going to post on this till it was done,But thought you should know I have already  put handle and guard of my choice on (in my mind) and it came together PERFECT!!    

[imskippy]

Absolutely stunning Karl!!  Skippy

[Lin Rhea]

Cant wait to see this one Karl! Lin

[chiger]

Classic Damascus figure and 405 layers.  But then I wouldn't have expected anything else.  Even from your first billet.  

This...is going to be cool guys!