'Step Ladder' Ws and Amboyna Hunter

[kbaknife]

It's been a little while since I've been able to get creative and make something unlike the previous 19! (I've been wrapped up in a little project.)
So, my first one done for 'Broad Public Issue' in the year 2011 is this take-down hunter with a stabilized Amboyna Burl handle.
I forged the blade from a bar of "Crushed Ws" of which I laddered the bottom third for a neat variation that I call a "Step Ladder", since it's not a complete full blade width ladder pattern.
I also mirror polished the spine before I hot-blued the blade and hardware.
The guard was made from the same bar of 1084 and 15N20, but I had to sort of 'scrunch' it during the forging process so I could get some decent activity in the guard face.
I hope ya'll enjoy this, because it was a pleasure from beginning to end to be able to make something to start off the year.
(Next one is a laminate hunter similar to this one     )

[magnus]

Wow that is spectacular! Thank you for sharing.

Keeping the Faith!
Magnus

[Wampus]

That wood and steel pattern really go well together, kinda like something you'd see in deep space through the Hubble telescope.  

[DANA HOLMAN]

Karl, you make some of the nicest knives I've ever seen
Dana

[fixer]

Wow!!!!is all I can say  

[OconeeDan]

If you stare at it long enough, it'll start moving around!
Seriously, it's a knife with major COOL in it!
Dan

[TheBigRedArcher]

That is just plain sweet.

TBRA

[Scott Roush]

That guard is striking. Dan is right about seeing stuff in the pattern... I think I see sheep in there.

[skullworks]

Beautiful work as always!