knife making 101

“My first time making a knife.
I'll post the final product at a later date, its still in progress......
Go to my webshot page http://community.webshots.com/user/chappydpd

Don't forget to read the comments below the pictures......
last edited: 12/22/07 3:50:36 PM”

“Cool Chappy!
I have one at home that just needs ground and scales put on. It'll probably be a long time before it actually gets done though.”

“this is really, super cool. thanks for sharing this.”

“I'll tackle a really tough design on my next journey out to Paul's place...it will be designed on the knife in 'The Hunted' movie, which is actually made by Tom Brown. You can google it.

last edited: 12/22/07 3:57:06 PM”

“I once knew a guy who had made himself about a half dozen of those, and really thought the design was great. I don't care for it myself, but then again that blank I have is my own design and pretty weird but it's own right.”

“I won't copy Browns design exactly cause it is too big of a knife. I'll scale it down and have a serrated back edge on it.”

“I'm impressed...really!”

“That is an impressive shop. Wow. Were you making your own damascus? That is beautiful.”

“Amazing how that Damascus close-up mimics a topo.”

“no wonder I can sit and stare at topo's for hours too. LOL!”

“No damascus for me, I'm just a beginner...the damascus looks like regular steel until you etch it. Then the chromium steel stays up higher and the other carbon steel is deeper down...
Paul uses cable and carbon to make damascus, plus other steels....about three all layered together and forged...actually he has to 'forge weld' the steels together first before working/folding/pounding.
last edited: 12/22/07 4:32:46 PM”

“Pretty Slick!”

“i know absolutely nuthin 'bout this..but do like how those blades have that swirly design...thats purdy!”

“It's not only a functional feature, but makes them incredibly expensive too due to the time required to fold the steel so many times.”

“This morning I'm going out to Paul's to watch him make some Damascus steel.....I'll post pics on my webshots page later........
cya, gotta get going......”

“Cool Stuff.”

“well.....forget the pics....lol, I forgot the camera this morning....(not enough caffein)....but it was cool though.
Paul made a fifteen layer blank that he then 'welded' together (using 20 mule team borax as flux) with about 2500 degrees in the forge. Then with his 25 pound hammer he pounded the layers together then heated several times and pounded to length (12 inches long) and folded over for 30 layers, with four layers of nickel to start ending with eight layers in the 30. Really neat watching. Another blank folded four times with 52 layers and twisted to get a really cool pattern when finished out. That 20 mule team borax is all he used, liberally, during the welding process and folding process.”