Update to Knife in Progress. "Bull Pup" Damascus/ironwood finished

[TikTock]

Here is my latest completed knife.

Specs: 9.5" OAL
5" blade
1095/15N20 Damascus Twist Pattern
Desert ironwood sculpted scales
1/4" SS/Copper Mosaic Pins

This is a knife I call the "Bull Pup". I am not sure why, but the name seems to fit. It is a stout, sturdy knife with a very grippable sculpted handle. The blade is deeply etched, then lightly buffed for aesthetic effect as well as rust resistance. The grain on this ironwood is great, with lots of contrast and lines. This knife was interesting because I wanted an etched exposed tang. I did not want to contaminate the scales with Fecl, so I etched frist, then finished the scales to near final polish, so that the pattern was not affected by final sanding and finishing.

This knife feels great in the hand and just asks to be picked up.
This is the first knife I have made coming off my new KMG, and I am thrilled with its performance so far!

[circlepknives]

Wow that is nice! I really love the way the grain continues from the top, across the steel. Great work, I know we can expect more god looking knives from you.

Keep up the good work!

[chrisinbeav]

Way to go!!!

This is easily, by far, your best knife yet!!! Very clean and crisp.

I'm glad the new grinder is working out for you...

Chris Nilluka

[Andrew Garrett]

Allow me to expand on the wood grain comment. Instead of looking as if the wood was sawn and slapped onto the steel, it is as if a carefully measured section of wood was removed and replaced by and equal amount of steel. One could take a sharpie and draw in the grain lines across the backbone of the tang with no misalignment issues!

Very cool! (Another quality benchmark for me to strive for)

Keep it up brother.

P.S. Is it sold?

[TikTock]

I must admit I like how the wood came out as well! These were bootmatched scales and I put them cut-side toegther to get the grain to flow together. Really came out looking nice! I also like the deep etch along the length of the tang. Makes it grippy!

I havent worked much with damascus, and Loved it! I wish the materials cost wasn't so high to work with it more!

As of now, this has no home!

As always, I really appreciate the comments!

[David Johansen]

I like it! Great job on this one!! I echo that this is my favorite you have done so far!!

[B Doone Jr]

The whole knife is just simply gorgeous !!! The grain of the wood is what sets it off for me...great contrast to the damascus blade....Would you tell us how you finished the scales?
Bernie

[sheathmaker]

This one is a show stopper! The attention to detail with the scale placement is great and the sculpting isn't too shabby either. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Paul

[TikTock]

Thanks!

The scales were fitted for grain flow, then sculpted using a half round file and a dremel with snall sanding drums. I then hand sanded up to 800 and buffed lightly with white polish on a loose wheel.

The blade and tang needed to be etched prior to final assembly, which made me finish the scales to final polish along the perimeter prior to glueing, then quick work with varying tools to remove all the epoxy that wanted to destroy the look of the spine. I didn't ant to have to etch afterwards for corrosion reasons, and sanding would have taken the pattern out.

The wood itself is just fantastic.
Thanks again for the comments!

[Andrew Garrett]

I hope to see it listed soon...

[Trenton Entwistle]

Very nice. I'm impressed. The steel and scales teally wrk well together.

Trenton