Damascus fighter -- who made it?

[bernard_levine]

Mike Losicco asked me who made this knife.

The style is typical ABS.

The damascus has thin bright white lines -- nickel or stainless or some sort of non tarnishing layers.

Marked with a touchmark I've seen before... but I forget whose.

Do you know?

THANKS!

BRL...

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[Ishrub]

Stab in the dark:
BATSON, RICHARD G. (1931-) Batson Knives with multiple marks listed in LG4 page 389, retired 1996

While at Arlington, VA worked 1970- 1993 one mark described as Spread-wing bat

[tltt]

No, not Batson, his bat was a very cartoon batty looking vampire bat .

I've seen that stamp on Bernard's knife before too, but can't remember where.

[Pipeman]

Looks a lot like chainsaw chain damascus or maybe Harley chain.

Regards

Robin

[bernard_levine]

I'm thinking the logo is a spread eagle, or maybe a thunderbird ...

(and, do thunderbirds eat lightning bugs?).

BRL...

[galvanic1882]

Thanks for posting it for me, hope more come along with thoughts!!

[Ishrub]

What about the two different Thunderbird makers listed in LG4 with references to':
APPLEBAUGH, JOHN (1908 - 1977 retired blind) Thunderbird Custom Knives; and

MENDENHALL, HARRY E. worked 1970 -c1996 Thunderbird Knives

[sunnyd]

Could the mark be a, 'double bit axe head' rather than a bat, thunderbird, eagle or other winged critter?.

[SharpByCoop]

Looked up Richard Batson, John Applebaugh and Harry Mendenhall in the early Knives Annuals.

Mendenhall is the only name which was listed. Showed images over the years of his knives and mark: Not even close. The thunderbird was figured with detail. His work was stock removal and engraved/ornate.

Might be the other two?

Coop

[tltt]

Double postareno.

[tltt]

Not Batson -

.

Mendenhall is closer, but different in the wings-

.

Can't find Applebaugh, but he was from the Iron Mistress school of knife making, heavy chunky knives. Also he was gone in 77 which was early in the damascus reborn craze.

[sunnyd]

Could the mark be a, 'double bit axe head' rather than a bat, thunderbird, eagle or other winged critter?.

Please disregard this aforementioned post as I am now convinced I have the intended touch-mark figured out here.. The mark is a 'kriss' knife, but stamped horizontally rather than vertically.. Of coarse I may be wrong about this.. Won't be the first time, nor the last.

Also, I initially thought that I recognized the knife as one of Ron Welling's very early Scagel reproductions.. I have recently been viewing over a bunch of Michigan custom knife makers and believe that the answer may well become apparent within that group of folks.

[Mr_Mauser]

The style is typical ABS.

What about this knife is "typical ABS"?

The mark is a 'kriss' knife, but stamped horizontally rather than vertically.. Of coarse I may be wrong about this..

This was my first impression when I saw the knife before it sold. Looked to be a mediocre but well made knife loosely based on a Scagel.

[bernard_levine]

There are 3 (as I recall) styles of knife which every prospective ABS member must present for inspection.

This would qualify as one of them.


It bears less relation to a Scagel than it does to a tuning fork, or a harmonica.



As to the mark, I've never seen a kriss with feathers on blade and handle.



BRL...

[sunnyd]

. . . . As to the mark, I've never seen a kriss with feathers on blade and handle.



BRL...

I now see the feather detail in the mark at the bottom of the wing. Hadn't seen that before.. Thanks for pointing that out.

[galvanic1882]

Thanks again for all the posts about the knife. No matter who made it, I really like the darn thing and will hopefully get it cleaned to look more presentable.

Mike

[Fixed Blade]

Thanks again for all the posts about the knife. No matter who made it, I really like the darn thing and will hopefully get it cleaned to look more presentable.

Mike

Hey Mike: Now you've got to give the "find" story and how you think it got so gunked up in rust. Definately wasn't sitting in a collector's velvet lined drawer to get in that condition.. I know damascus will corrode pretty quickly but that blade is caked. Regards, Bill

FB in Vt.

[Mr_Mauser]

There are 3 (as I recall) styles of knife which every prospective ABS member must present for inspection.

This would qualify as one of them.

If it pleases you, go to google and search "ABS Test Knives" in images and tell me how this knife is typical of those knives. Makers applying for Journeyman smith only submit plain carbon blades, no damascus. I have never seen someone applying for a Mastersmith title submit a cable damascus knife. This knife is closer to a Scagel style knife than it is to a typical ABS knife. If you disagree, I would be happy to see and hear why.

http://www.americanbladesmith.com/in...n=pages&id=172
http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ip...smith-testing/

It bears less relation to a Scagel than it does to a tuning fork, or a harmonica.

Absurdities such as this do absolutely nothing to further anyone's knowledge on knives or the knife industry. This knife, as I stated, appears to be based "LOOSELY" on Scagel lines and styling such as the slight belly to the blade, the sloping upswept tip and it appears the spine moves gradually to a rounded edge then to another cutting edge. For comparison:

Knife in Question


Tuning Fork


Harmonica


Original Scagel


Behring Scagel-Style knife


Lucie Scagel-Style Knife


None of these knives are mine and the pictures were not taken by me and are meant for educational purposes only.

[argel55]

not Applebaugh. he was an auto person and did a lot of his blades with 4 inch grinder. Did not do damascus.

[Thomas Linton]

I have never seen someone applying for a Mastersmith title submit a cable damascus knife.

Ed Fowler Master Smith and cable or wire Damascus

http://bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=4260

These blades are the knives that were judged for perfection by the ABS when Ed was awarded his stamp. Each knife was developed as his tribute to the forged blade, the sheep horn handles absolutely premium.
The set consists of the following:

. . .
2 3/4" Damascus Bird and Trout: Forged to shape from Ed's wire Damascus (sheep horn with brass bolster)
. . .
The quillion dagger (5 3/4" blade) -- forged from wire rope (steel cable), the heat treatment pushed to performance to the limit of the time. The guard and pommel were also forged from the same billet of cable Damascus, carefully developed from seven strands of 7/8ths inch improved plow wire rope. The handle is pre-ban ivory donated to Ed's endeavor by Mastersmith Wayne Goddard.

I seem to have heard of Mr. Fowler.