- Joined
- Sep 24, 2010
- Messages
- 3,023
Greetings,
Some of you know how a pattern welded billet is born. You stack different kinds of clean rustfree carbon steel plates on top of each other, than weld it on the edges, throw it into the fire, wait for the right moment when the pack of steel reaches the right temperature and than beat the crap out of it. Some could say: "simple. what's the big deal in it?"
The dry technical part isn't a secret, but that isn't everything. Oh no, not at all! The few who actually tried to make it can testify. Steel not always follow the instructions, not always bow before the will of the smith. But on the contrary, sometimes that hot lump of iron, with its shinning mini-sun-like orange face forces the man behind the anvil to change its plans according to its desires. And with that ethereal glowing smile between the thong's clasp presses on the smith toward its own sparkling iron will.
That is exactly what happened in this case.
I kicked myself out of the bed, did all the morning chores, went out to the shop, where the already prepared damascus wannabe billet waited for me. Fired up the coal with precise plans in mind. I must confess, I wanted to make an axe. But the billet had its own plans so I ended up with this extra large blade. I had no choice, it was the will of the steel and somewhere between the process I gave myself to it.
So here it is. It's total length is 41 cm, the blade is 28 cm long, 4.2 cm wide and 5 mm thick, forged of 1.2516, L6 and 5160.
The handle is made of cow bone, dark walnut and old piece of squirrel chewed antler found it the woods
After I polished it, its colors started to resemble the colors of ivory which I think it's quite pretty. The spongy part of the antler and the holes which were chewed into it are filled with stone hard epoxy resin.
The sheath is made of thick cowhide with a little viking knotwork burnt into it.
Hope you guys like it!
Some of you know how a pattern welded billet is born. You stack different kinds of clean rustfree carbon steel plates on top of each other, than weld it on the edges, throw it into the fire, wait for the right moment when the pack of steel reaches the right temperature and than beat the crap out of it. Some could say: "simple. what's the big deal in it?"
The dry technical part isn't a secret, but that isn't everything. Oh no, not at all! The few who actually tried to make it can testify. Steel not always follow the instructions, not always bow before the will of the smith. But on the contrary, sometimes that hot lump of iron, with its shinning mini-sun-like orange face forces the man behind the anvil to change its plans according to its desires. And with that ethereal glowing smile between the thong's clasp presses on the smith toward its own sparkling iron will.
That is exactly what happened in this case.
I kicked myself out of the bed, did all the morning chores, went out to the shop, where the already prepared damascus wannabe billet waited for me. Fired up the coal with precise plans in mind. I must confess, I wanted to make an axe. But the billet had its own plans so I ended up with this extra large blade. I had no choice, it was the will of the steel and somewhere between the process I gave myself to it.
So here it is. It's total length is 41 cm, the blade is 28 cm long, 4.2 cm wide and 5 mm thick, forged of 1.2516, L6 and 5160.
The handle is made of cow bone, dark walnut and old piece of squirrel chewed antler found it the woods
After I polished it, its colors started to resemble the colors of ivory which I think it's quite pretty. The spongy part of the antler and the holes which were chewed into it are filled with stone hard epoxy resin.The sheath is made of thick cowhide with a little viking knotwork burnt into it.
Hope you guys like it!
