Appreciate Your Damascus!

U

UW Mitch

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
1,437
Hey knife-collector folks,

This weekend I got to attend my first hammer-in. Up until now, I wasn't all that interested in damascus or forged knives. I couldn't appreciate why it cost from $10 an inch for billet. I also didn't see why someone would go through the trouble of forging a knife when (I thought) stock removal gave you just as good a knife.

This weekend was a real education in just how much goes into forging. I have so much more respect, and interest in, the "fire-breathing dragons" and the knives that are born from them.

Here's some pics I took:
http://students.washington.edu/mitchlum/wa-h-in/index.html

Enjoy,
Mitch
 
You never really appreciate forging, especially damascus, until you do a little....

Even if you do have all those fancy machines to help out.....:D

Altho I really dunno how much easier they make it....they might not...but you arent swinging a hammer for 100%...so thats at least a little better....

But yeah...I gained a real respect for why damascus costs $10 an inch the first time I spent a day working in a forge....
 
:)
Yes, and you will appreciate all the money your dad spent on your college education once you get a job..........
And what your parents went thru once you have kids....
and.............well, the list goes on!!!!!! :p:):p:):p
 
Looks like youi guys had a great time putting in some pretty hard work. I have never forged a blade, but am determined to do so as soon as possible.

Thanks for the pictures.:)
 
Tom, you're absolutely right - that's why I pay for a portion of college and have a job ;)...but I guess the job thing is mostly so I can support guys like you! LOL

I had a lot of fun! I have a small piece I was able to save - hoping to turn it into a small kitchen knife. The wasted piece will be a cable damascus paper weight! (hey, I'm half chinese, I can't waste anything :rolleyes: )

~Mitch
 
Mitch.

U n your pictures:p

$10/inch is cheap. Try talonite or stellite or mosiac damascus. Now that is pricy.

Hey send me the paper weight :D

Liong
 
Liong,

I thought that Talonite basically came out to $10/inch for folder stock? Anyway, yes, $10/inch is cheap - basic damascus. I saw some mosaic in Eugene that was something like $50/inch. And then there's Wootz at something like $100/inch! Yikes!

Send me one of your Onions and I'll have that paper weight in the mail! ;)

~Mitch
 
See the good looking guy in the big picture? That's...Mitch.

We sure had a lot of fun. I can totally emphathize with Mitch on the forging thing. I used to get real indignent because so many guys looked down on stock removal if they were into forging. I still don't and won't get into the argument of forging setting the stage for a better blade...BUT it sure is opening doors for my personal expressions in knifemaking...and that's fun!

Bill and his wife put out a lot of work to host us like they did...and I can't wait until the next one.

You guys are right, doing it without the machines is more work, but all of us have done it that way. Just like not starting out with a variable speed belt grinder... but if you can get it or build it...

One huge thing I'd like to point out, every machine except for my Burr King in the photos was built from scratch by my friend and our host Bill Cottrell...the 133 lb. air hammer, the press, the forges, the belt grinder...

Thanks to everyone that came!!! :)
Nick
 
Nice job Mitch! I got to see the result of the Tom and Rodger collaboration, a small folding boot type dagger w/jigged bone scales...WOW! I hope to attend the next hammer-in as I was on vacation for this one. Though I'm not a maker, I know it would be a great experience. I'm fortunate enough to know some of those guys and they are just plain good people. Try and make it to the NWKC show Sunday to see some of Lonnie Hansen's stuff (he won't be there Sat.) and stop by my table too. Unfortunatley, I have to work Sat. :(
 
Mitch
I've got a simular paperweight also. Took three days of class to get to where I F%$#&(*#%#*(*& and hit it one time too many as it was cooling. Nice weld on one end of a kinda-sorta fan shaped thing.

But it makes a nice reminder of what can happen.
 
Hey~

I agree .. it does make for a good reminder ..

the only trouble is when the 'reminders' start to stack up .. it can be quite depressing :D

glad you guys had fun swinging the hammer.
. o ( ...wish i had one of those big thumper air hammers... )

D.
 
Damascus is time consuming and addicting. I just spent every night this last week doing a bar. After five 3 hour nights I have a 1 1/2 X 3/8 X 16 inch long bar of 320 layer damascus. I still have to patturn it and draw it down to size. There goes anouther night or two.
Its a long painstaking act of love and care. I think its worth it. I hope to find customers for the knives that are to be made from this steel that think its worth it also.
Reguardless of cuts scrapes and burns a little bit of the maker goes into every knife, just a bit more for damascus though.
 
Robert, you make some of the nicest damascus that I have seen. If the bar you just made is as nice as what i have seen in the past, you should have no troulble finding people to purchase the knives that you make from it. When you are done I would love to see what this damascus looks like.:)
 
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