milesofalaska
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 518
Knife
Order code (use when inquiring so I know what knife!) A-K-fwi2-1210
Style-function display- utility- hidden tang style
Durability This knife is sensitive to being wet and should not be abused or kept wet due to the fossil ivory handle. Will make a good kitchen type knife – or taken out deer hunting once a year in situations you would clean it up and take care of it after the hunt. The steel is not the issue, the handle is.
Story or personal info about this knife This is some of my first Damascus blades and first blade made by a master knife smith. I was excited to have such good material. I chose one of my most beautiful pieces of fossil walrus ivory to go with the quality of the steel. I decided on a ‘water theme’ with mink and bear because of the walrus being a water animal and the ‘water blue’ color of the material. The Damascus reminded me of rippling water in the river. The dragon fly on the end cap is also ‘of the water’. I etched the steel with one of my nice designs but it hardly shows! Darn! Then etched to get the Damascus pattern to show and decided to let the etching bit the steel deep so the pattern will never polish out. So this blade has sort of an alligator skin feel to it, very deep etching that will never get lost with use. I’m not very good at listening to how anything is traditionally done, and this is another example of what you will never see anything like anywhere.
Price $350
A custom sheath is available for an additional $25.
My knives in general I do all my own work unless stated. Cut my own steel , shape blades one at a time freehand- no pattern. Do my own hardening and equalizing. If etched, freehand one of a kind no patterns, using acid. Been using and depending on knives since 1972 as a subsistence person in the remote interior of Alaska. Handle materials are often materials I find myself in my lifestyle – mammoth ivory, bone, horn, fossils etc. If not I know the source, and material has been personally selected. Guards are usually lost wax cast, my own carved designs, doing my own casting from free scrap metals gifted by our local barge line. Pins usually hand made tubing or copper heavy electrical wire or brazing rod. I make my own sheaths and stands. Often a story in some of it someplace- that helps make the knife one of a kind- personal. My methods, work and life is ‘unorthodox’ so if you have a specific use for a knife you may want to inquire to verify the knife you see will suit your needs.
Blade Tony Metsala at acmetsala@gmail.com made the Damascus steel.
Type steel Damascus 1095 and a nickle base carbon steel unsure what this exact pattern is called by him
Treated how I go the billet from Tony – cold ground it to shape, then torch tempered only the edge and equalized it twice.
Dimensions Over all length is 8 inches. Blade is 4 inches x 1 inch x 1/16th weighs 7 ounces
Artwork acid etched scene in blade is hard to see but a bear on one side and a goose on the other. Guard is custom carved and cast one of a kind from barge propeller bronze. Mink on one side and bear on the other end cap has brass dragon fly
Handle Fossil walrus ivory has been stabilized and dyed – color is a 1/16th deep and will last a lifetime – quality work done. Some cracks were filled blended and stabilized so are now simply part of the design and not a structural strength issue. Wild Dall sheep horn end cap has been pinned with brass dragon fly on end of copper pin
Guard-pommel –pins Guard described above is custom lost wax cast from bronze to fit this piece. Pin holding end cap is heavy copper set in 3 inches with dragon fly on end.
Display or sheath info Not sold with a sheath but have one that fits custom engraved – a Jantz sheath I form to my knives and engrave and dye
How to purchase or inquire
Pay pal – miles@milesofalaska.net is my account and my email or request pay pal invoice be sent.
Credit card – go through pay pal- not set up for credit cards
Check or money order – After confirmation by email send to my address Or call me
Out of the US: inquire on any restrictions and payment options (pay pal preferred but Western Union is a choice)
Shipping and warranty policy
Usually flat rate priority with delivery confirmation. Usually $11 anywhere in the US. Overseas inquire. Not set up to get creative with shipping. I live in a village of 300 people in the interior of Alaska. No UPS no FedEx no street numbers, just us savages and wild creatures. I’ve never needed insurance, just proof to you it was sent, proof to me you got it. And my word that if there is a problem I’ll make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me I’ll be nice to you. Easy return if not satisfied. Been in business 40 years. Not even one in 500 deals gets returned. I have credentials – satisfied customers , references upon request.
Order code (use when inquiring so I know what knife!) A-K-fwi2-1210
Style-function display- utility- hidden tang style
Durability This knife is sensitive to being wet and should not be abused or kept wet due to the fossil ivory handle. Will make a good kitchen type knife – or taken out deer hunting once a year in situations you would clean it up and take care of it after the hunt. The steel is not the issue, the handle is.
Story or personal info about this knife This is some of my first Damascus blades and first blade made by a master knife smith. I was excited to have such good material. I chose one of my most beautiful pieces of fossil walrus ivory to go with the quality of the steel. I decided on a ‘water theme’ with mink and bear because of the walrus being a water animal and the ‘water blue’ color of the material. The Damascus reminded me of rippling water in the river. The dragon fly on the end cap is also ‘of the water’. I etched the steel with one of my nice designs but it hardly shows! Darn! Then etched to get the Damascus pattern to show and decided to let the etching bit the steel deep so the pattern will never polish out. So this blade has sort of an alligator skin feel to it, very deep etching that will never get lost with use. I’m not very good at listening to how anything is traditionally done, and this is another example of what you will never see anything like anywhere.
Price $350
A custom sheath is available for an additional $25.
My knives in general I do all my own work unless stated. Cut my own steel , shape blades one at a time freehand- no pattern. Do my own hardening and equalizing. If etched, freehand one of a kind no patterns, using acid. Been using and depending on knives since 1972 as a subsistence person in the remote interior of Alaska. Handle materials are often materials I find myself in my lifestyle – mammoth ivory, bone, horn, fossils etc. If not I know the source, and material has been personally selected. Guards are usually lost wax cast, my own carved designs, doing my own casting from free scrap metals gifted by our local barge line. Pins usually hand made tubing or copper heavy electrical wire or brazing rod. I make my own sheaths and stands. Often a story in some of it someplace- that helps make the knife one of a kind- personal. My methods, work and life is ‘unorthodox’ so if you have a specific use for a knife you may want to inquire to verify the knife you see will suit your needs.
Blade Tony Metsala at acmetsala@gmail.com made the Damascus steel.
Type steel Damascus 1095 and a nickle base carbon steel unsure what this exact pattern is called by him
Treated how I go the billet from Tony – cold ground it to shape, then torch tempered only the edge and equalized it twice.
Dimensions Over all length is 8 inches. Blade is 4 inches x 1 inch x 1/16th weighs 7 ounces
Artwork acid etched scene in blade is hard to see but a bear on one side and a goose on the other. Guard is custom carved and cast one of a kind from barge propeller bronze. Mink on one side and bear on the other end cap has brass dragon fly
Handle Fossil walrus ivory has been stabilized and dyed – color is a 1/16th deep and will last a lifetime – quality work done. Some cracks were filled blended and stabilized so are now simply part of the design and not a structural strength issue. Wild Dall sheep horn end cap has been pinned with brass dragon fly on end of copper pin
Guard-pommel –pins Guard described above is custom lost wax cast from bronze to fit this piece. Pin holding end cap is heavy copper set in 3 inches with dragon fly on end.
Display or sheath info Not sold with a sheath but have one that fits custom engraved – a Jantz sheath I form to my knives and engrave and dye
How to purchase or inquire
Pay pal – miles@milesofalaska.net is my account and my email or request pay pal invoice be sent.
Credit card – go through pay pal- not set up for credit cards
Check or money order – After confirmation by email send to my address Or call me
Out of the US: inquire on any restrictions and payment options (pay pal preferred but Western Union is a choice)
Shipping and warranty policy
Usually flat rate priority with delivery confirmation. Usually $11 anywhere in the US. Overseas inquire. Not set up to get creative with shipping. I live in a village of 300 people in the interior of Alaska. No UPS no FedEx no street numbers, just us savages and wild creatures. I’ve never needed insurance, just proof to you it was sent, proof to me you got it. And my word that if there is a problem I’ll make it right. We do not pay for that with money, but reputation. Be nice to me I’ll be nice to you. Easy return if not satisfied. Been in business 40 years. Not even one in 500 deals gets returned. I have credentials – satisfied customers , references upon request.
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