Damascus and blackwood fighter by Kevin Cashen, MS

RogerP

RogerP

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
13,348
Greeetings all,

This piece recently made it's way to me from the Matherton Forge in Hubbardston, Michigan to Oakville, Ontario - one of the VERY few occasions where new forged blade doesn't actually have to travel north to get to me. :)

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This fighter features a 6 1/2" blade, with an overall length of 11 1/8". The damascus blade is complemented by a damascus double guard and butt cap, accented by silver spacers. The handle is African blackwood.

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The blade features a bold damascus pattern with an interesting background. As Kevin explains: "The blade is made from O1/L6 but is from a bar the I made a pattern welded sword from, thus the edge wrap around a two bar twisted core." Very cool - I would LOVE to see the sword whose remnants were the genesis of this striking piece.

The knife has a terrific feel in hand - a nice heft, but still quick like a fighter should be. It also sports an edge that is deep into the "scary sharp" zone. Fit and finish are utterly beyond reproach.

Here is a closer look at the guard:

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And da butt:

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My thanks to Peter Gill who assisted in procuring this piece on my behalf while in attendance at the Ashokan Bladesmithing Seminar.

And my thanks to Kevin for crafting this terrific piece.

Roger
 
I really like this piece. The lines are fantastic, the damascus fittings complement the damascus blade. It's one of those blades that you can seem to see it's razor sharpness.

I don't care for African blackwood at all, but I admit it sure works here.

The damasus is excellently executed. And a nice sheath to boot. Congrats Roger. :thumbup::thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Kohai999 said:
How come?

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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I just like more color and grain in a wood.

But IMO, a knife like this that has so much going for it's design, the blackwood's subtlety helps to fully enhance these elements.

Tim Hancock uses Blackwood and Ebony masterfully, pretty much the same way in his designs.
 
I love the look of blackwood, but I must admit that the blackwood handle on my little user/design study knife has been mistaken for black Micarta by a couple of folks when they first saw it. I don't like working with Micarta, so for me, blackwood is a good, tough material for hard use knives along with lignum vitae.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
African blackwood is one of my two or three favorite woods. It looks great on this knife.
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I bought some blackwood after trying to work with ebony early on. The stuff I bought from Exotic Wood Group is as black, if not blacker than most ebony that I have seen anywhere other than on a piano keyboard. But the BEST part is that it is a member of the rosewood family and works like rosewood, so it is not brittle like ebony. MUCH easier to work with for moi:D
 
As I said, it just seems lifeless to me (kinda like micarta :eek:), however it has it's design applications.
Looks great here..... Sorry to take the subject away from Roger's beauty.
 
Very nice, Roger! Great looking fighter. I really think the blackwood and ebony handled fixed damascus blades are hard to beat. Of course, Kevin's signature is all over this one. Super score.

- Joe
 
That is a real handsome knife!
I like how the handle material isn't flush with the spacer at the spacer/hilt junction. It looks kind of pillowy and organic, and not so mechanical. Like velvet tied down with silver wire. Maybe that's why the lack of pattern in the handle material contributes so much with all that organic looking layered steel.
Not the kind of knife that screams at you to look at it, it just returns a smile it seems.
 
Lovely piece. I like the general color scheme too. Kevin is a wizard with steel and damascus.
 
I could look at that all the ding-dong day.:D

Kevin Cashen is one of a few makers whose knives I have have developed a serious thirst for. It's nice to have ambitions...
 
Roger,
Perfection in a Fighter.Great score! :thumbup:
Gotta' agree with Joe,blackwod and ebony handles on damascus fixed blades are tough to top.

Doug
 
That is beautiful! The damascus pattern and blackwood/ebony compliment each other perfectly!
 
Roger,

It is a great piece. Enjoy it! :thumbup:

African Blackwood is THE wood for Damascus blades, imho. ;)

Peter
 
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