Damascus Art Dagger

Steven Kelly

Steven Kelly

Joined
Nov 18, 2007
Messages
277
My son Mike came up and spent the past week with me. It was the best birthday present any dad could ask for!! When he got here, he told me he wanted to build a damascus Dagger. Now you have to understand that he is a 21 year old who has never built a knife before. I tried to explain to him that a dagger was probably not a good choice for a first knife. But, did I mention he is 21?? Oh ya, and really stubborn. So, needless to say, he began building damascus for his dagger. Then he designed what he wanted to look like. That was the moment I knew there was no way he could pull this thing off. It was not only a dagger. But, a wild fantasy art dagger. I tried to explain that I would help him as much as I could, but, this was even a bit out of my league.
He spent about 6-8 hours a day for 6 days working on his dagger. And I am amazed at how awesome it turned out.
This just goes to prove that with a little help and direction from dad. And, a positive attitude anything is possible..

Not Bad for a first knife!!!
Dad is proud!!!

Specs are 16" over all length with a 9 1/2" blade of canned W-1,1080,1095 and pure nickel Damascus. The guard and butt cap are mild steel, and the handle is ebony.

Thanks for looking.
Please let us know what you think!!!
 

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I'd say he was wildly successful --- that's a knife anyone could be proud of. Glad you guys had fun together too.
 
Ya you should be proud that is the best looking first knife I have seen.
 
bold!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::cool:
 
I'm impressed.

Good student = Good teacher. :)

Coop
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone. This really was a great project. It's not often that we get 30-40 hours of un-interrupted one on one time with our kids?? Especailly when they live 1300 miles away!!
 
Nice dagger but the real gem is the time spent together. Its unforgettable. Our oldest son is a designer and the youngest is a better grinder than myself. I love working with them both.
 
Bruce Bump said:
Nice dagger but the real gem is the time spent together. Its unforgettable. Our oldest son is a designer and the youngest is a better grinder than myself. I love working with them both.
Click to expand...

That's what Mike doesn't probably understand yet. He kept apologizing for distracting me and not letting me get any of my work done. The reality is that I was the big winner this week. I got to keep him all to myself for a whole week!!!
 
I'm being patient with my son, hoping he'll want to do something like that. He likes the forging part but quickly loses interest. Someday.

What a great father son project, he did one heck of a job!
 
Mike Quesenberry said:
I'm being patient with my son, hoping he'll want to do something like that. He likes the forging part but quickly loses interest. Someday.

What a great father son project, he did one heck of a job!
Click to expand...

Mike,

Keep being patient.. I never thought my son would have any interest either. Then all of a sudden this!! Now he is talking about getting some tools of his own so he can make some more knives.. That is just awesome!!!!!!!
 
Steven Kelly said:
Mike,

Keep being patient.. I never thought my son would have any interest either. Then all of a sudden this!! Now he is talking about getting some tools of his own so he can make some more knives.. That is just awesome!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

He's 13, so there's still time. He loves fishing, going hunting with me but not the killin' part. Last year I asked him if he wanted to take the hunter safety course so he could put in for a deer tag. He said "do I have to kill one?" I said "well that's kind of the goal." He declined but still wanted to go when I go. He loves animals and has a big heart. When I was that age all I could think of was killing a deer. I'm a cold hearted SOB, he must get it from his mom.
Congrats again on your father and son time.:D
 
Mike Quesenberry said:
He's 13, so there's still time. He loves fishing, going hunting with me but not the killin' part. Last year I asked him if he wanted to take the hunter safety course so he could put in for a deer tag. He said "do I have to kill one?" I said "well that's kind of the goal." He declined but still wanted to go when I go. He loves animals and has a big heart. When I was that age all I could think of was killing a deer. I'm a cold hearted SOB, he must get it from his mom.
Congrats again on your father and son time.:D
Click to expand...


Mike,

It sounds like our sons are a lot alike.. Mine has no desire to hunt and has expressed that he could never kill anything.. But he is an incredible artist and about the best son a father could hope for. It took me a long time to understand how a kid of mine could not want to hunt. That's what I live for. But, I just respect him for his belies and am proud of what we do have in common!!
Now, it's looking like we have a love of knives in common too!! That makes me extremely proud!!
 
Kid's got and eye for design. Got his own style and sticks to it. Let him go his own way in design and you'll be amazed methinks...

Very nice dagger by the way, actually my cup of tea.
 
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