Elk, 'Mokume', Forged rat-tail - It has it all!

ScottRoush

ScottRoush

Joined
Jan 10, 2010
Messages
1,818
I had a scrap piece of Aldo's 1084 with a long, thin piece hanging off the end from something I cut off so I forged it into a rat tail. Then I forged the knife into what I like to call a 'longhunter' with a swept back tip. I had some elk antler sitting around so I threw that on there with some nickel silver liners. Scratched in some filework. Wasn't sure what to do about bolsters. I wanted to do something different. So I took a 1" square tube filled it with some copper braid and 1084 powder and threw it in the forge to see what it would do. Well I got copper braid with 1084 filler is what I got and made some bolsters spaced by birch bark.

Then I figured I needed something to put this knife on. So I took some micaceous clay, mixed it with some water, strands of sheep wool and wood ash and baked it onto some driftwood and shellacked it. I went on to forge some copper into a stand that would fit through a hole in the driftwood.

This is what came out...

(I apologize for not sharpening it before photographing!)

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That's beautiful, Scott. It truly is. I mean that.
I can't wait to see what you submit for your JS test someday.
 
Scott,

I'll second Karl on this. Beautiful work. Very different from how I'm used to thinking, but clearly a well thought out artistic choice on your part.

It'll be interesting to see your journeyman designs.

John
 
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Very unique and a wonderful mix of textures and material-Bravo:thumbup::thumbup:Regards Butch
 
That is one cool looking little knife. What are the dimensions?

Roger
 
Thanks again folks..

Roger.. sorry I forgot to add that..

5" blade, 4.5" handle... distal taper to a 3/16" ricasso then flat line to the tail. It is a heavy, dense little sucker.
 
Too Cool Scott!

I will only ask you to give up one secret per month! This will do it for Jan. How did you modify your hammer for the forge marks?

That knife and display require several min. to digest! Love it! The top notch potography makes it easy!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
 
Thanks again folks...


Steve... a hint... It's not just the modified hammer with random wire feed slag all over it. It's also a modified .....fill in the blank... :-)
 
Scott,
your photos are really great! can you give me some tips on how you do it? backgrounds & lighting are super!
Thanks,
David
 
very kewl little knife. wonder if the tail might catch on things if it was carried but for a display piece it looks great and a nice image
 
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