"Firecracker" opposed integral fighter, multibar 'mascus.

Salem Straub

Salem Straub

Joined
Oct 20, 2008
Messages
5,547
Here’s a smaller fighter with several firsts for me. First time welding this pattern, first damascus opposed integral, first multibar blade.
The steels are 15n20 and CruForgeV, w’ed up and twisted, then stacked in four bars of opposing twists and ground into for an explosion pattern. Or rather, “firecracker pattern” as it reminds me of many small bangs, like a string of firecrackers going off. (Got the pattern from a Kyle Royer WIP, thanks Kyle.)

The handle pieces are shaped of stabilized box elder burl. I am very much currently learning to fit knives like this in damascus- got a little glue line here and there. An area in which to work to achieve better success next time.
The edge is fairly thin, yet the lower 1/3 of the blade width is convexed down from the main flats of the grind.

Specs:
10-3/8” Oal
5-1/2 blade, tip to heel
1-1/8” max blade width
.155” thick spine, ricasso
5-1/4 oz. weight

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[video=youtube;TqyAKMzU6EM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=TqyAKMzU6EM[/video]
 
Salem, love the knife, but to my eye, the handle material doesn't suit the knife. Just my opinion of course!
 
All opinions are welcome! Thanks for the comment. I expect that things about it won't entirely suit everyone! I thought about putting blackwood on it, which would have made the fit easier and would have looked nicely stark, but I've posted several blackwood knives lately. So I went with light material for a challenge.
 
Salem, that damascus is killer! I love it. You're putting out some terrific work.
 
really really really cool knife! Great damascus pattern, and what a creative idea turning the tang 90 degrees. I love it.
 
Your damascus and technique are superlative.

.......but......

This doesn't look like a fighter in any concept, even if it handles like one.

It looks like a chef's knife.....I want a guard on my fighters.....have slipped on a handle without one too many times to count, and if I was really using it "for real", am pretty sure I'd run the risk of my hand sliding up on the blade during a stab.

When you are TRAINING, and I mean training hard and like your life depends upon it, you learn an awful lot about what works for you and what doesn't.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven, plenty of fighting knives throughout history have not featured a guard. That said, your opinion is your own and I respect it. Thank you for the compliment!
Thanks Scott!
 
That looks great mate, the Damascus is fantastic. I think that maybe a darker handle may have made more visual impact, but I certainly would be happy with it as it is. Nice job.


Doug
 
Love the Damascus. And how the blade follows the pattern. Good job. I also like what you did with the tang. I think the wood is fine, but I do almost always prefer darker wood (just personal taste) except on kitchen knives.

My initial thoughts were similar to STeven's. I really would prefer a guard. Also, the blade shape seems more like a camp knife to me than a fighter. With the overall quality of the piece, I also would have liked to have seen a more sophisticated blade shape/profile instead of a sort of a flat grind with only one principal surface on each side. Something to break up that those large flat surfaces. That would add a lot of value to the piece, to me. I see a lot of otherwise excellent pieces like that and I am sure it saves a lot of time, but to me that is something that is usually necessary to take a knife to the next level.

Also, the handle shape seems a bit odd to me with the sharp taper down to the blade from a fairly constant cross section just sort of happening where it does without any apparent reason for where that happens . . . maybe I would understand better if I held it.

Overall, though, I think it is a very attractive piece. Congrats.
 
Killer Damascus. I like the thinking out of the box on the handle with the tang going down the side.

Steve
 
The Virginian said:
My initial thoughts were similar to STeven's. I really would prefer a guard. Also, the blade shape seems more like a camp knife to me than a fighter. With the overall quality of the piece, I also would have liked to have seen a more sophisticated blade shape/profile instead of a sort of a flat grind with only one principal surface on each side. Something to break up that those large flat surfaces. That would add a lot of value to the piece, to me. I see a lot of otherwise excellent pieces like that and I am sure it saves a lot of time, but to me that is something that is usually necessary to take a knife to the next level.

Also, the handle shape seems a bit odd to me with the sharp taper down to the blade from a fairly constant cross section just sort of happening where it does without any apparent reason for where that happens . . . maybe I would understand better if I held it.

Overall, though, I think it is a very attractive piece. Congrats.
Click to expand...

I think that you would like the feel of it if you held it. The handle shape conforms to a straight or saber grip comfortably. The point at which the taper down to the bolster begins falls right between the index and middle fingers, and approximates the feel of a finger notch.

As for the blade grinds, they are flat ground for a reason- not just ease of work or a design afterthought. It's good to have a wide flat palette for this type of damascus. I added the clip to streamline it a bit and reduce weight/increase tip penetration, but I didn't otherwise want a bunch of intermediate grind lines etc. competing with the steel for attention. Besides, I like how a flat grind with a convexed edge cuts. I'm not going to introduce crazy looking grinds just for the sake of appearance (these words may haunt me...) I would have to feel that they make sense on the knife. To me it would make more sense in monosteel, anyway.

I'm not out to knife fight anyone. If I was, I would prefer a knife with a guard for such a pursuit. So, what Steven and you say makes sense to me! But, once again, like a kitchen knife, a hunting knife, whatever, anyone who uses a knife for a specific purpose will often have opinions almost diametrically opposed to other knife users performing the same task. I guess that's my long winded attempt to explain why fighting knives and even swords from all over the globe and throughout history have often enough been made without guards. I'd prefer to use a bowie over say, a facon or a kard in a fight... and I'd prefer to be the one with a sword, or the fastest runner best of all.

You will hopefully see me make many knives over time that you may like or dislike aspects of, and I hope that we will be in here or at a show discussing matters such as these time and again. My instinct is not to refute criticism; I can enjoy a debate and try to always be ready to learn something. So again, thanks to you and Steven for your feedback and I hope that my remarks by way of explanation make some sense to you!

Thanks as well to everyone else commenting!
 
Awesome piece.

I say build what is attractive to you and the others out there that like your taste or design will go for it. Those that don't, can find another maker....
 
Cajun Kamikaze said:
Awesome piece.

I say build what is attractive to you and the others out there that like your taste or design will go for it. Those that don't, can find another maker....
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They will find another maker indeed.

My comments to makers are intended to guide them into maximum acceptance from their intended audience. New makers are coming into the community constantly, not just USA anymore, but truly worldwide.

Limiting the appeal for any knife just increases competition. Part time makers can afford to be cavalier with regard to pattern choices, but full time makers, maybe not.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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