FlipSide, an opposed integral hamon fighter.

[Salem Straub]

I sold this in fixed blades a couple weeks ago, then realized I'd never shown it here. (I don't intend to post everything I make here, just the stuff that I'm more excited about.) Of course this has been done very nicely and similarly before by other makers, once I saw it I had to try though. Here's my version, with a hamon thrown in.

This here is FlipSide, so called because the tang is 90 degrees from normal for an integral tapered tang knife. As you can see, I decided to make a curved handle and thus curve the tang too. First one of these I’ve tried!

The steel is W2 with a goodly hamon, mostly gunome but the clay blew off a little early toward the tip… the bolster, tang and African blackwood of the handle are all at 1000 grit and the blackwood has a deep teak oil finish. The blade is full flat ground with just a little re-curve. Vertical stainless pins are installed through the handle.

Specs:
11-1/8” overall length.
6-1/8” blade length, tip to heel.
1-1/4” blade width at heel.
.190” blade thickness, spine at bolster.
6-3/4 oz. total weight.
Handle max thickness of 5/8” at butt.
Balances at middle of bolster front transition.

Here’s some terrible pics, and a vid! Boy, my voice sure doesn’t sound like that in my head…

[video=youtube;ByujrTEKt1w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByujrTEKt1w&feature=player_detailpage[/video]

 

[DP Custom Knives]

Wonderful. Great looking knife and sheath.

 

[messser]

Ohhhh
A lot of hard work
Beautiful and awesome

 

[Doug Timbs]

Really nice job mate, looks brilliant.


Doug

 

[mwschilling]

Well done. Great fit and finish on an attractive knife.

 

[Doug C]

Pushes all the right buttons.
VERY nice work.

Doug

 

[wdtorque]

Very nice work Salem. I really like it.
Dozier

 

[Mark Behnke]

Damn!!

Your creativity and workmanship is so inspiring, keeps me going.

 

[Dawkind]

That's a fantastic display of your abilities my friend.....sorry I missed that one.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

I just love your creativity Salem.

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

Beautiful work Salem. I never realized until now, that is the way to forge the tang on a full tang integral. :thumbup: gotta try that one of these days.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Very elegant look to it.

 

[Mark Knapp]

Very well done

 

[Burl Source]

I like it. Beautiful knife Salem.

 

[Justin Carnecchia]

Wow, you are doing some amazing work.

 

[SharpByCoop]

I'm with everyone else. VERY engaging piece. Years ago I picked up one of Tai's 'Topsy Turvy' versions and it's still one of my faves, because of how different it is. Like this.

Well done!

(Your voice, my voice, EVERYONE'S voice sounds unlike what we hear, because we're hearing deeper tones through the rich nasal cavity instead of through our ears. It's always a letdown. My son screams when he hears his voice on a vid, LOL!)

I disagree with your video statement on showing the hamon: "It's amazing what bright sunlight can do to show it..." Notice it showed well ONLY when you reflected off of a dark surface. That there was enough sunlight to show that darkness from the side lighting is key. How well I know!

Good stuff. Good thread!

Coop

 

[keithf]

I really like this! Cool tang design.
Cheers Keith

 

[Salem Straub]

Thanks for the kind words, y'all. Now I just have to work on a little ornamentation for that bolster and tang surface...
Coop, Tai was the first one I saw do this. It was very striking to me at the time!

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hello!

Salem, you are really knocking 'em out atm! Another stunning and innovative piece! :thumbup:

Just had another look at the video - the way the end of tang looks alone would be sufficient to make me grab this one, if not allready sold! Love that look there!

Best regards,
Alex

 

[Willie71]

I love it! I have to make one of these! Salem, you have been a huge inspiration with the last few pieces you have posted.