- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- Messages
- 171
I have an unusual story to tell,
About a month ago I received an e-mail from a woman who asked if I was the Bladesmith that made the unusual knives? She said that she read an article in Blade Magazine about a knife made for a man with no hands. I replied that I have been known to make unusual knives from time to time and that I was the one who made the knife she was speaking of.
She told me that she owned a Gyr Falcon and wanted a ranch knife that she could carry when her and Morgan (her falcon) went on hunts, at the same time she wanted something that reminded her of the falcon.
What I came up with was to use the falcons feathers in the knife. She sent me over a dozen feathers for use in the knife and I went to work (some of you already know how my mind works). I ground the feathers into dust and mixed it with borax to use as flux for the Damascus. The feathers made the welds a bit harder to stick, but welded at a higher temp with no trouble at all. 260 layers later we had a billet. There is a very noticeable difference in steel I made with the feathers and steel made without, so Morgan's soul is part of the knife...I believe this.
I forged the billet to resemble a wing in flight and wanted it to be a knife useful while handling the falcon. An oval guard was the answer. An oval guard would keep the falcons spurs from digging into her soft leather palmed gloves while she cut his lead. The handle is Purpleheart with turquoise spacers and mosaic pins, furniture is German silver. Blade is 4" (8"OAL)
Please tell me what you think about this one?
Thanks, Dale
Dale Baxter Custom Knives
About a month ago I received an e-mail from a woman who asked if I was the Bladesmith that made the unusual knives? She said that she read an article in Blade Magazine about a knife made for a man with no hands. I replied that I have been known to make unusual knives from time to time and that I was the one who made the knife she was speaking of.
She told me that she owned a Gyr Falcon and wanted a ranch knife that she could carry when her and Morgan (her falcon) went on hunts, at the same time she wanted something that reminded her of the falcon.
What I came up with was to use the falcons feathers in the knife. She sent me over a dozen feathers for use in the knife and I went to work (some of you already know how my mind works). I ground the feathers into dust and mixed it with borax to use as flux for the Damascus. The feathers made the welds a bit harder to stick, but welded at a higher temp with no trouble at all. 260 layers later we had a billet. There is a very noticeable difference in steel I made with the feathers and steel made without, so Morgan's soul is part of the knife...I believe this.
I forged the billet to resemble a wing in flight and wanted it to be a knife useful while handling the falcon. An oval guard was the answer. An oval guard would keep the falcons spurs from digging into her soft leather palmed gloves while she cut his lead. The handle is Purpleheart with turquoise spacers and mosaic pins, furniture is German silver. Blade is 4" (8"OAL)
Please tell me what you think about this one?
Thanks, Dale
Dale Baxter Custom Knives
