Ladder damascus deskknife with ebony stand

R

Rody

Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
153
Guys,

This is my second finished knife (loads still on the slab), a desk-knife-ish-like thing I made for my dad's birthday. I made it from a damascus offcut I got from Rob at Castlekeep on the Isle of Skye when I was touring the Highlands on my motorcycle last year. I ground in slits to half the thickness with an angle grinder and forged the blade flat and into shape, creating the ladderpattern. Filed, sanded, hardened, tempered and etched in battery-acid. The stand was made from ebony which I redneck-milled on my drill press and polished mild-steel roundstock. The pictures were taken in my recently built $10 lightbox. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

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This linking to Picasa is not working for me.... see them at http://picasaweb.google.com/rody.koops/Forging#

Cheers Rody
 
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jacqueeagonsr said:
very nice knife. I'd like to see your $10 light box.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll take a picture tomorrow, if I don't forget ;-).

The lightbox is as easy as it gets:
- 1 cardboard box , size depending on size of object you want to shoot $0
- 2 sheets of A4/letter size paper ~$0
- 1 large sheet of paper as wide as the box is long, and about twice as long as the box is high (I have a big roll of drawing paper from Ikea, about a foot-and-a-half wide) ~$0
- some clear tape ~$0
- two 150W spotlights $7 (from Praxis which is like Home Depot)
- two power cables for the spotlight $4
--------------------------
Ok, so I lied, it's $11 and change.....:-)

Lay the box on its side, "landscape mode". This is the orientation you'll be using the box in. Center a paper sheet on one side, mark the outline, and cut out a rectangle from the box about 1 inch smaller than the sheet. Tape the paper sheet over the hole, repeat for the other side. Take the large sheet, lay it against what is now the back and the bottom of the box, without folding or creasing the paper (think skateboarding ramp/quarterpipe), cut to length as required and tape down the ends. Place the two spotlights on either side of the box so that they'll shine through the paper windows. This gives a very diffuse lighting and few/soft shadows. Place your object in the box, before the start of the curve in the ramp. The ramp gives you an endless horizon. Best to put your camera on a tripod, but shooting freehand is possible. You can also put a window and additional light in the ceiling for even more flexibility.

Cheers rody
 
Very nice Rody. I like the flow of the whole package (knife + stand). I too would like to see your $10 light box. Thanks for posting...

Eric
 
Rody,

That's one awesome letter opener! Love the display stand. I have to mention it's weird to hear someone from the Netherlands mention Ikea. I know they're based there, but just never think of it since I drive by one every day to and from work! Great work!
 
I always wondered what kinda knife one would use on a desk.

That's what they look like, huh.

Pretty cool...and you ain't even gotta carry it on yer belt or nothin...how do you get from one desk to another? What if you see a REALLY big desk down the hall and you gotta shoot it after it runs down the stairs....onto another floor....and expires next to the water cooler?

Good knife...but you might oughta consider a good scabbard....

City fellers think they're so smart....hehehe...

Needs a country boy to see the chinks in his armor.

Shane

PS...Just funnin' wit you.
Cool knife.
 
shane justice said:
I always wondered what kinda knife one would use on a desk.

That's what they look like, huh.

Pretty cool...and you ain't even gotta carry it on yer belt or nothin...how do you get from one desk to another? What if you see a REALLY big desk down the hall and you gotta shoot it after it runs down the stairs....onto another floor....and expires next to the water cooler?
Click to expand...

That's where the curve in the blade comes in. You fling it like a boomerang, it whirls across the room, clips the desk along the jugular and returns to your hand. Replace it on the stand and walk over to collect your kill...;-)

Cheers Rody
 
TekSec said:
Rody,

That's one awesome letter opener! Love the display stand. I have to mention it's weird to hear someone from the Netherlands mention Ikea. I know they're based there, but just never think of it since I drive by one every day to and from work! Great work!
Click to expand...

I think they're based in Sweden, but they're everywhere across the world...
The reverse is highly frustrating. Hearing you guys mentioning outfits like Harbour Freight, Grizzly, Admiral Steel etc, knowing we have nothing remotely similar around here....

Cheers Rody
 
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