ladder w's damascus question

[JMJones]

I have seen several knives with laddered w's and I think they look great. My question is are the w's already on the side of the billet (via accordian cut, ferry flip, ect) when the ladder grooves are cut or are they still on the end of the billet and the laddering brings them out?


Thanks

John

 

[rtj1981]

The W's are still in the end when the ladder pattern is either pressed in or ground in. If the pattern is pressed in the tops are then ground off reveling the ladder patter. If they are ground in then the billet is then forged back flat. My preference is to press them in since you then don't have to worry about grinding them away when you finish the knife.