My first damascus piece!!! Have a few ??'s

Senator

Senator

Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
1,874
I just received my first damascus piece by maker John Etzler. Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased. It's got a 3" blade of 1095 and nickel in a twist pattern and an 14K gold thumbstud. The bolsters are also 1095 and nickel in a mosiac pattern. Handles are MOP. The backspacer is fileworked damascus. The titanium liners are fileworked all around and are anodized in rainbow colors. The OAL is 7".

The fit and finish are outstanding. The lockup is solid with no blade play in any direction. When closed, the blade is perfectly centered. The detent is just right and the action is very smooth. The blade came very sharp.

I've yet to take a very good picture or scan of it, so John's allowed me to use his picture.

Etzler_folder.jpg


Etzler_Top_small.jpg


Here's a <a href="http://home.carolina.rr.com/senator/images/Etzler_Top_big.jpg">bigger pic</a> of the filework.


John was a pleasure to work with. He's a net nut too - our e-mails to each other were flying so fast it was almost real-time. Check out his <a href="http://members.tripod.com/~etzlerknives/">website</a> for more of his fabulous work.

Now - I've got a few questions for you damascus owners. I've ordered a thing of Ren Wax from Larry Connelley. Do I need to do anything to prepare/clean the blade and bolsters before I put the wax on? Do you have any other tips for maintaining a knife like this? I'd hate to do anything to screw this one up!

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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice

[This message has been edited by Senator (edited 17 November 1999).]
 
Wow Senator!

That is one Beautiful knife! Makes me think twice about my fixed blade fixation.

I clean up any finger prints and oil with a little ethanol or rubbing alchol first. Then I apply rennaisance wax VERY SPARINGLY with a cotton applicator. Don't use too much. A thick coat won't improve rust protection and will leave a cloudy haze. Wait a little while and buff lightly with a clean cloth. I was told by the purveyor I bought the ren wax from to apply it with my finger tips. But I found out the hard way that this just seems to trap some of my corrosive body fluids under the wax and ON the blade.

I sure like your knife. Enjoy!

Paracelsus
 
Senator,

That is one beautiful knife. Rennaisance Wax is a great coating for it and Paracelsus is right about how to apply it. But I might suggest that you talk to the maker about what he may have already used on it and get his recommendation on the care and feeding of a beauty like that. NO ONE is more familiar with that steel and how it will react to treatment than the man who made it.

Just my .02 worth,
GaryB
 
Senator,
Congrats on a nice purchase. Now you need that Crowder Spirograph Damascus fighter I have as a companion piece (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
 
I've got a couple of other customs coming in a few weeks. That's gonna have to do me for the year - possibly until Blade 2000. Thanks anyway. My bank account can only take so much!
wink.gif


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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
Nice knife Kelly, John really makes some nice stuff! Looks like your tastes have changed like the rest of us........No longer guzzling the beer but sipping fine wine!
smile.gif
 
Senator,
Beautiful knife - Congratulations.

I think you have been "reeled in".
John's work is something else - nice choice.
His web site always has some things that blow me away.

Thanks for the pictures and the link Kelly.

Gus
 
Thanks, guys. I am enjoying it. It's actually much more impressive in person that in the pics.

CJ - yes, my tastes have changed a great deal. At this year's Blade Show I could skip about 2/3 of the tables because I just didn't care about anything other than "tactical" folders. Now I love everything. I'll have much more to enjoy at next year's show! (QUICK - hide the credit cards!)

Gus - funny but "reeled in" was the exact same phrase that John used. Was this some type of conspiracy between you two?
wink.gif


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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice


 
Kelly,
The knife is awesome,bordering on tubular!
Now that your tastes have changed you really don`t need that Talonite model 4,do you? :-)
Can`t wait till the next show to see that puppy in person.
David

AKTI#150
 
Very nice knife.

I too find my tastes changing, so fast in fact I am relunctant to buy till it settles down.

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Regards,
Ron Knight

Yeah I'm crazy, but what do you want me to do about it

[This message has been edited by RKnight (edited 20 November 1999).]
 
Kelly, Thank you for the picture. A lot of pride in his work. The only problem is NOW you started me to THINK, that hurts in more than one place!!
 
Etzler does *amazing* work.

What is interesting about collecting damascus pieces is the variation in the blades themselves. Different patterns, makers, materials all make for interesting blades and bolsters.

Great piece!

-Michael

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Chefget's Knife Page


 
Thanks for all of the great comments guys. I'm really enjoying the knife.

David - you are NOT getting that Talonite Carson!
wink.gif


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Kelly

SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice




[This message has been edited by Senator (edited 24 November 1999).]
 
I'm gonna have to get a drool proof keyboard cover. Pant pant pant. I'm quite envious Senator.

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Paul Davidson

Them:"What's that clipped to your pocket, a beeper?"
Me:"Uuh....yeah, something like that."


 
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