Next two on the bench...Twins!

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
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Well since the Persian Dagger has to be put on hold until I can get a microscope to engrave, time to move on.
These are ready for HT. My first foray into Damascus (Alabama Damascus). Both started life exactly the same. The hunter will get a more traditional treatment and the other evolved into something of a fighter and will get the "Patrice" treatment. ;) Both will get a laminated stainless guard as you can see prototyped here. Of course the fighter might have a little "funkier" one. :D

hunter_fighter01.jpg


Comments, ideas, laughs welcomed. ;)
 
love the blades love the wood love the stacked gaurd, like most all of your work to date very inovative, but you have the explain what you were going for with the right handle template :) seems odd I just can't get it,
i see that you just took the bottom flair off the other esentially but why? I immagine a more historically shaped handle for that one maybe a ball end with some carved details ?
Chris
 
Thanks Chris, glad you like them. The fighter's handle is suppose to be pointier/horn like. Always liked that shape and wanted to try it. Still not sure how it9 is going to work but the cardboard cutout is comfortable. It may end up as a take down with a pommel as you say but most likely basically keeping the same shape. In any case, I'll try to make it lets say interesting.;)
 
I bet the stacked guard turns out very cool. Nice to see that you are getting some time in the shop these days!
 
I like the profile Patrice, The one on the right will be interesting to see with the different handle shape. What kind of spaulted wood is it? Maple?
 
Yes Frank, stabilized Spalted Maple from my friend Denis Paish. I like the pattern and can't wait to see if I can't play it up somehow.

Not as much time as I would like Salem but I am still grateful for the time I can put in.

Thanks for the good words.
 
Nice, Patrice. I like them both. The one on the right intrigues me quite a bit. The handle shape is really cool looking!
 
Thank Jonny, I can't wait to start work on that handle. Got a few ideas in mind but I have to force myself to keep things simple. Always a hard thing for me. :(
 
Well of course they ended up growing a threaded end. :( Heat treated and going in for tempering.

hunter_fighter02.jpg


Laminated guards started.

hunter_fighter03.jpg


Thanks for looking.
 
I am sorry Patrice but you are going to have to move a little faster on these buddy. I don't think knifemakers have much patience for this kind of procrastination! Just kidding, I am looking forward to seeing the progress on these!
 
Forgot to add: As far as the heat treat is concerned, these spent a little time in the spa first for stress relief, 1 hour at 1200F and cooled in the kiln. (Thanks to Josh Dabney for the tip). Then soaked 10 minutes at 1550F and a dip in the hot tub of Parks 50 for about 7-8 then clamped between my AL plates to finish cooling. (Again, clamping idea courtesy of Josh). And all the pampering paid off cause they came out straight as an arrow!:thumbup: Of course these are not very long but still, I can warp any size blade. ;) Final temper at 350F for 2 hours, twice.
What would I do without Josh. :D
 
Patrice, did you heat treat before growing the threads or did they grow pre heat treat?
 
I welded them on pre heat treat Frank. Steel was still soft so I did not need to anneal the tang for it as I would have had to do post heat treat.
 
Well 4 hours of grinding, sanding, etching, etc. and here we are. I sharpened the picture but the Damascus is nowhere as dark as this in real life. Tried a little cold blue, some boiling in sodium bicarbonate but I can't get a darker etch. There must be a way but this is my first time so more reading to do. But it will be good enough to move to guards and handle tomorrow.

hunter_fighter04.jpg


Thanks for watching
 
Pat,

I'm not the one to give advice on etching damascus.

I would point out though that an in-depth description of your process from final finish pre-etching to your picture will help others help you.

Could be several sources of your issue but difficult for someone to nail down without more info ;)

Blades are looking GREAT !

Take care- Josh
 
Josh, blades were sanded to 1000 then cleaned and etched 5 minutes in 10:1 Fecl. Rinsed, sanded with 2000 then re etched for another 5 minutes.
Boiled both blades in a solution of water and baking soda (no idea on the right quantity of baking soda I need for this).
One blade was wet sanded again with 2000.
The other was sanded then cold blue was applied. Rinsed after 2 minutes and sanded with 2000 again. Then polished with Flitz.

The cold blued one did come out darker but I would still like better contrast. Maybe it has more to do with the steel used.
If anybody sees something I do wrong, feel free to chime in.

Thanks
 
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