I've got a customer who's dead set on adding "1 of 1" to the knife I made for him. Steel is 1080 at 61 RC, and handle is elk antler, if it makes a difference. Preference is toward quick and easy. I'm thinking engraving if the steel isn't too hard, or etching if it's not too expensive. Any experiences or ideas?
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Quick way to add "1 of 1" to a knife?
- Thread starter Jason Fry
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Do it the way your makers mark is... If you etch, charge him the cost of the stencil.
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Laser engraving - looks like an etch perfect black mark
Take it to a laser engraving shop $10 ish
Take it to a laser engraving shop $10 ish
james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
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I second what the Count said :thumbup:
Bill DeShivs
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Any local trophy shop can do it.
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith
ilmarinen - MODERATOR
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I'm with Bill. Go to a jeweler or engraving/trophy shop and have it engraved.
For a really neat effect, you can engrave the customers name and "1 of 1" on the elk. Have the engraver use a fine tip stylus. Back at home. fill it with black paint ,or India ink, and immediately wipe off the excess. Let dry and sand lightly. It shows up as scrimshaw. It adds a custom look that is not common. Test this on a piece of scrap to make sure the paint doesn't absorb into the antler. Sometimes you have to "stabilize" and fill all the area around the engraving with CA ( before the engraving) to assure the paint stays only in the graver lines. The CA sands off and does'n show. Old timers used to wax bone with beeswax when doing scrimshaw to prevent the ink from soaking in where it is not wanted. when done, they buffed the bone and it took a nice shine from the wax. A lot of late 19th century fake ivory scrim was from the orient done this way on bone.....and they are still doing it.
For a really neat effect, you can engrave the customers name and "1 of 1" on the elk. Have the engraver use a fine tip stylus. Back at home. fill it with black paint ,or India ink, and immediately wipe off the excess. Let dry and sand lightly. It shows up as scrimshaw. It adds a custom look that is not common. Test this on a piece of scrap to make sure the paint doesn't absorb into the antler. Sometimes you have to "stabilize" and fill all the area around the engraving with CA ( before the engraving) to assure the paint stays only in the graver lines. The CA sands off and does'n show. Old timers used to wax bone with beeswax when doing scrimshaw to prevent the ink from soaking in where it is not wanted. when done, they buffed the bone and it took a nice shine from the wax. A lot of late 19th century fake ivory scrim was from the orient done this way on bone.....and they are still doing it.
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I have two local jewelry and watch repair shops that charge a buck per letter and you can choose the style of lettering.Maybe there was a minimum,but its pretty cheap.They use a pantagraph? and call it scratch etch or something like that.Not very deep on hardened steel,but the customers were happy.