- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
I hope you guys can stand another WIP thread - 'cause this one will be worth watching if you want a peek into the practice of one of the VERY best in the game.
This story takes shape earlier this year, when Ron had told me that he would soon be in a position to fill an old order of mine. That order had been for a "Bowie" - details to be determined.
Well, with the whole wide world of bowies to choose from - and Ron's prodigious talents able to fill just about anything I could conceive - I was actually stumped!
Then, in advance of the Little Rock show, Ron posted up this sweet ivory / damascus hunter:
So often when I see a really nice small knife, my minds eye projects what its big brother might look like. And here, I IMMEDIATELY saw the makings of a very cool camp knife from this basic design.
And there was one detail in particular which I found to be the icing on the proverbial cake - this cool damascus-wrapped detail:
One of the many great benefits of getting to a knife show in person is the opportunity to chat in-person with the maker and firm of the details of an outstanding order. We did just that, with Ron presenting a details sketch and even bringing a sample from his ivory stash for approval:
With the introduction of a modified double-guard and an elegant Price-style swedge cresting the spine, we ended up with a piece that straddles the Bowie / Camp Knife genres - I see a slight lean over to the bowie side of things - you all can let me know what you think when you see the final fiinshed piece.
The plan was to aim for delivery at some point in the summer post-Blade - and we're right on-schedule for that.
And now enough backbround - on to the build!
The plan was to aim for delivery at some point in the summer post-Blade - and we're right on-schedule for that.
25 alternating layers of Swedish 15N20 and 1095 spring steel are squeezed tighlty in a vise. The layers are then tig welded every one inch of span on both sides of the billet. The layers are cut 2" wide by 6" long and are .088" thick each. The tig welding every inch eliminates buckling of the thin layers while the billet reaches forge welding temp.
The billet is brought up to forge welding temperature in a gas forge operating at 2300 degrees. The hydrocarbon solvent burns and creates a thin carbon film between each layer allowing for clean forge welding without the use of any flux compounds. This "Dry Forge Welding" has been used in my shop successfully for the past 6 years now. I no longer use flux at all.
Once the layers are forge welded they are drawn out under an Anyang 123 pound air hammer with semi- rounded dies.
The billet is stretched out to 24" x 2" x 1/2".
This story takes shape earlier this year, when Ron had told me that he would soon be in a position to fill an old order of mine. That order had been for a "Bowie" - details to be determined.
Well, with the whole wide world of bowies to choose from - and Ron's prodigious talents able to fill just about anything I could conceive - I was actually stumped!
Then, in advance of the Little Rock show, Ron posted up this sweet ivory / damascus hunter:
So often when I see a really nice small knife, my minds eye projects what its big brother might look like. And here, I IMMEDIATELY saw the makings of a very cool camp knife from this basic design.
And there was one detail in particular which I found to be the icing on the proverbial cake - this cool damascus-wrapped detail:
One of the many great benefits of getting to a knife show in person is the opportunity to chat in-person with the maker and firm of the details of an outstanding order. We did just that, with Ron presenting a details sketch and even bringing a sample from his ivory stash for approval:
With the introduction of a modified double-guard and an elegant Price-style swedge cresting the spine, we ended up with a piece that straddles the Bowie / Camp Knife genres - I see a slight lean over to the bowie side of things - you all can let me know what you think when you see the final fiinshed piece.
The plan was to aim for delivery at some point in the summer post-Blade - and we're right on-schedule for that.
And now enough backbround - on to the build!
The plan was to aim for delivery at some point in the summer post-Blade - and we're right on-schedule for that.
25 alternating layers of Swedish 15N20 and 1095 spring steel are squeezed tighlty in a vise. The layers are then tig welded every one inch of span on both sides of the billet. The layers are cut 2" wide by 6" long and are .088" thick each. The tig welding every inch eliminates buckling of the thin layers while the billet reaches forge welding temp.
The billet is brought up to forge welding temperature in a gas forge operating at 2300 degrees. The hydrocarbon solvent burns and creates a thin carbon film between each layer allowing for clean forge welding without the use of any flux compounds. This "Dry Forge Welding" has been used in my shop successfully for the past 6 years now. I no longer use flux at all.
Once the layers are forge welded they are drawn out under an Anyang 123 pound air hammer with semi- rounded dies.
The billet is stretched out to 24" x 2" x 1/2".
:thumbup: