Russ Andrews Integral Dagger

canineforge

canineforge

Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
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I always thought when my call came from Russ Andrews to commission a knife for me, it would be a bowie. Well, it didn't happen that way. I sat down with Russ last summer to plan and today I can share the results.

Ever since purchasing Joe Kertzman's 'Art of the Knife' book, I have had a picture of Graziano Cabona's stag dagger on the title page in the back of my mind. Simple, pure elegance I thought. Not necessarily a dagger person, I wanted something similar some day. I ran this dagger idea by Russ. He seemed to get excited about doing his first integral dagger. Before I left, Russ had a sketch drawn and I had picked out the ivory I wanted him to use.

A lot has happened since that day in Russ' shop, but the wait has been worthwhile. Russ even got brave at the last minute, and added some 1095 layers to accent his ladder pattern damascus, and I am glad he did! The accent also runs through the tapered tang.

These are Russ' images he has shared with me, and the dagger arrived today, with a nice ERA II sheath. Dimensions are blade 5 1/8th-inches, handle 4 3/4-inches. You've heard it before...the pictures don't do it justice. :) This will have a professional photo at some point down the road.

RussAndrews105.jpg


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I would like to thank Russ. This has been a fun project with a super result.


- Joe
 
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That is a sweet dagger congrats on your fine score. The ivory is working well with the knife.
 
You could really gig a mutha' with that one, Joe. :D
Congrats to you both on a great piece ! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Doug
 
"The accent also runs through the tapered tang."---The LADDERED tapered tang! Such details are, I guess, only to be expected from Russ. Excellent design sense, with the ricasso and bolster left random, and some stunning Ivory. Russ has made you an understated beauty!

John
 
oh wow, that is spectacular! you can even see the shimmer in that second pic

if this knife were mine I'd struggle to resist the desire to carry it with me EVERYWHERE
 
Wow! What a beautiful dagger. The steel is really eyecatching and the ivory is wonderful. I like the pins and the knife just comes together great. Congrats, Joe :thumbup:
 
Thanks Guys...I'm glad Joe picked that particular ivory for this
piece....it just has a sort of natural artistry to it that really
sets it off.

Inserting thin pieces of 1095 between 3 104 layer pieces was,
as Joe said, something of a considered impulse....

The pins are dead soft sterling silver, and the ivory scales are positioned
so that wherever one is in a recess on one side, it's in a flat surface on the
other side. That way each pin has one head prior to installation. With each
hole slightly countersunk the second end can be filed down, and piened
just slightly.
 
Joe,

Congratulations on a super dagger.

The Damascus and the Ivory really match up well.

Jim treacy
 
When I saw the heading I got a little giddy. Then I read the description before scrolling to the pics. I savour everything from Mr. Andrews and this certainly is one I'll keep looking at. So elegant and almost subtle; John already took "understated". :p Beautiful knife.
 
Beautiful Joe! You and Russ did real good. I love these smaller more traditional style daggers.
Bob
 
Ho Lee shit!
I have never wanted a particular knife so bad in my life. I feel kind of dirty, coveting your knife so much:o
 
Man, that is some kind of gorgeous. I can tell by the shots from different angles that there's a lot of activity in the damascus. As with most of Russ' damascus pieces, it's subtle and complex all at once. Hats off to you Joe for coming up with a project that was different and unique for this great maker. And hats off to Russ for totally nailing it. :thumbup:

Roger
 
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