Russ Andrews Loveless-style fighter with a twist - integral guard! Coop pics added.

Thanks for tuning in gents. Latest update from Russ:

"I'll do something different as far as the pins are concerned too.

The 1/16" pin holes in the ivory will be countersunk to 3/32", and
a short sleeve inserted. the inside of each sleeve will be tapered
so that the 1/16" silver pins can expand into the tapered sleeve
with a minimum of risk to stressing the ivory.
The sleves will be made of 3/32" tubing,so they should just look like
3/32"pins."

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Some nice shimmer happening in that blade!

Roger
 
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Russ,

Thanks for sharing the technique. Looks like some tricky finish work where the guard & blade meet.

Gary
 
Getting further along:

"The tang and guard will be etched in the morning, and
the ivory finished...then final assembly."

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Roger
 
I didn't want to post on this thread when I first saw it. Because when I tried a similar technique for forging on a double guard, well lets just say it went in the trash. What Russ has pulled off here is not an easy thing to do, at least for me:confused:. I guess that's why, as Allen put it, Russ is the man:thumbup:. Go Russ!
 
RogerP said:
"I'll do something different as far as the pins are concerned too.

The 1/16" pin holes in the ivory will be countersunk to 3/32", and
a short sleeve inserted. the inside of each sleeve will be tapered
so that the 1/16" silver pins can expand into the tapered sleeve
with a minimum of risk to stressing the ivory.
The sleves will be made of 3/32" tubing,so they should just look like
3/32"pins."
Click to expand...

very cool.
 
Thanks gents. Cal - it's a 7" blade, 5" handle.

Here's a pic of the scales with the inserts.

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Roger
 
Not sure how I missed this thread previously, but glad to have found it.

AWESOME looking fighter so far. Will be looking forward to see it when done.


Peter
 
It's great seeing knifemakers like Russ stepping outside the box in developing new processes and being comfortable creating many
different styles of knives. That's what keeps custom knives as a whole moving to higher levels.
 
All done save for final sharpening and the sheath. The knife will head from Russ' shop to Coop's studio, so a better look awaits not too far down the road.

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I'm definitely liking what I've seen so far.

Roger
 
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AWESOME!

I do have a question regarding the "integral" designation: is it described as such because the guard was welded thus yielding a permanent union? I had thought "integral", by definition, meant made from one solid piece.

Peter
 
peterinct said:
AWESOME!

I do have a question regarding the "integral" designation: is it described as such because the guard was welded thus yielding a permanent union? I had thought "integral", by definition, meant made from one solid piece.

Peter
Click to expand...

Hi Peter - that's a fair question. To my mind, being crafted from one piece of steel lies at the heart of what defines an integral. But how do we get to that one piece of steel? When the block of steel that will form the guard is forge-welded to the bar of steel that will become the blade and full tang - those two pieces become one - every bit as much as the two steels which formed the damascus blade (bar) and guard (block). If this isn't an integral, then one can arguably never have a damascus integral, as the blade is comprised not of a single piece of steel, but of two or more different steels forge-welded together.

I have never been one to get too wrapped up in definitions and telling others what terms they can and can't use to describe their knives (and I'm certainly not suggesting you are - as I said - it's an entirely fair question). More significant to me is clarity and transparency in the contruction methods used - and I think we can all agree that we have that here.

As Bill mentioned, Rodrigo uses a similar process to craft many of the elaborate integrals we have seen from his shop over the years.

To my mind, there are many ways to create an integral - both stock removal and forged - this is just one of them.

Roger
 
Roger - Thanks for the explanation. Makes perfect sense to me.

I typically do not get to wrapped up in literal definitions either. My orientation comes from Edmund Davidson's "integrals" which begin from one billet of solid steel. Those were probably the first I became aware of, and the fact that they began as one big billet of typically BG-42, stuck in my mind.

Regardless of the aforementioned, that is an AWESOME knife as would be expected from Mr. Andrews.

Peter
 
The knife is now safely in hand, having passed through Coop's studio for the pics below:

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When Coop e-mailed me to say the knife was on its way, he commented on the fine-grain damascus having a wotz-like appearance. In hand, it most certainly does, along with a subtle laddered effect running the length of the blade.

The seamless integration of the guard lends the piece both a look and feel of solidness and strength. This is a beautiful knife that is more than ready to work. I'm quite taken with the ivory as well. It has a creamy translucent quality that compliments the damascus well, with rich chocolate streaks highlighting both sides.

As always, Russ has done a superb job in executing what was, for him, a new and different construction method.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to follow along.

Roger
 
Nice to be able to actually see the knife, at last. Thanks COOP!

Great execution of a classic in a novel way.
 
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