Shear Steel Viking/Saxon Longknife WIP -FINAL PICTURES

Hi Scott thanks, I have watched them before and did he did not say what they where using, it sounded harder than charcoal and no mention of how long in the video either. Guess I will have to just give it a try and see what happens.
 
I chuckle inside when I see phrases like this "Wow your photos look so good they must be film". I am a proffesional and been shooting ~ 33
years. So I know the pros and cons of both digi. and film "a little bit };~) ". The reason you are seeing more colors/hue/ saturation levels and textures is because of the great post processing you can achieve with digital. Film has its place in hospitals and in some other technical areas, but not in the field of landscapes, portraits, nature, "knife making photos" and the list goes on. Film is basically dead for most photograhpy needs at this day and age. But this is a knife forum so I must really quit now.

My appolgy for the distraction. I find it very hard to let these statements go by without opening my big yak.

That little knife is the best I have seen in a long while. Wished I could afford it. And I loved seeing the process from start to finish. And I thank you for the photos from start to finish you shared with us. They were very well done. I would love to be able to just hold that little sword. Just bought a compact bushcraft knife from a fellow member here. Was in my price range. I bout start sheeding tears when I see this kind of beautiful work right in front of my eyes and all I can do is look. Honest>>

Great utility knife. Seems it would be a little long for a pocket knife though. That would be a nice one though. It sure does not look as long as your specs. say.

Again thanks for sharing,
cajun


Very interesting thread. Your photographs are particularly compelling. I'm wondering what you're using. Some of them look like film they are so good. Particularly the power hammer ones but that first one at the press too. A good polarizing lens? I'm not sure but the colours and textures are not typical of most "snapshots".
 
Last edited:
I appreciate your very nice comments Cajun.... I agree.. post processing is where it's at.. but it was the same with Ansel Adams and his view cameras eh? Have you ever seen one of his unprocessed negatives? Pretty boring...

Well keep an eye out for that knife... price may fall...
 
Scott, Good luck with making the shear steel. You must have come up with the shrinking variety.

Here's a blade I made over 10 years ago from a very old rusty piece of saw steel that showed up on a construction site in a load of fill sand. It sat for several years until I tired it and I was blown away by the pattern that appeared.

PDRM0671.JPG
 
Yes Cajun I agree. I'm old enough though to predate digital and I probably remember the transition when digital was about convenience over quality. I used to shoot film as a hobby and the shots were always so clear... great lenses though.

I have a digital SLR but have never really taken much of a plunge at the processing side and when I have I get kinda lost.

So forgive my dinosaur attitude but MY best shots ever were with film so I think I have a nostalgic soft spot for the medium.
 
Ray.. that is incredible. I've never seen it pattern like that. Maybe high phosphorous in the wrought used to make it? Or how did you etch that?
 
Scott, I had the steel checked but I can't remember what the alloys were. Seem to recall it being .7 carbon without much of anything else in it. As far as I remember I did a bunch of quick etches and then I sprinkled on 150 grit garnet and rubbed.
 
It's DUN. Forged from home-brewed shear steel, 14" blade, 19 1/4" over all, Masur birch burl handle.. slightly swept back, anchor chain wrought iron fittings... etched in ferric chloride/copper solution... then liver of sulphur. leather spacer. Scabbard with anchor chain wrought straps, cold forged copper stained with sulphur, copper rivets and brain tanned doeskin liner for a nice comfy, scratch free fit.

sax.jpg


sax_detail_best-.jpg


spine_final.jpg


scabbard.jpg


It is lovely to hold.. and just feels absolutely deadly. I'm excited by this sort of design and am looking forward to exploring the possibilities for some modern fighter designs.

This blade is available for purchase. I have a new website.. and I'm still trying to learn how to upload, but feel free to PM me with inquiries. Also.. I still have a few pounds of this billet left if somebody can think of a worthy project...
 
Wow, that turned out just great! Very impressive piece. Nice photos too - but they are very small. Do you have larger versions - say 900 width?

Roger
 
hmm.. interesting that they look small to you. They look huge on my screen. I will see what I can do...
 
Scott, that is "Off the Hook" cool!

Very nice work my friend from start to finish! Talk about sole ownership!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
 
Thanks a lot guys....

I forgot to mention. It still shaves hair after slicing through that chain.
 
Ha.. Fantastic work. That is a great looking piece. Just oozing character and interest.
And that sheath.. wow...
 
Extraordinary project, knife that just sings history, and photos that are art themselves. You've outdone it,here.

John
 
Thanks for the bigger pics - and great job again on the Seax. :thumbup:

Roger
 
Thanks a lot folks... I can't wait to get into more of this steel. I forgot to mention how amazing it is to forge. It forges and moves like wrought.... without the fear of it coming apart on you.
 
Back
Top