Something different from me, from out of this world

Mark Knapp

Mark Knapp

Joined
Dec 20, 2009
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Hi All, here's something new from me, it's my second folder ever. A slip-joint, innerframe cigar pattern.

The blade was made by sandwiching 15N20 between two pieces of meteorite. Who knew you could do it without ruining the pattern in the meteorite? I thought it couldn't be done until a friend of mine, a Japanese bladesmith, Junichi Nakamura showed me a couple of knives, he had made during a visit here from Japan, with the meteorite san mai in them. I did some experimentation and it's tricky but you can do it.

The meteorite itself was an Octahedrite meteorite named Muonionalusta found in Sweden in 1906. The pattern is naturally formed in the meteorite while cooling, they call it "Widmanstatten" pattern.

The scales are slices of another kind of meteorite with olivine (peridot) crystals in it and a nickel-iron matrix. The meteorite named Imilak was found in Chile in 1822. The scales are set in damascus frames that I skelitonized so you could see light through the knife when you held it up.

The blade is 2 1/2 inches long and the overall length is 6 inches.

Truly something from out of this world.

Thanks for looking, comments welcomed.

Knapp_140121-web_zpsb258a777.jpg
 
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Thank everyone, it was one of my most challenging builds, and a lot of fun. I didn't get it perfect but I learned a lot.
 
I was rushed on this one a little bit, it was for an anniversary gift for a customers husband. The date was moved up at the last minute to allow time for them to get to their' celebration spot. I always wonder, in a case like this, if the knife suffered because I worked all night on it to get it shipped in time, or if I should have spent a little more time on it and forgone the photos. Not making apologies or excuses, I just worry about these things. Anyway, I had a lot of fun with it, learned a lot and will do some more.

Thanks for looking
 
That is really beautiful and definitely unique. There's a romance and mystery in using meteorite and I think it has turned out beautifully.
 
As with ALL of Mark's work, the materials he uses are rich and unusual. This one as well. How he mixed amber and the meteorite for the handle scales was something I'd never seen.

Mark will put combinations together that have been firsts in my eyes for years.

I loved how the inlay has a nice rounded bevel and sits somewhat proud in the frame. If you hold it up to the light (open) you can see into it.

Good stuff, Mark! Thanks for the opportunity to capture this.
 
Very cool folder Mr. Knapp.
I also had heard that the Widmanstatten pattern would fade if forged or even heat treated.
The laminated blade looks great.
Plus the olivine scales really look good.
Beautiful folder.
 
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