- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 27,616
Greetings, friends
Hot off the bench; The Viper's Fang- a collaboration between the gifted Stuart Branson and myself. This knife resulted from an earlier collaboration with Stuart, where I designed The Death Fang 3000 and he made it.
Stuart forged, profiled, heat treated and ground the bevels of the old ass Don Hanson III W2 steel for this piece, and I refined the handle profile, tapered the tang, finished the bevels, installed the purpleheart handle and made the sheath.
Here's a general description of the knife;
The forged blade displays the natural remnants of the forging process along the flats, is distal tapered, and flat ground.
Its differentially hardened edge area is visible via a beautiful clayed hamon which was exposed using multiple applications of weakened acid and a 2500 grit, near mirror finish. The main edge is created by subtle convex bevels while the swedge carries a zero edge with flat bevels.
The tapered tang was treated with a process that creates a mild 'ice crystal' effect, which should become more apparent over time, as the handle is exposed to air and whatever is on someone's hand.
The purpleheart scales are not stabilized, but have been in my possession for at least 10 years and have a tung oil treatment the involves many applications.
They wood scales are laminated via toughened, marine expoxy to vulcanized fiber liners, and are fit to the tang using an 'heirloom' or 'museum' fit. This type of handle fitment features scales which stand very slightly proud of the steel, so that if they shrink, no sharp steel ridge is exposed.
The fasteners are hollow brass pins.
The sheath is of 9oz veg tan leather, which is lined with veg tan, buttery soft deer skin. The lobes have suede caps which keep the lining the the outer layer from delminating.
It is hand stitched using thick, waxed polyester cord.
A 'scout carry' belt loop is permanently attached via 4 screws, and it's also made from 9oz veg tan leather but was dyed. The sheath can also be carried vertically. It is designed for a 1.5" belt.
The leather was hot packed with wax and other leather treatments, and is generally very weather resistant. While the lining is not waterproofed, the knife creates a seal which should keep water out except in extreme circumstances.
Drawing the knife is very smooth and silent, and the retention is strong but not too strong.
here are the dimensions;
overall weight- 14.6oz
knife weight- 9.4oz
steel thickness- 3/16"
blade length- 6 3/8"
overall length- 11 9/16"
Thanks for checking out my work, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to post up.
Cheers!
Hot off the bench; The Viper's Fang- a collaboration between the gifted Stuart Branson and myself. This knife resulted from an earlier collaboration with Stuart, where I designed The Death Fang 3000 and he made it.
Stuart forged, profiled, heat treated and ground the bevels of the old ass Don Hanson III W2 steel for this piece, and I refined the handle profile, tapered the tang, finished the bevels, installed the purpleheart handle and made the sheath.
Here's a general description of the knife;
The forged blade displays the natural remnants of the forging process along the flats, is distal tapered, and flat ground.
Its differentially hardened edge area is visible via a beautiful clayed hamon which was exposed using multiple applications of weakened acid and a 2500 grit, near mirror finish. The main edge is created by subtle convex bevels while the swedge carries a zero edge with flat bevels.
The tapered tang was treated with a process that creates a mild 'ice crystal' effect, which should become more apparent over time, as the handle is exposed to air and whatever is on someone's hand.
The purpleheart scales are not stabilized, but have been in my possession for at least 10 years and have a tung oil treatment the involves many applications.
They wood scales are laminated via toughened, marine expoxy to vulcanized fiber liners, and are fit to the tang using an 'heirloom' or 'museum' fit. This type of handle fitment features scales which stand very slightly proud of the steel, so that if they shrink, no sharp steel ridge is exposed.
The fasteners are hollow brass pins.
The sheath is of 9oz veg tan leather, which is lined with veg tan, buttery soft deer skin. The lobes have suede caps which keep the lining the the outer layer from delminating.
It is hand stitched using thick, waxed polyester cord.
A 'scout carry' belt loop is permanently attached via 4 screws, and it's also made from 9oz veg tan leather but was dyed. The sheath can also be carried vertically. It is designed for a 1.5" belt.
The leather was hot packed with wax and other leather treatments, and is generally very weather resistant. While the lining is not waterproofed, the knife creates a seal which should keep water out except in extreme circumstances.
Drawing the knife is very smooth and silent, and the retention is strong but not too strong.
here are the dimensions;
overall weight- 14.6oz
knife weight- 9.4oz
steel thickness- 3/16"
blade length- 6 3/8"
overall length- 11 9/16"
Thanks for checking out my work, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to post up.
Cheers!
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