What exactly is Native Steel?

My understanding is that it is just the standard 420C that David treats with both a black oxide and also something like a minor chip flint process to give it the aesthetic appearance that you see.
 
Tin Sue said:
My understanding is that it is just the standard 420C that David treats with both a black oxide and also something like a minor chip flint process to give it the aesthetic appearance that you see.
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Thanks for the reply, Tin Sue :)
 
334dave said:
it is a hand etching process which takes a while to do
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You sure 'bout that, Willis??? :confused:

Etching is a chemical process...Looking at the faux-chipped-flint blades, it appears to be an impact process...Somewhat like the stippling done on pistols with an air impact tool...
 
Thanks chickentrax. I'm bringing up 2 deadwood photos to the discussion:


 
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as i under stand dave uses a dremmel tool and does it by hand
etching is cutting out or takeing away of metal
weather by hand or acid right?
by hand most times called engraving...
 
334dave said:
as i under stand dave uses a dremmel tool and does it by hand
etching is cutting out or takeing away of metal
weather by hand or acid right?
by hand most times called engraving...
Click to expand...

I think I saw another type of "native steel"; it looked like a chipped-flint blade...and IIRC, it was discussed here some time ago...

You're right; this "native steel" does look Dremeled (or air-grindered)...
 
I am now wondering, is this texturing/grinding of the blade done prior to or after the heat treating and does Paul Bos do the heat treat for these?

I'm thinking of getting a less expensive one for EDC rotation and a more special one for display.

Thanks for your comments.
 
I'm pretty sure that these are just factory ready blades that David subsequently does his work on.
 
I heard that the "knapped" steel blades are ground freehand on the edge of a grinding wheel. It's all in the wrist.
 
334dave said:
i 'think' the chip flint are also Dremeled work
and it is all done post HT
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My chip-flint does indeed look like it was ground with a drill-type grinder, i.e. a Dremel. It does not have the crystal-like grain of a true chip like you see in a true flint or an obsidian.
 
I wouldn't be inclined to knap a heat treated steel blade with a Dremel tool. It would take two weeks, and the tool would get too hot to hold.
 
Dear #1967, It's done on the sharp corner of a grinding wheel. Sincerely, #1081
 
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