These are scans from the first knife I ever made. It was also the first time I used a forge. The blade is random pattern damascus, forged from high and low carbon steel and etched with hot sulfuric acid. Moose horn handle with brass pins.
klick on it to enlarge!
klick on it to enlarge!
I didn't have access to a forge lately, so I bought japanese damascus steel stock instead and ground a blade from it:
It obviously follows the Opinel-Type pattern and the locking/folding mechanism is from one of their knives, too. You can spot the pattern on the blade by clicking on the picture below:
I've tried something very practical: stainless damascus steel from Damasteel AB, Sweden. I chose this steel to compete with modern, easy-to-maintain stainless knives. I thought such a steel would suit a luxurious kitchen knife which my parents would be happy to get as a present.
I used brass pins, african walnut and a bronze bolster. The pin inside the bolster is damascus steel as you can see by clicking on the detail below:
Time constraints kept me off my next project for quite some time, but I finally got my second Opinel-type knife done. I used some left-over steel from the kitchen knife above and used it on a slim and pointy pattern:
You can have a look at the details of the damascus pattern on the other side of the blade by clicking on the picture below:
With some more leftovers from the Damasteel piece, I collaborated with Wytse Sikkema, a Dutch knife-maker I got to know here in Houston, Texas to make this fine folder:
The scales are made from finest Wenge wood and look fantastic. These crude images don't do this incredible wood finish justice at all.