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Here's a question for the judges. Would a 13 x 36 twisted W's billet be acceptable for the dagger? Theoretically it's a 468 layer billet but doesn't look as fine as the same layer count in random twist. Also, would 5 bars of 60 layer twist count as 300?

Ben, i think either of those would work, based on several years' experience in judging. The original intent of the rule was to make sure an applicant could make a number of successive welds, rather then weld up a few layers. The w- pattern has forced a new persoective on that one. Just

Make sure that you din't grind away too much steel as to make it debatable.

I am going to go with Greg on this one Ben. Yes I would accept it. I know there are a lot of opportunities for getting a bad weld in W's and when welding twists together. And as Greg said there is enough pattern so we can get an idea of how you went about making the blade.

Good luck Ben

Brion

Perhaps it is time for the ABS to revisit the layer count rule? There are a lot of new patterns from when the rule was made and I can see a slippery slope coming if we need to start reinterpreting the rule for the number of different patterns today. If we have learned anything from the past it is that eventually somebody is going to cry foul if the rules are not crystal clear and evenly applied.