I look at mokume the same as I do brass in that I simply have better sales with either stainless or Damascus fittings. It's pretty stuff. It just doesn't sell as well for me.

Gary

Thank you Gary, That was what I had thought but Just wasnt shure.

Landon, I think it is fine on certain knives and certain fittings, think oriental style. But, you have to have the right customer. Personally, I would probably not use it unless a customer wanted it, or just offer it as an option.

Brion

Thanks Brion, I thought that maby it it would look better On a tanto style blade. But i was Just wondering why you dont see more of it.

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Thanks Brion, I thought that maby it it would look better On a tanto style blade. But i was Just wondering why you dont see more of it.

I recently finished a 7-inch bowie with mokume furniture. I make the mokume myself. I have photos posted in the knife critiques section under the heading "cowboy bowie". I didn't receive much feedback. This knife is currently on display at an art show here in Cave Creek AZ. I have t priced at $750. It has sparked a lot of interest, but as of yet, no buyers. You probably don't see much of it on bigger knives because nobody has figured out how to do the same patterns in mokume that we see on Damascus blades.

So, the only stuff available is the typical twist, ladder, or random patterns. Also, most of the Mokume out there available to knife makers uses brass, nickle-silver, and copper combinations. Not extremely traditional stuff nor are the patterns particularly exciting. The guard on my cowboy bowie is inside-out twist. The twist was cut in half, flipped inside out, and rewelded back together.

I have figured out how to do some multi-bar patterns (albeit on a very small scale) and plan on furthering my work with this using traditional Japanese mokume mixes like copper and fine silver. After the new year I will be making some Shakudo and Shibuishi to use in combination for some more traditional mokume. Once I get that going, it's on to making some end-grain patterns and multi-bar stuff. I think once the market starts seeing more elaborate patterning and more interesting materials, the interest will grow.

Joshua, I have also messed around with making some of the same damascus patterns in mokume. They do look verry good when a patina finish is added to them. I also know it can be made with the diffrent color golds also, but I cant bring myself to try it with any. I have also thought about using fine silver in some as well just have not tryed it yet.

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Joshua, I have also messed around with making some of the same damascus patterns in mokume. They do look verry good when a patina finish is added to them. I also know it can be made with the diffrent color golds also, but I cant bring myself to try it with any. I have also thought about using fine silver in some as well just have not tryed it yet.

What patterns and materials are you trying? The only multi-bar patterns I have tried are with mutiple twists (Turkish and inside out. I have found that nickel silver is very tempermental to work with and requires annealing after every heat or it starts to crumble. Copper seems to fuse to just about anything and patinates extremely well. There are several good patinas available from Sculpt Nouveau and Baldwin's. The Baldwin's can make copper different shades of purple or a deep chocolate brown.

Joshua, I have been using nickel silver, brass, copper. The patterns I have made have been raindrop, ladder, twist, diamond or quilted pattern and w pattern. Also made some and ground in diffrent designs with the dremmil tool that looked really good. I also have used a thick piece of copper on the bottom and brass and nickel silver on top and ground down to the copper and flattened. Makes for an intresting name plate. Your right on the annealing part I have had the same problem, What I do is heat it and work it, then heat it and quench in water, heat and work heat and quench, ect. This seemed to help me keep it from crumbling apart. I have not had the time to make any for a while, it is a nice break from time to time to make some.

Take that twisted bar and cut it in half lengthwise. Then bend the piece around so the inside is on the outside of the bend. Use it for the frame. Makes the stars come out & looks awesome. Works well with damascus too. If you have any pics of the W pattern, I'd like to see them. I haven't tried that yet.

Oh yeah, and the bronze/copper combo and bronze/nickel-silver combo works well. I have been working with pretty thin stock (.03) and 30 layers. I am going to try using fewer layers (12-15) and using thicker stock (.06) to see if the patterning gets better.

Joshua, Sorry I do not have any pictures. I like working with .0625 and .125 material I feel it makes it easy to cut or drill to the same layer for diffrent patterns.