I am more ecstatic that I probably should be to have completed this knife. When I got back into this craft a few years ago it was from seeing some of Kyle Royer's knives and wondering how someone could do something like that. It was my goal to make an Art knife and I have finally done that. The amount I have learned in the 2.5 years has been spectacular. The ABS and its members have been just so fantastic in the amount of opportunities of learning for me to take part in.
Forging this knife out was a trip. its 228 Layers if my math is correct. I tried to make a western looking integral bolster, and I used some hammered quarters for the "mokume gane" nonferrous Damascus look in the handle. The end of the tang is stabilized oak burl. I know I still have a long way to go, but this was a 60-80 hour project/testament to what I have sought to achieve.
Respectfully
Michael
Wedding present for Brother-in-laws wedding
Respectfully
Michael
So thats what is was for! Im sure he was very pleased. I must say I do love the mokume on the handle. Are there more integrals in your future?
Bob Bryenton
Solar Storm Group Ltd.
Phone: (780) 953-0016
Email: [email protected]
https://www.solarstorm.ca
“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible" -- Arthur C. Clarke
I will say I will probably be doing more integrals once I finish building my forge press. Keeping things aligned, straight and planned within a geometrically moving space is much more difficult than you would think. If you had a forge press instead of a power hammer this concept would be easier to keep even from the start. My advice is start out with a bunch of extra material and then keep making corrections and don't get discouraged. I must have scribed concept lines 100 times. No joke. As always the ricasso is the key to the puzzle, but when that puzzle is on a different measurement plane, then you throw in warping, design or functional changes, or mistakes; well then you just have a constant project. So in short, no integrals in the short term, but once I have the right tool then they do just look fantastic.
Respectfully
Michael
