Making a Damascus kitchen knife

[Bruno]

I am making a damascus kitchen knife for a friend from which I buy most of my fossil materials. I figured this would be a nice opportunity to make some videos on Youtube.

This is the first one, where I turn a small stack into a 13 layer billet.

 

[32t]

Fun to see your press in operation.

You should tighten up the bolts holding your valve.

 

[Bruno]

Yeah I noticed that too. The valve is mounted to a plate but with all the wiggling, they've come a bit loose. I should probably add tension washers.
I've also decided to redo the base for holding the dies.

 

[songshun]

I already be a fan of your youtube. I hope can see the finnal result of kitchen knife. lol

 

[Bruno]

I already be a fan of your youtube. I hope can see the finnal result of kitchen knife. lol

Thanks.

I uploaded part 2

 

[Bruno]

Part 3.

The billet I made in the 1st part is cut in 5 pieces, restacked and drawn, cut in 2 pieces, and twisted 8 times each.
Around the 13:40 mark you can see the twistinator in action again. I chose to use a 18 mm diameter this time which is 6/8" and at high temp I could twist it easily. It's funny how much difference 2 mm can make.

 

[Bruno]

This is after 7 rounds of forge welding. I cleaned it to verify all welds have taken properly. Its still 3/16 thick. Now i need to flatten it and make it wider, and then I'll have something to fiddle with in tje holidays.

 

[RezDog]

Bruno, have you made dies for doing the tang end of the knife?

 

[Bruno]

No, the tang itself was just carefully forged by hand to make sure it didn't split as it was the end of the bar. The bolster is made from 2 pieces I cut from that same bar, and forge welded to the sides.

 

[Bruno]

A set of shaped dies to make that transition from a thicker bar of steel is definitely something on my todo list.

 

[Bruno]

Sneak preview of the pattern.

 

[Mike Blue]

Looks good.

 

[Bruno]

I discussed the handle with Deniz and he decided to go with a narwhal handle. I received the material this week and it is just perfect. Horribly expensive but omg it is so beautiful and the perfect size!

 

[Bruno]

It's a precision job. Make a smooth seamless transition without touching the spiral grooves any more than strictly needed. Also no pressure but there is only one shot. I am going to regret sending this away. And i think i just got addicted to narwhal...

 

[32t]

Is that a right or left handed twist.....

I think that this would be for a right handed person but if you did a 180' on the scales it would be for a lefty?

 

[RezDog]

The finished Knife looks pretty impressive.

 

[Bruno]

It's not yet finished. Still needs a damascus end cap on the handle and etching the spine / shoulders. But we're getting close.

 

[Bruno]

 

[Bruno]

Most beautiful knife I ever made, imo.
Sadly, I think it's caused an addiction to Narwhal handle material.
I was talking with the guy who sent me the handle, and he had some more fine pieces.
And I am sorely tempted to buy them despite the fact that I cannot sell them to Americans who are my biggest customer base.

As a rule, I never get attached to things I make. But in this case I really regret having to let this one go. That handle was just made for my hands.

 

[verndahl]

Is that because it's a type of ivory or from a whale? Is the ivory from a antique (pre ban) source? I found this web site that sells only to the U.S.