Big Brut-de-Forge Bowie in Desert Ironwood

[NoahL]

This was an interesting project, because this entire knife was designed by vote. I used social media to ask people to vote on various aspects of the blade I would be making, and the end result is a 16in clip point blade, forged from a Texas Edition Chevy Silverado leaf spring, with a full tang, and a double scalloped handle made from desert ironwood. The only thing that I decided on was the blade finish, because this is my preferred aesthetic.

 

[KenH]

That sure is a NICE Desert Ironwood burl for sure. Very nice.

What type of finish is on the blade? Would you share how you did it?

Good job all around - a knife you can be proud of... or should I say sword? {g}

 

[NoahL]

That sure is a NICE Desert Ironwood burl for sure. Very nice.

What type of finish is on the blade? Would you share how you did it?

Good job all around - a knife you can be proud of... or should I say sword? {g}

Thank you! The finish is an extreme forge finish, which is honestly pretty easy to do. While forging these pieces, I don't remove scale, at all, ever. I never use a wire brush, butcher block brush, or water on the anvil. I want the scale to be hammered into the steel. I also forge the blade pretty close to shape so that I can keep as much of the finish as possible when I go to the grinder. After heat treat, I then soak the blade in acid for a VERY long time. If it's vinegar, about a week, but it won't be as deep of an etch as this. This one sat in ferric chloride for about 3 days. After scrubbing off the residue with baking soda and steel wool, I cleaned it with acetone and hit it with some cold blue.

 

[Coop]

I don't recommend it but my teacher that taught me IF he heated Damascus heated solution got results in minutes. He had a timer he put on his shirt to remind him to take out otherwise it went down hill quickly. Of course he did outside but I still wonder about his methods. He was all about producing quality knives in a short time. He sold more knives in a month than I do in years. He had a waiting list in fact.