ladder pattern langseax

[kevin - the professor]

Hello Everyone,
This is a seax I made to spec for someone. It was the first chance for me to use the press to make a high layer count pattern. This has about 350 layers of 1080 and 15n20. I am really happy to have this press.

The whole thing was determined by the customer - it is 22" long, 1.24" wide, .25" thick at ricasso, with some taper toward point.

He requested a handle that was 4" in diameter and over 5" long. So, the handle is larger than I would normally use for this, but hey, it's not mine.

The blade does feel pretty good, it is pretty light and fast for a seax.

Oh yeah, the fittings are damascus, too. Also, someone was kind enough to show me a bit about hand finishing, and I was able to get a much better finish on this one than on any of my previous blades.

I tried to talk him into a fuller, but he did not want one.

The next project I am working on, I will use a fuller and double-edged blade to get into more complex geometry. Still, I am really excited by the pattern on this blade.

thanks for looking. Comments welcomed,

Kevin

 

[Wade Hougham]

Hey Kevin,
It's good to see you here.2thumbs Looks like you are putting that press to some good work. Much easier than the old arm. I can hardly wait to get one of those in the near future.
Nice looking work, keep em coming. Wade

 

[kevin - the professor]

Hey Wade!
the press gives amazing options. I am working on some pretty complex, muti-bar stuff now, and I was able to put it all together in about 2 days when it would have taken a week.

kc

 

[mike miller]

I like the high layer damascus. Your pattern almost looks earthy.

 

[kevin - the professor]

yeah - I told my wife it reminded me of a topographical map. We were hiking in mountains in vermont this weekend, and it looked like them.

I have liked this press. I am working on a kindjal now, with a multi-bar construction, but I smashed the pattern so much in drawing the final billet out that I don't know what the heck it will look like. Still, with the press, welds stick solid, almost every time, and higher layer counts are simple. They are actually simpler than the multi-bar stuff, now.

Thanks for looking,

Kevin

 

[kevin - the professor]

finished product (sheath is done, too)

OK - I have finished this one. I made the wooden sheath out of the same walnut board that the handle came from. This wood is beautiful. I was going to put some copper on it, but the wood was so beautiful I decided against it.

I hope that the new owner likes it. I am happy with it.

 

[LR Adkins]

Kevin that looks real nice.

Larry

 

[kevin - the professor]

If you look really close, you can see my primary design consultant there on the left. If he likes it, it is ready to go to the buyer.

kc