The making of a damascus Sgian Dubh (picture heavy)

**jmercier** · 29th August 07, 04:05 PM

I've thought about it sure, but I consider myself a raw beginner at crafting such as that still. It will probably be a while before I feel I can make a consistant enough quality to sell product.

Maybe once I've made a couple more I'll sell some. The only forged items I've sold so far are some bottle openers, a few iron roses, and some simple penanular broaches.

**Weasel Mender** · 29th August 07, 04:15 PM

Nicly done, as a blacksmith myself I know what it takes to forge cable damascus. Crane cable makes a good blade, however if you can get oilfield cable it is often O-1. You cam do the weld forge to about 85% finished shape aneal the plade in a box of lime or ashes then go to heat treating with an oil quench. If you are forging to shape however remember to stay at welding heat or near welding heat or it will go cold short on you (crack or crumble) I use HCL as an etch and nutrilize with baking soda then hit it with about 6 seasions of a good quality cold bluing.

Weasel
Owner and Mastersmith at Iron Rose Forge

**O'Neille** · 29th August 07, 11:57 PM

What a great use for cable and a nice looking final product. I had never thought of using cable, there are tons of it around the mines here. I used to make blades from old chainsaw blades before the advent of digital cameras. I might have to do another when I finish clearing some brush from my property and buy a new chainsaw blade.

Raptor · 30th August 07, 12:51 AM

Nice one! Damascus is next on my to-do list when I get my forge operational. Great post.

**porrick** · 30th August 07, 01:34 AM

Good piece of work there - and I especially enjoyed following the process in text and photos

**djweso** · 30th August 07, 03:39 AM

I loved all of the pictures. The contribution is appreciated. I'm jealous of the experience nad the knife

I'm also one of those always asking for more pics sooo... how about of the knife in the sock and such.

**Nick** · 30th August 07, 04:31 AM

Good work on the cable damascus, and that handle is outstanding. One of these days when my forge is up and running again I'll do a step by step of a pattern welded sgian from scratch (I wire the billet together for forge welding, I don't have a buzzbox.)

Weasle Mender, my forge is Ironrose Forge

I was originally going to include the Latin for "Art through fire and iron" as a motto on my forge sign, but found out that "through fire and iron" is a Roman euphamism for war. I still may end up using it if I start doing more armour, though I've been concentrating on historical blacksmithing of late.

**Hachiman** · 30th August 07, 06:00 AM

But - That is a fantastic piece of art! Yes, Art. Beautiful blade, lovely shape and form throughout. Well done, I say! I can only envy the skill it took to make that blade, and dare to hope to own something half as good one day.

And thank you for the excellent coverage of the whole process.

The frequent pictures helped me follow the creation of the knife, and gave me a better appreciation of the work that went into it.

Thanks for sharing!

Cheers
Hachiman