SBranson Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 (edited) Sheath pictures added This one is inspired by some of the great Anglo Saxon seaxes posted here, though I may be the only one who sees it. There are a few new elements here for me and a start of an direction I will explore further back in time. The blade is W2, 9 7/8" guard to tip with a sharpened clip. (hence the fighter) It's quite thick at .284 at the guard with a distal taper that puts the balance point right at the plunge. The spacers are bronze with wrought iron ferrule and butt capp, the guard being forged from an old chain saw bar. The handle is white oak that I aged heavily. The OAL is about 15 3/8" I am still contemplating a style for the sheath. Thanks. A couple hamon shots And the sheath Edited July 8, 2012 by SBranson - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Sorensen Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 That is just awseome!!! http://luketheviking.mymiddleearth.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarrenRob Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Beautiful! Just beautiful! Loneforge Blades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLenaghan Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 WOW you pulled off some off a little of everything in that one, and made it look damn good too!!! LOVE IT! -Michael Lenaghan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 2, 2012 Author Share Posted July 2, 2012 Thanks!! Yeah, this one is a little "cross-cultural" to say the least... :P - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott A. Roush Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Yeah I knew you understood the feeling of the Japanese creeping in! :-) It's beautiful... I love that oak. http://www.bigrockforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 (edited) Ha... I heard you loud and clear Scott.. There was a thread on BF I think about using oak on knives and whether it was appropriate in "high end" knives or something like that. I can't remember the consensus but I like white oak. (not that this is high end by any stretch) I've tried aging it before and this is by far my favourite result. Edited July 3, 2012 by SBranson - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beau Erwin Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Very nice looking knife =] Beau Erwin www.ErwinKnives.com Custom knives Bcarta Composites Stabilized Woods Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Hardy Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 I love that knife Stuart! My favorite part about this one! is the handle. How did you age it? The blacksmith and the artist reflect it in their art. They forge their creativity,closer to the heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Stephens Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Looks great! Nice hamon. Clean plunge cut and ridge line. In my opinion, you have to have precision elements like thos if you're going to pull off the rough, unfinished ricasso thing. It's like saying "Look . . I did that on purpose." Well done. --Dave -----------------------------------------------"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly." -- Theodore Roosevelthttp://stephensforge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Thanks!! I did do it on purpose by the way... - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peto Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Fantastic piece... exceptional hamon, but best for me is bewitching simple oak handle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_Rogers Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Killer knife, great hamon..I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Thomas Obach Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 very nice work love the blade ! handle is very sweet becareful of the consensus ... they hated brass, then they hated carbon steel, large grain wood like oak, etc ... but then they'll use cracky wood like ebony, plastic handles, and garbage stainless for a blade G North Shore Forge & Ironworks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Fisher Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Great looking knife, love the clean lines against the forge texture flats. Great overall package. Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon M. Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 everything about that knife is just perfect! great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stéphane A. Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Couldn't agree more that is a very inspiring knife. And the hamon is.... droooooool My link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 Absolutely wonderful. The lines are fantastic and you're use of color and texture really makes the whole thing pop. I wouldn't have thought white oak would come out with so much character, and you absolutely must share your technique for aging it. Did you have it stabilized? Is that a cord wrap around the fore end? Spectacular work. When reason fails... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the response.. I'm glad to say that the owner is going to get this professionally photographed. I aged the oak by first texturing it with a wire wheel on my foredom. The wire wheel bites into the grain in the softer parts as the tree would age naturally. Next is an accelerated version of vinegaroon. I soaked some steel wool in vinegar and applied it turning the oak black. You don't really need the steel wool as vinegar alone reacts very strongly with the oak but it's more grey without the steel wool. Then sand the high points a bit and a little more texturing.... then some potassium permanganate. This is the stuff used to colour rawhide (and your hands) and will react with any organic material turning it a variety of purples and browns. A combination of the texturing, sanding, vinegaroon, and potassium permanganate until I was satisfied. Followed by tru-oil which darkens everything and brings out the richness. And finally, a really quick shot on the buffer with some tripoli brings out a little sheen. Oh yeah, that is hemp wrap that was first soaked in potassium permanganate to darken then applied a coated with west system 207 clear coating epoxy. Edited July 5, 2012 by SBranson - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Rucker Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 really nice work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 I finished the sheath this afternoon. - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Tim215 Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Love the way that came out. "Any system that does not give ample opportunity for talent to displace unearned rank (dead money) will, in the end, be forcibly replaced" http://fireandforge.wozaonline.co.za/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petr Florianek Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 wow, great package! i love the sheath GULLINBURSTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBranson Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 Thanks. I think this is my favourite sheath yet. - Stuart www.sbransonknives.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 Totally sweet package, Stuart! The way you bound the mouth with cord really sets it apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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