This was my second Damascus build and first time doing bolsters. It was also my second time working with natural wood as a handle material.
The blade is 3.75 inches long with around a 3.25-inch cutting surface. It is made of 5/32-inch Alabama Damascus steel and has what they call a “Buckshot” pattern. I etched the blade in a mixture of ferric chloride and apple cider vinegar for the sides, and I attempted a semi-polished look for the spine. It has brass bolsters, black walnut for the handle scales, with brass and copper handle pins.
I learned some good lessons with this knife build. This knife did not come out the way I wanted. One could question why I would share my failures with you…the answer is that I want to take you all on this journey with me, so sharing some of the things I get wrong are just as important to me as sharing what I get right.