Custom Damascus folder from Untamed Knives

Garciamarquez1918

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I've been wanting to have a custom damascus folder made. Looked at lots of companies before I realized the answer was in front of my eyes every time I watch one of Untamed Knives' awesome YouTube Videos.

I've been in contact with Ross over the past few days. He's super responsive on WhatsApp and came right back with an initial design as well as some follow ups. He also forges his own damascus which is relatively rare from what I've seen. (I'm by no means a "knife guy" so could be wrong about that.)

Ross also mentioned that people who hunt in Zimbabwe could potentially have a custom knife made with, for instance, your own warthog ivory. Buffalo horn is also possible but presents some challenges according to Ross because it wants to bend.

I'd be excited about this knife no matter what but I really like the idea of giving my business to a company that creates such great content and that supports our community so tangibly.
 
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This isn't "my knife" but an example of a warthog damascus folder.

f6565b38-6f20-4884-8f72-b2d330251cb0.JPG
 
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Today's update from @RossVosloo at Untamed Knives:

"Took the billet from 31 layers, 4x stacked to 124 layers now. Tomorrow will stack again with flashing to take it up to 374 layers."
 

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  • Before the forge.jpg
    Before the forge.jpg
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  • In the forge.jpg
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  • Hammered.jpg
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Below are the first steps of making my knife!

First is the initial billet which is 31 layers stacked 4 times. This is heated in the second image and then hammered out into a blade blank in the third.

Next step is this flat, with 124 layers, will be cut in three. These three billets will have two "flashing" layers put between them and then be hammered out for a total of 374 layers.

Billet.jpg
oven.jpg
Blade blank.jpg
 
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Heat treating day! Three rounds of "normalizing," grain refinement and anneal. Heat the knife to 900 c, then air cool. The 840 c, and air cool. Then 770 c and air cool. This refines the grain structure of the steel to be as fine and even as possible before the quench.

I'm really excited about the third photo where you can faintly see the Damascus pattern coming through!

Knife Heat 1.jpg
Knife Heat 2.jpg
Knife Heat 3.jpg
 
Next the knife is quenched from 830 celcius into a special heat-treating oil. Final image shows the blade fresh out of the oil, showing the nice light gray color of martensite, the hard type of steel we want. Now it's back into the over at a mere 205 c for two rounds of tempering.

Quench.jpg
Post Quench.jpg
 
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Hi - the only (best) method of sending you the .375/06IMP data is with photographing my book notes. My camera died so the only way I can do it is with my phone. To do that, I would need your e-mail address, as this
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