Thread: custom blades?

Hey guys and gals,
I am considering buying some Damascus blanks and having them ground into custom blades. I'm going to make my own scales so I'm wondering who out there would be willing and able to grind the blades for me?

Not to scare you away from this, but some craftsman might take it as an insult to be told to use someone else's material and to return an unfinished product for you to put scales on yourself, rather than have them do it.

I would recommend working with some old beat up blades until you know that you will be able to do such an item justice. Not that you couldn't, but it is more likely than not that you'll be happier if you have some practice under your belt first.

As a side note, damascus that is available to be purchased as a blank isn't always made of steel that would be suitable for a razor (I do a little bladesmithing in my free time so take my word for it, all steels are not created equal).

All in all, it would be best to commission a razorsmith to do what he does with his own materials, maybe you can talk him into letting you rescale it, maybe not.

Thanks for the input, I dont have any intention of insulting anyone, and anyone that might be willing to help I would of course show them my previous work so they would be comfortable letting me scale their work. I didnt realize all damascus might not be razor suitable and never thought that a person might want to use their own stock, which would be fine I just liked a few of the patterns I had seen for sale elsewhere. Maybe it would be best to wait a little while and build my repution for making scales to add a little bit more of a comfort factor when asking someone to do this. Still, it is a project I would like to undertake at some point.

One of our members, Mike Blue, makes pattern welded Damascus that is suitable for razors. Another member, Joe Chandler, uses Mikes Damascus and grinds the razors from it with excellent results.

Send Joe Chandler a PM,

Absolutely, I dont want you to think it's impossible or beyond your reach in any way. I just know how many craftsmen tend to be about their work and touchy a subject it is to try and call the shots.

About the steels not being suitable, many people make damascus with pure nickel layers to make the pattern really dramatic, which is fine for show pieces but terrible for functional blades (nickel doesn't hold an edge like even poor steel, which doesnt hold an edge like good steel). A quick search around the site for custom makers will give a whole list of guys that can, at least, point you in the right direction.

right now im workign with some 15n20+1095 (is 1075+ a touch of nic but not much) till i get finished with it the balance should end up 1080-1084 well above the 1060 that most go with as min steel for a razor

it will not be as high contrast but its bold cause of the low layer count

Good choices!

1095 is my current favorite steel to work with. I've been doing some Japanese style chef's knives and figure it's pretty close to the Japanese white steel.

jsut ordered 40lb of W2 to make some kitchen stuff with crazy hamon

making my stainless for razors cpm154 my high carbon W2 and i ll most likely stick with 1095/15n20 or W2/15n20 for Damascus
now i guess if i ll be doing forge work i might as well join the ABS and work to a JS/MS rating