I have been working on this project for most of the year off and on. I traded some ivory to another maker to forge me a billet big enough to do this. I started with a 1/2 inch billet of scaley damascus which consisted of 340 layers of 1095 and nickel. He fluxed & welded it well and I could find no flaws. I spent many hours grinding then fly cutting to get it down to a 1/4 inch. I made a big blade with a nice clip point. I thought that was going to be it, however at a recent gulfcoast knifemakers meeting I happened to see a book of old bowie knives from west Texas. I when home after the meeting and reground it to match a picture I saw. Trying to have this completed by CHRISTmas. Will top it of with a nickel & colored spacer, a piece of turquoise and fossil walrus ivory with a nickel silver fluted cap. Hopefully I get the guard made and fitted this weekend. Will keep you posted. Whole knife should be around 14 inches.
