Catcheside Cutlery - Works in progress.

[cclin]

very nice pattern:doublethumbsup:! I'm enjoy reading your WIP', keep updating!!:lol2:

 

[WillC]

Thanks Charles, its an oldie, but one I've always wanted to try out. Will be interesting to see how much the pattern changes in the grind, I think the stars will become more fully formed as its ground closer to the core of the twists.:scratchhead:

 

[barramonday]

Interesting, can't wait to see the finished cleaver.

 

[JMJones]

Very impressive! thanks for showing.

 

[Bulldogbacchus]

That's fantastic stuff Wiil. Bravo!
Keep us posted.

 

[Crothcipt]

cool love the work that goes into damascus knives.

 

[kalaeb]

Cool patterns.

 

[Don Nguyen]

Will, what's your background? I don't see many people doing your kind of thing with stainless patterns, and your work is incredible. Your shop is jaw dropping too.

 

[WillC]

Wow, thanks guys,:biggrin: Its fun to work on something different.
Don thanks man, Yes I have a background in hot forge work, after my blacksmithing course at Hereford I did a few years working for someone else, then set up my workshop in hereford, I have made forged gates, railings, and sculpture for the past 10 years, all fairly involved forgings and of my own design, I've had lots of ups and downs financially, but have always been proud of what I produced. I've dabbled with Damascus in the early years and made the odd blade, but only really got hit by the bug around 2 years ago. I only really make kitchen knives, and dabbled with razors, which I plan to explore more....I find Kitchen knives my biggest passion and challenge, as the geometry is so extreme, and these are knives we use every day. Its been a crazy journey and i learn day by day:biggrin:All credit to this great forum, it has been a hub and focus for my learning and continues to be.:doublethumbsup:

 

[Justin0505]

Will is BACK!! Great to see that you are operational again and finally getting to that amazing cleaver idea that I know you've been thinking of for awhile.

You always have the best WIP and shop porn...and I guess the knives are nice too

 

[Don Nguyen]

What do you do with that excess material that you don't use?

 

[WillC]

There is very little off cut waste, in mosaic, a little off the end after each 4 stack is cut off as its folded over during forging. These are the pieces I normally polish up to show pattern progress. Other than that, waste is in the form of scale and dust I forge blades to size in most cases so there is minimal material to trim back. If I do have reasonable off cuts I hang on to them for bolsters or small knives:groucho:

 

[WildBoar]

Glad to see you are healed up enough to play in the shop again. Your WIP pics are always nice to see!

 

[Don Nguyen]

Ah, ok. I thought you had a giant billet and cut off half of it as scrap or something.

Loads of material, but to get the best of the pattern, its quite wasteful.

 

[WillC]

The log of progress...:laugh:
From left to right, Billets for ferrules and end caps, Feather damascus blades for commission ready to be ground. And some soon to be finished and available ... Cleaver and two mosaic petty. Feather billet lumps on the end, One will soon be a Gyuto for Robin, will be enough for another full sized blade too. I'm on the Burke blades mostly this week, after that I will get all these rolling.

This is the end of that big octagonal piece,, based on fire within, this will be for the endcaps. It is 01/15n20 mosaic enclosed in mild steel.

Quick peak at the feathers, they are fairly fine so wont really do the pattern justice until its all properly finished, These are 01/15n20 with more 01 on the edge. The edges all tested to 65hrc fully hardened so thats good. I have tempered back to 61 hrc.

 

[brainsausage]

I love seeing these WIP pics Will. Glad to hear your hand is doing ok. And I'm VERY excited to get my Burke/Catcheside!!! Christmas is coming early this year:doublethumbsup:

 

[RobinW]

How small and insignificant the little lump looks. And soon it will go from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan.....
Looking forward to seeing it take shape!

 

[WillC]

Grinding...grinding...grinding...grinding....and more grinding....hope I dont run out of belts:eek2:
Feathers and cleaver

The cleaver is going to be a vegetable one. Its really a giant Nakiri. Still thick on the spine 4mm to 1mm, but with some extreme geometry, a real mans Nakiri

Having given it a test run, I'm going to take the hollows even further, so that was a bit of a waste of the beginnings of a hand finish

This will be a true one off, I will be making a tight twist 3x3 composite for the ferrule/endcap in pure nickel and 01, i'm even considering putting some copper in the mix. Jade color spacers and nickel silver, with a piece of high grade koa I have been saving.
Sorry for my self indulgence on this, but I get easily side tracked.:lol2:

 

[RobinW]

Which one should i be looking at? ;-)

 

[WillC]

Yours not forged out yet Robin, It will be though...soon...bit of a juggling going on here Your wood however arrived today:biggrin:

 

[RobinW]

:bashhead:

 

[WillC]

Patience man:laugh:
I've had a long weekend of work, the composite cleaver pics will have vanished, I am organizing them into a single WIP.:biggrin:

 

[RobinW]

Don't worry, I'm in no hurry. just pulling your leg
Although i love pics!

 

[WillC]

As it happens I forged out your Feather lump today
Here is some progress on Robin's Feather Gyuto.

Blade carefully forged out and tapered.

There is another lump there too enough for a 240-250 Gyuto, hint hint nudge nudge.
Rough forged profile

After a bit of a trim, pretty close to the template, let me know if you want any final tweaks, it can stand a little more drawing out so there will be a little wiggle room.

 

[RobinW]

Lets see what the group says first.
I think it looks pretty nice, but i will relook tomorrow morning.


Ohh, and on the other lump, you offering a 2 for 1 deal?:laugh:

 

[RobinW]

Also, what do you think?

And if there is too much material, you could always make it longer right?

 

[WillC]

I think it feels good, the taper is currently 4mm to 2mm. It is pickling clean overnight so i'll give it one more light run under the hammer to true the taper and stretch it a couple of mm so we have enough length to play with for final tweaks, Best to leave these complex patterns a bit thicker before grinding down to near final taper, then heat treatment, regrinding again after HT aiming for around 3mm 2mm 1mm on the spine. Taper wise, sound good?
2 for one...mmmmmm.... cheeky monkey:laugh: i need to sell the other bit...I have holes in all my trousers:sad0:
I do like this profile though, If you don't mind I may do the other bit the same profile, there will be subtle differences in the pattern from the forging process so you can then have the pick of either, I'll finish and put the other for sale.
Unless someone wants to jump in and commission the extra bit for something, this material takes a LONG time to produce so it would be a good cue jump. :groucho:

 

[Crothcipt]

Just out of curiosity how is my little knife going?

 

[WillC]

On its way my friend, I gave it a loving final hone and packaged it up. I'll post it in the morning.

 

[Crothcipt]

:jumping::excited::thankyou::bliss: