My very first integral...

[Doug Campbell]

Nearly two years ago a good friend of mine asked me about building a full tang chopper similar to some of Jason Knight's great work but he was looking for some really nice handle material. One thing lead to another and it was this long before I got to it...

I forged her from a bar of Karl's 1" sq 5160 stock. As I forged the blade and progressed down the bar toward the handle section she just sort of morphed into an integral instead of the full tang knife I started out looking for. If I'd known the challenges of bringing this big ol girl to completion I may have just went ahead and drew that bar on out like I started...

I'm pretty tickled with the end product, she'll go in the mail probably tomorrow headed west to OR so Master Leathersmith Robin Severe can work his magic and dress her up a bit.

Just shy of 10 1/4" blade, 15 1/4" OAL, one heck of a nice chunk of fossil walrus ivory and gently peened NS pins. She's a hand full, a little bit of the "country cousin" in appearance but kinda classy in her own way...
   
 
   

Thanks for looking!

[amicus]

Thats very nice. Good Job.

Gilbert

[KHALVERSON]

doug
i really like that country cousin look
it says take me out and use me

[akaboomer]

I like it. The integrals do appear to bring a whole new set of challenges. I plan on trying a small one from some 52100 round stock that was gifted to me. Great job on the big chopper.

Chris

[kansas stik man]

great knife that your edc? lol

[kbaknife]

Wowzer! (That steel is now 28 years old.)
Is that some of the Ivory you scored in Ak?

[GWV]

That ivory is nice.

[Steve Nuckels]

Wee Doggies!  I love that!

Steve
-------
Potomac Forge

[tippit]

I'm liken' it!!  When you come to Aiken to do a little hog hunting, we can run over to Jason's forge too  

[Emmons]

Looks like you found the diamond hidden in the bar of 5160.  Great knife!!

[Craig B]

Looks really good!

[LONGBOWKID]

Doug,

 That is awesome. The ivory looks great, and the blade shape is just killer.

Brandon

[Doug Campbell]

Thanks a lot guys, she was another great learning experience. A fella should keep trying new things so this "schooling" is a never ending process.

The ivory is from a guy who moved down here from AK, Karl. We're getting back up there in June to help with the new grandbaby for a few days. I'll be searching for more cool handle material while there for sure.

That would be awesome Jeff! The hog hunting and visiting Jason's forge.

Thanks again for the kind comments!

[Todd Robbins]

That's just beautiful right there!  I really like the way you left the natural texture on the back of the handle material.  That really pulls the "country cousin" look of the blade together with the ultra classy walrus ivory into a spectacular package.  I can't wait to see the sheath!

[Roughcountry]

Doug, I really like the way that one came out. Can't wait to see it and handle it.
It's gonna be fun to work on a sheath for this handfull.

[amar911]

I just love integral knives and that is a gorgeous one -- a little big for my normal uses -- but it will be amazing in the right circumstances (even if that is in a display case). You always come up with knives that make me drool, Doug. Thanks for showing us the eye candy!

Allan

[Stripstrike1]

That is the finest piece of steel I have ever seen!

[rover brewer]

awesome,beautiful,ect,ect,great job.

[David Yukon]

wow, real nice work!