The start of some up coming projects (all finished)

[Lin Rhea]

Must be the hair Karl.    :D  

I got the Duffy knife done.
   
   

[Ray Hammond]

It's a lot more than just hair, grandpappy!!!!! He's been just like that most of the time I've seen him- smiling!

[D.Ellis]

Another beauty Lin.
If you didn't live so far away(and have big sharp knives close to hand) I'd love to raid your stag pile!        
Darcy  

[Lin Rhea]

The stag pile is low Darcy. Better wait. The Duffy knife stag was real thick and rough. I had to thin it and more or less re cut it so the good stuff was on a plane with the envisioned handle sides. I will be shopping for ,more in Little Rock.

[akaboomer]

That's another beauty. You made the best use of that stag for sure, as we expect. I am liking G the way your Damascus seems to have more contrast lately. Thanks for sharing.

Chris

[Lin Rhea]

Here is the last of these five knives. It has a 3-5/8 inch blade and natural stag scales.

   
   

[cacciatore]

All 5 came out wery nice.

[akaboomer]

Those all turned out beautifully.  I enjoy watching what these turn into.

Chris

[Keith Zimmerman]

I just rec'd Felixs knife yesterday to hold for him.  Unbelievable.  The detail and finish is amazing.  Did I say unbelievable?  If I wasnt paying for a couple Tips due this summer, and a custom rifle due at the same time....oh my!  I will never shoot the rifle.  Hmmm.  I love that last one that is finished.  Did I say unbelievable??

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks guys.

Keith, I appreciate you saying so. The Natural Stag Hunter is at the sheath makers getting fitted as we speak.
   

[Bladepeek]

Lin, I believe I read something in the IP about a tip for etching damascus. My etches are some times inconsistant. I'd love to read that tip.

[srtben]

Lin your amber stag hunters are absolutely fantastic, never get tired of seeing them.

[Izzy]

Another home run build! Can't wait to get mine on my belt.

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you guys.  


Ron, as hard as this might be to believe, it is true.

The etch itself is about the same as usual except for this suggestion. Place a fish aquarium air bubbler in the bottom of the ferric chloride tank and let it bubble while you are etching your blade. This seems to stir the acid in a consistent manner. I have not tested this to know just what difference it makes but will.

Ok here is the part that is pretty wild. After the last etch, go straight from the etch to clean water, then into a bath of strongly mixed instant coffee. It's much stronger than if it were for drinking. Don't touch the blade with your hands at any point during this for the same reasons as usual. Leave the blade suspended in the coffee for several hours and don't mess with it.

This will serve to darken the dark steel of the Damascus pattern and it seems to be pretty durable. It stands to reason the more of the dark steel per bright steel you mix in you pattern the more impact this method will make. In other words some patterns will benefit more from the coffee soak while other patterns wont show the dramatic difference quite as much.  

Felix's knife was soaked in the coffee as well as Ethan's knife.

[allen newberry]

I like the idea of soaking the blade in coffee.  I love coffee.  Great knives and I like to see that Ethan already has one of his Grandad's knives.

[D.Ellis]

Interesting idea with the coffee.......gonna have to try that.
Darcy  

[Lin Rhea]

I got the sheath back on Ethan's knife.  
 

[Lin Rhea]

Here is Ethan getting to hold it in the sheath for the first time. As soon as he got his hands on it he stuck it in his mouth.    :D
 

[D.Ellis]

Tasty looking knife and sheath Lin......can't blame the lad!   :D  
Darcy  

[Fallguy]

He knows a good knife when he tastes one. That is a group photo to be proud of Lin.