San Mai Hunter - yep, I know. It's hard to believe.

[kbaknife]

I could make these things until Aldo Bruno ran out of Stainless Steel.
Out tomorrow is this San Mai hunter with a hot-blued guard and a Desert Ironwood handle.
I really do like the contrast of all these materials.

[maxwell]

Your knives are just so beautiful, works of art and
useful for their intended purpose.  Great knife.

[Bodork]

Wow Karl! You should be very proud of your talents! Just off the chart!!!

[KSCATTRAPR]

Love the dark ironwood with the blued guard, and of course the blade. Everything just "fits" with this knife. Great job as always.

[Lin Rhea]

You sure do Aldo proud Karl. And us.    
Beautiful knife.

[Track]

You're right Karl, that is one great looking knife.

[D.Ellis]

I knew you'd get around to making one of those sooner or later    

Darcy  

[gudspelr]

Never get tired of seeing those, Karl.  

Jeremy

[FerretWYO]

Yi Yi Yi Yi that is awesome.

[tomsm44]

Yep, you really botched this one with that material combo (rolls eyes).  These never get old.  I love your blued San Mai and your hunter blades.  Greatness.

Matt

[kbaknife]

Matt, those blades are not blued. Just etched in FeCl.

[tomsm44]

You know, I think you've corrected me about that before.     They look awesome no matter how you do them.  The knives that is, not the electric fences.  

Matt

[Antlerhog]

How do you keep the core steel so dark? Doesn't the oxide want to polish off like it does in Damascus? I ask because I just purchased some HHH 1084 core San Mai and I'm wondering how to keep the 1084 a deep dark black.

Jay

[kbaknife]

Originally posted by Antlerhog:
How do you keep the core steel so dark? Doesn't the oxide want to polish off like it does in Damascus? I ask because I just purchased some HHH 1084 core San Mai and I'm wondering how to keep the 1084 a deep dark black.

Jay

I actually etch this about 4-5 times and scrub this with 0000 steel wool between etches.
One major difference is that I am using 1095 that I think was made in '06 or '07. It was rather high in manganese and vanadium. It etches much darker than any other steel I've used.

[srtben]

Another looker!

[Antlerhog]

That is a beautiful knife! Thanks for the reply. I've got some HHH 1084 San Mai and I wondered how dark I'll be able to keep the core doing it your way?

Jay