Dragonskin Damascus.. How?

jac_solar

jac_solar

Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
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I'm not a big fan of Damascus, but I'm thoroughly amazed by the Dragonskin Damascus of Bertie Reitvald.

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And, despite how incredible that type of damascus or coloring looks, I've never seen it anywhere else. How come? Why don't more people make this type of colored steel?
 
Isn't it superb? So classy and unique.

^^^ Such great photos by the others.

One of the finest men in our craft as well.

The pattern represents everything good about Handmade Knives. I have just finished another, which I'll post soon.

Coop
 
jac_solar said:
I'm not a big fan of Damascus, but I'm thoroughly amazed by the Dragonskin Damascus of Bertie Reitvald.

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And, despite how incredible that type of damascus or coloring looks, I've never seen it anywhere else. How come? Why don't more people make this type of colored steel?
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Certainly a number of other makers do make multi-colored Damascus. Steve Schwarzer, Johan Gustafsson and Rainy Vallotton come to mind immediately.

However the Dragonskin is special stuff IMO - I have seen many examples in person and really want an example for my collection, but have never found the right piece and price. It is effectively Bertie's trademark, and I don't think any other maker is likely to copy it. Although I do believe he at least used to sell bars of it separately years ago and I am pretty sure I saw it on someone else's knife once (Owen Wood?).
 
jac_solar said:
Ah, thanks for the info. But how do they get these colors? How does it work?
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A couple ways come to mind, case hardening or nitre bluing....anyone confirm? I know chemicals are used.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
A couple ways come to mind, case hardening or nitre bluing....anyone confirm? I know chemicals are used.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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He uses bluing salts, blade magazine did an article about him years ago. His dragon skin Damascus was also discussed.
I met him at the ECCKS and had an enjoyable converstion about the damascus, really nice fella.
 
Not exactly sure how the coloring is done. I have one knife by David Lemoine with what he calls "heat treated colored Damascus". It is bronze/gold colored. It is a beautiful but difficult to photograph. I will look at the COA tonight and see if David describes the process in more detail.







 
Thanks for the info guys.

That damascus by Suchat Jangtanong looks extremely vibrant -- wow. What happens if you scratch that type of damascus coloring, though?
 
That's incredible!!!

I started forging my first Dragon Skin Damascus blanks with Shiva this past Friday. I got 6' of 1" cable forge welded, I almost died of heat exhaustion lol Hard, HOT work but I'm really enjoying learning his process.
 
The ball bearing in powder steel makes great looking steel. Colored or not.

I would guess it is a case hardening or chemical etch of some sort.
 
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