{"id":2773,"date":"2014-02-23T01:24:46","date_gmt":"2014-02-23T01:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2014-02-23T01:24:46","modified_gmt":"2014-02-23T01:24:46","slug":"knapped-lascaux-small-push-dagger-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=2773","title":{"rendered":"Knapped “Lascaux” Small Push Dagger Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_6\"
\n<\/a>Above, I’ve epoxied the titanium scales into place on the fully heat treated blade, and peened all four of the copper pins into place. \u00a0While the epoxy is an important part of the holding process, it’s real value is in sealing the titanium scales to the steel tang, not allowing water or other fluids to get in underneath and work their dastardly deeds.<\/p>\n

I’ve also done a little grinding and filing to make certain everything matches up for the fit-and-finish I (and my clients!) expect in my work. \u00a0Also, you might notice I’ve carved and textured the “neck” of the blade, so I’m done with the blade itself, and ready to begin the embellishment process.<\/p>\n

\"Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_6\"<\/a>
\nAbove is a titanium practice piece for the embellishments with designs inspired by European cave paintings. \u00a0So far, I’ve spent a total of three or four bladesmithing days getting to this point, and I’m figuring the engraving and carving will take another four engraving days. \u00a0I’m not interested in risking the work I’ve done so far on an untested technique without a test piece first.<\/p>\n

I’m going to decorate my titanium scales with a Japanese metal carving technique called shishiaibori. \u00a0It is a technique that many authorities credit to a Japanese sword furniture maker named Joi , but I also notice it is very similar to certain styles of Egyptian hieroglyphics. \u00a0So, who came first? \u00a0I don’t know. \u00a0I also don’t really care – but whoever figured it out first, I really like the effect it provides. \u00a0No, I’m not interested in an art history debate, I’m simply pointing out some observations I’ve made about the technique so far<\/p>\n

The technique starts out with a very deep outline (takes me three times around with three different gravers to get deep enough, and heavily cutting each time). Then, the inside edges are carefully carved back, rounding them over to achieve a 3D look. Obviously, you need to have steeper sides in some areas, and shallower sides in others to achieve the 3D look.<\/p>\n

The main point is there is no background removal, as in normal US and European engraving, and all of the design is at or below the surface, so wear and tear on the engraving should be less of a concern. \u00a0This particular set of scales for my little knapped push dagger is CP titanium, so I can either ink it in, or darken the whole thing (I think, I have to experiment a bit there), but I haven’t figured out how to selectively darken titanium yet.<\/p>\n

\"Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_7\"<\/a>
\nAbove is a closeup of the technique.<\/p>\n

\"Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_8\"
\n<\/a>And, here is a view from the side, hopefully\u00a0showing how flat this technique actually is, and how much of a 3D effect it gives when viewed from above. \u00a0So far this looks really good, so the actual engraving is now a go.<\/p>\n

Thanks for Looking!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Above, I’ve epoxied the titanium scales into place on the fully heat treated blade, and peened all four of the copper pins into place. \u00a0While the epoxy is an important part of the holding process, it’s real value is in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[23,5,18],"tags":[9,8,3,7,17,16,21,4,29],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6qLAy-IJ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2757,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=2757","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":0},"title":"Knapped “Lascaux” Small Push Dagger Part 1","date":"February 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Here's the start of a small push dagger, done in my signature \"knapped\" style. \u00a0It's made of 1075 carbon steel, with Grade 2 Titanium scales and copper pins. \u00a0It's 4 1\/8 inches total length, and the blade is a hair over 2 inches. Above, I've shaped the blade portion and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2815,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=2815","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":1},"title":"Knapped \u201cLascaux\u201d Small Push Dagger Part 5 – Finished!","date":"March 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, I finally figured out what was on the other side, and finished this one! \u00a0I know, I know, a red-letter day for me! \u00a0I've only been dragging this out for months... \u00a0Now, I need to make a nice box or stand. \u00a0I'm leaning towards a stand at the moment...\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_35.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3657,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=3657","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":2},"title":"“Greenman in Autumn” Pendant Dagger, Part 1","date":"December 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0\u00a0 Above images courtesy of Bladegallery.com Beginning a new project - a tiny pendant dagger in my signature \"Knapped Steel\" style. Here it's been cut out from 1084 carbon steel. Decreasing weight of the dagger, left to right - drilling areas in handle - jeweler's saw cutting through the web\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/93308_3_b.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5587,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=5587","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":3},"title":"Knapped Push Dagger Tutorial","date":"May 29, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Time to start another knife project. I think this will be a small push dagger , in knapped steel style with my nasty \u201cripper edge. Grinding my signature \"knapped steel\" flake scars into 3\/16 inch thick 1084 steel Kup Doxycycline bez recepty , followed by differential hardening and tempering. You\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/TomSterling_Knapped_Push_Dagger_Tutorial_2-300x268.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3682,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=3682","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":4},"title":"“Greenman in Autumn” Pendant Dagger, Part 2","date":"December 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I started the engraving by cutting all the major lines. Next I'll inlay gold wire into the Celtic beard... Inlaying gold wire, from top left clockwise - undercutting the line (blue arrows) - hammering in wire - more hammering - all wire in place Clockwise from upper left - scraping\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Pendant_Dagger_121.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2781,"url":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/?p=2781","url_meta":{"origin":2773,"position":5},"title":"Knapped “Lascaux” Small Push Dagger Part 3 – Shishiaibori Technique","date":"February 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"It's time to begin the shishiaibori carving process. \u00a0Above is the design transferred to the titanium scales. \u00a0I use a laser printer on kitchen\/cooking parchment and damar varnish transfer method. Step 1: \u00a0I begin engraving with a Lindsay Universal graver (116 degree V-graver), and make as deep a cut as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Carving"","img":{"alt_text":"Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_11","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Knapped_Lascaux_Push_Dagger_11.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2773"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2812,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773\/revisions\/2812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/sterlingsculptures.com\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}