Damascus and Mild Steel?

[Jedadiah]

Hi people,

just a couple of quick questions, firstly, i've seen this Damascus blade and reading the spec's on it, it says that the tang is mild steel. I'm not expert, but i wondered if that would compromise the strength if this was a user, any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=250143166551&rd=1&rd=1

Also, has anyone used Elforyn for scales? I've heard Corian is very slippery and not really suitable for a user knife, any thoughts on that?

Your experience and views are very much appreciated.

 

[Squidders]

My limited knowledge is that many folk weld the tang to the blade on damascus / pattern welded knives... I think that if it's done by anyone who knows what they're doing it shouldn't be a problem.

Maybe some of the BB members here could give more solid advice though.

 

[bushwacker bob]

Squidders is correct.Damascus steel is very expensive so if your making a hidden tang knife,you make the blade and weld on a cheaper tang steel.If its done well you cant even see the transition between the blade and tang.The tang would be hidden by the handle when the knife is completed.

If you wish to try some corian, PM me as I have some pieces large enough for scandi spacers.

 

[Jedadiah]

Cheers Squidders and Bob,

i just thought that mild steel would be too soft and or pliant to work effectively. Also, the blade in my link looks like its a full tang which means if you fitted scales, the two different metals would be exposed which would be bad enough from an asthetic view, but with two differing metals, both exposed and one of them being mild steel i wondered about it's suitability as a user.

Thanks for the offer of the corian, but i was thinking about making the entire scales from them. I known Steve from SWC has done one with corian scales and i think Swoosh did one, but i cannot find the pic's.

The thing is, i wondered if it was a viable bone alternative and as much as it may look nice, i wondered if it was more 'plasticy' and slick which would possibly compromise the useability. That was why i also enquired as to Elforyn. It appears to be a bone substitute and wondered that same about that. What are they like to work when shaping?

Again, thanks for your views guy's