Historical relics in Damascus

jkf96a

Well-Known Member
Finally finished a billet I've worked five days on over the past 6 weeks.

Started out with some nails and a couple other relics from San Jacinto, shortly after the battle in 1836 where Texas won its independence.
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After soaking them in vinegar for a few days, then brushing off the rust, I built a canoe to put them in. The flat sides are 1/4” 1084, and the short sides are mild. Inside the can, I put some of the nails and some 1095 powder.
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From that point it’s just a lot of weld, draw, restack, weld. This is the San Jacinto nails billet stacked at 19 layers.
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Final billet set up to weld.
301, nickel, 1232, nickel, 301. Weld it up, and I’ve got 1836. I did incorporate four layers of nickel sheet in the cladding. Ought to make some nice bright lines on the top half of the blade.

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You can see where I used layout fluid and marked the lines where I wanted to mill grooves for pattern development.

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Here’s the grooves.

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Reveal!
Quick check of pattern at 120 off the grinder.

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Still have at least four full days work on this one before final completion, maybe a few more. Goal is to be done by mid summer.
 
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