Custom Handmade Damascus Steel Full Tang Hunting and Survival Tanto Tracker Knife
Crafting a custom handmade Damascus steel full tang tracker knife is a captivating and intricate process that requires skill and attention to detail. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating one:
Material Selection: Begin by selecting high-quality Damascus steel for the blade. Damascus steel is renowned for its strength, durability, and beautiful patterns created by folding and layering different types of steel. Choose a steel that meets your requirements for both aesthetics and performance.
Design Phase: Sketch out the design of the tracker knife, considering its intended use, blade length, width, and handle shape. The tracker knife typically features a distinctive curved blade with a straight back edge and a notch near the handle for additional functionality.
Blade Forging: Heat the Damascus steel to a high temperature in a forge and shape it using traditional blacksmithing techniques. Hammer and shape the steel to create the desired profile of the blade, paying attention to details such as the edge bevels and spine thickness.
Full Tang Construction: Forge the blade with a full tang, meaning the steel of the blade extends through the entire length of the handle. This provides strength, stability, and balance to the knife, making it durable and reliable for heavy-duty tasks.
Handle Construction: Craft the handle from materials such as wood, micarta, or stabilized materials. Shape the handle to fit comfortably in the hand and provide a secure grip during use. Ensure that the tang of the blade is securely attached to the handle material, either through riveting, epoxy, or other methods.
Finishing and Heat Treatment: After shaping the blade and handle, heat treat the knife to enhance its hardness, toughness, and edge retention. This involves heating the blade to a specific temperature and then quenching it in oil or water to achieve the desired properties. Temper the blade to reduce its brittleness and improve its resilience.
Grinding and Polishing: Grind the blade to refine its shape and sharpen the edge to a razor-sharp finish. Polish the blade to reveal the beautiful patterns of the Damascus steel and give it a mirror-like shine.
Final Assembly and Inspection: Assemble the handle onto the tang of the blade, ensuring a tight and secure fit. Perform a thorough inspection of the knife to check for any imperfections or flaws. Test the sharpness and balance of the knife to ensure its functionality.
Customization (Optional): Depending on the customer's preferences, you may add customizations such as engraving, etching, or decorative elements to personalize the knife.
Crafting a custom handmade Damascus steel full tang tracker knife is a labor-intensive process that requires patience, skill, and attention to detail. However, the end result is a unique and functional piece of art that combines beauty and utility in one exquisite tool.
Specifications:
- Overall length: 11.00".
- Blade length: 6.00".
- Handle length: 5.00".
- Blade width: 2.00"
- Blade thickness: 6mm
- Steel: Damascus Steel
- Hardness: 60C Rockwell
Construction:
- Long-lasting Micarta canvas handle.
- Durable full tang design.
- Damascus blade has great edge retention and is easy to sharpen.
- Multipurpose blade allows good control for tasks like cutting, skinning and carving.
- Oil coating on blade for durability, corrosion-resistance and reduced friction.
- Durable genuine leather sheath included.