Gorgeous! Awesome work as always Cal. Love San Mai ( I know I’ve said it before) but for me I like it better than low layer Damascus...primarily because the living room knife makers in Indian and Pakistan aren’t flooding the market with San Mai like they are with Mixed mild steel Damascus they pass off as hardened steel.
Thanks Griff , It is tough to make it and keep that piece in the centre at the right thickness when you can't see what is going on. But it is all worth it when you heat treat the knife and see the image in the stainless follow the high carbon steel like a mirror reflection of what is below it. Especially with 416 SS because you get two images.
Cal do you do a FC dip, and then coffee on the San Mai? I have a billet of Alpha’s San Mai coming up is why I ask. It’s 410SS / 26C3 Thin Core San Mai.
Ferric chloride for about 5 minutes and steel wool every couple of minutes, neutralize in baking soda and then put mustard all over the blade for a few minutes. Then a real light coat of linseed oil and wipe completely off after a couple of minutes.
Beautiful Cal. The layers came out stunning. Also, that maroon mycarta looks so elegant. Not your basic black.
