Damascus Grizzly

Product Description for Damascus Grizzly

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 99787
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 6.10 in.
Cutting edge length: 5.70 in.
Total length: 11.75 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.25 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.27 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.21 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.07 in.
Item weight: 10.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 15.2 oz.
Blade: Damascus blade hand forged from Bohler 0000 and 1080 carbon steels
Bolster: Bronze
Handle: Carved warthog tusk with curly maple and desert ironwood accents
Sheath: Hand tooled leather sheath
Description: Getting to meet bladesmith Stuart Smith was a real highlight of my recent trip to South Africa. Smith began making knives in 2000 after he took a class with Mastersmith Kevin Harvey. Stuart was immediately hooked and quite his job working as a salesman by 2004. Only a few years after that, in 2009, Smith began teaching classes of his own. Among his many students is Neels van den Berg. Stuart has been very active over the years in the Southern African Bladesmiths Association (SABA) and the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (KGSA). Stuart is one of the promising makers that I have encountered in a long time.
Smith forged the clip point blade from Bohler 0000 and 1080 carbon steels. The pattern is high contrast and shows tremendous skill at the forge. Both the edge and clip are razor sharp.
The handle combines carved warthog tusk with spacers formed from Arizona desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) and curly maple (Acer spp.). A central pin is formed from ancient mammoth ivory. The warthog tusk is beautifully carved into a countenance of a roaring bear. The grizzly bear was meticulously carved by Bobby Ivanov. Bulgarian born Ivanov now lives in South Africa. His carving is absolutely stunning and tremendously life-like. Alternating black fiber and phosphor bronze spacers assist the handle to adjust to temperature and humidity changes.
The knife is accompanied by a hand tooled leather sheath.
Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available