Silver Stone

Product Description for Silver Stone

Maker: Josef Rusnak (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 86987
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 2.50 in.
Total length: 5.65 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.75 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.12 in.
Item weight: 3.90 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.5 oz.
Blade: Carved Damasteel stainless damascus
Bolster: Damasteel stainless damascus
Handle: Exhibition grade green toned fossil mammoth ivory with reticulated 800/1000 silver
Description: Josef Rusnak is a master of carving in steel, fine metals, and ivory. Silver Stone shows off his skill of implementation and creative sense of design.
The stout blade is carved from Damasteel stainless damascus. A central carved arch is elegantly dramatic. The Damasteel guard is backed by fileworked silver. Exhibition grade fossil mammoth ivory sit on the silver frame. The rear "bolster" is formed from reticulated 800/1000 silver. This rare technique produces a ridged or ripply surface through controlled heating. The ridges of a reticulated surface are pronounced, looking like a moonscape or a relief map of the Sierra Nevada. In indirect light, the ridges of reticulation cast shadows, like those thrown by mountains in the late afternoon sun. As the knife moves through light, the shadows on the reticulated surface shift.
This was done by heating a sheet of silver alloy up to 10 times to oxidize the copper at the surface, then pickling to remove the oxide and leave a thin layer of pure metal. This process-called depletion gilding-results in different melting temperatures between the surface and the interior of the sheet. Once the sheet is gilded, it is heated with a torch: The alloy in the interior flows before the surface metal does. The result is that the surface wrinkles, something like the "skin" on hot chocolate-only more appetizing.
The knife is accompanied by a matching silver and ivory sheath. The clasp is carved in the shape of a panther from silver. Exceptional work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available