Mokume Dagger with Damascus

Product Description for Mokume Dagger with Damascus

Maker: Hugh Bartrug, M.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 99960
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 7.10 in.
Cutting edge length: 7.10 in.
Total length: 12.25 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.50 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.20 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.08 in.
Item weight: 13.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 17.4 oz.
Blade: Gun blued damascus with a central damascus inlay
Bolster: Integral damascus
Handle: Mokume gane forged from nickel silver and copper
Description: Mastersmith Hugh Bartrug was way ahead of his time. He is one of the "forgotten" heroes of knifemaking. Many of his knives were featured in Weyer's Points of Interest books. He was a lifetime member of many blacksmith and bladesmith societies and guilds. He taught bladesmithing at Touchstone Craft Center, in Uniontown, and Ripley Craft Center, in Ripley, W.Va., and demonstrated at many "hammer in's" and symposiums, teaching basics to advanced damascus forging. Both Rick Hinderer and Darrel Ralph credit Bartrug as teaching them to make damascus and mokume. He was honored with many prestigious awards, most coveted being Bill Moran's Knife of the Year Award and Blade Magazine Knife of the Year Award. He was so well known that Blade Show's top award used to be called the Hugh Bartrug Best of Show Award. Bartrug died on Oct. 25, 2009 at 76.
This dagger was likely made in the late 1980s or very early 1990s. Bartrug retired in 1994 after an aneurysm. His forge was named after his grand daughter, Ashley. Regrettably, his work is virtually never seen these days -- never leaving the collections where it has been treasured. This knife is in new condition and by all appearances, Bartrug could have made it yesterday. It is extremely rare to find a piece of this era that holds up well to the best work created today.
The dagger ground blade was forged from damascus. The blued damascus blade was inlaid with a central bar of twist pattern nickel damascus. The blade is absolutely stunning and can be stared at for hours. The ricasso features Bartrug's mark, Ashley Forge.
The handle is formed from mokume gane. The damascene pattern was created by forging together nickel and copper into an intricate pattern. The visage of a lion was created using repoussé. The mokume is set on the full damascus tang.
This dagger is absolutely exceptional.


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