Elk Spirit, Electroplated Bone and Damascus Art Knife *SOLD*

This piece is named Elk Spirit. I set out to create a knife and sheath I'd never seen anything like.

The blade is Multibar Damascus, two bars of 465 layer twists, and the spine is one bar of crane cable Damascus. It is hardened, tempered, and razor sharp.

The handle of the knife is a deer Tibia.

The base of the sheath is an elk jaw. I found both of these while hiking in Washington state. There is an enormous, ancient coyote den in the wilderness near where I grew up. I visit every couple years and raid their bone stash, that they so thoughtfully pile outside the den. That's where these bones are from.

I used a two part epoxy clay that is comparable to a very tough plastic when dry, to do all the sculpting. I then embedded Paua abalone from New Zealand for the eyes and accents in the sculptures.

I painstakingly electroplated the sculpture and parts of the bones with copper.

There is a tooled, hand sewn leather belt strapping set up that also holds the handle in place using a couple of loops and an antler tip.

This is a very effective knife, but more than anything, it is an art piece. Should you choose to buy it, know that there is only one. There is nothing else like this in existence.

It would make a great show piece, either for wearing, or on display somewhere.

Victory through fire and steel,

-Ethan Kempf