I've been working on writing up some information on how damascus patterns were created in gun barrels. As most people reading this information will not be damascus smiths, I feel that I need to begin with the basics, describing how and why the smiths did what they did. To understand how patterns with words are created, the reader needs to first understand simple patterns, like crolle. Finding the words to paint a picture in the reader's mind has been challenging. Too, I think that there has been some inconsistent use of terminology when describing damascus patterns. Myself, Drew and Dr. Gaddy have used different descriptive terms for the same element in a pattern. This leads to confusion of the reader.
I've also spent quite a bit of time trying to do sketches to include with the text, to help illustrate what I have written. This too is not easy. I think a better plan is to take progression photos of damascus work that I am doing in my shop. Pictures of actual work in steel will be much easier to understand than sketches. This however will take some time. I am self employed and need to try to make a living by actually getting some work done in my shop.
I do a lot of work in damascus. So, I should be able to get some photos taken and posted up in the next few months. Just be patient.
I will be attempting to weld up a billet of chain pattern damascus soon. I want to use chain pattern in the next damascus barrel that I make. I have some questions about the size of the elements that will create the chain links. To try out the piling of the steels, I intend to make a bowie knife blade from the first billet. The chains will run the length of the blade. This knife, I plan to have on my table at the Blade Show, next June. I should be able to get some really good pictures of this process.
