Stan,
The cherry wood that I used for the pistol stock, was from a tree that was too young to be directly associated with George's lifetime. It was growing over the foundation of the home where Washington lived. The tree was removed for archeological excavations of the site. But you have to wonder if this tree was a descendant of a tree that was alive during Washington's time.
I don't recall having met Jim Wurtz. I know of Ivan Boggs, but don't recall having met him either.
I would hate to see someone butchering perfectly good damascus barrels to make knife blades, or anything else from them.
In thinking about welding barrel damascus on a steel core, I think one would have to be pretty dang good at forging the blade and also grinding it. Forging and/or grinding the blade unevenly, would cause the damascus overlay to not match on both sides of the knife. I also wonder about finishing out the damascus overlay. The old damascus gun barrel material, is not like the modern steels that we use today for damascus knife blades. Finishing the barrel metal overlays, could be more troublesome than finishing modern steels. Don't mean to dissuade you from trying it. Just saying you may want to make sure it is worth the effort, before investing too much time in the work.
Stallones,
My first knives were pretty ugly. Like any craft, it takes a while to gain skills. I've been making knives for nearly 30 years. Don't hesitate to email me with any questions you have about knifemaking.
If any of you really want to learn how to make forged knife blades, you should consider taking one of the "Introduction to Bladesmithing" classes that the American Bladesmith Society puts on. I'll be teaching one of these classes in June, at the New England School of Metalwork, in Auburn Maine. I think my class is full. But these classes are taught at three different locations in the US, as well as in Belgium and South Africa.
