Forging a Damascus Knife from 80 Vintage German Straight Razors
After months of collecting over eighty vintage German straight razors, it's finally time to reveal the finished project.
Rather than letting these worn-out razors fade away, I forged them into a single canister Damascus billet and transformed them into a one-of-a-kind custom knife. The guard was inspired by the classic "monkey tail" found on traditional straight razors, preserving a piece of their history while giving the knife its own unique character.
This build takes you through the entire process—from canister Damascus and forge welding, to forging the blade, heat treating, grinding, handle construction, hot bluing, and the final assembly.
Knife Specifications
Overall Length: Thirteen and three-quarter inches
Blade Length: Eight and three-quarter inches
Handle Length: Four and one-quarter inches
Blade Width: One and one-half inches
Blade Thickness: One-quarter inch
Weight: Fifteen ounces
Blade Steel: Canister Damascus forged from over eighty vintage German straight razors
Handle Material: Brazilian Redwood with black G10 spacers
Guard & Pommel: Hot-blued steel
Construction: Take-down design