The Dreadnaught is an E. Scott McGhee creation infused with history.
The blade is Damascus steel forged-welded to a 1095 carbon steel core via a process called San Mai. In the picture below, the Damascus is the lighter grey exterior steel, while the dark core is 1095. This contrast cannot be seen until the blade is etched in acid, as they are truly one steel if forged properly.
While the 1095 core provides a wicked cutting edge, Dreadnaught's Damascus adds history and beauty. The Damascus is 4800kc forge-welded to hull material from BB-55 (aka Battleship USS-North Carolina). BB-55 is WWII era battleship, and (due to renovations) we were able to obtain discarded hull steel and deck teak from the ship. Here are some raw materials from BB-55 before and after a little Guinea Hog Forge love. While the hull steel is historically significant, you could never make a functional knife from it without marrying it to tool steel.
Below is the Dreadnaught in a rough forged state post heat treat. Proper heat treat transforms the steel into a knife - hard enough to cut without dulling quickly, tough enough for serious use.
Scott did a lot of grinding, hand-sanding, etching, and polishing to transform the Dreadnaught into a knife worthy of the hull steel that inhabits it and the battleship for which it's named.
And dressed in BB-55 curly teak handles, the Dreadnaught is truly pleasure to hold.
San Mai is a Japanese technique used to make weapons of great quality and beauty. The Battleship USS-North Carolina fought in the Pacific theater during the second world war. Resurrecting discarded BB-55 steel into a knife of great beauty via this ancient process seems appropriate.
The show side of the Dreadnaught proudly displays the name of her maker (ABS Master Bladesmith E. Scott McGhee), while the backside sports a special BB-55 mark to signify her origin story.
This knife will be available at the NC State Fair in the Village of Yesteryear later this week. If not claimed by Sunday night, it will be posted on our website and made available to the general public. Thanks for looking and we hope to see you soon.
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