{"product_id":"damascus-skinner-knife-black-ebony","title":"Damascus Skinner Knife, Black Ebony Handle with Brass Bolster","description":"\u003cp\u003eA skinner is mostly belly. This one runs a wide curve up to a rounded tip, and that curve keeps the edge cutting through a long pull instead of sliding off it. The blade is 3.5 inches of Damascus over a high carbon core. The handle is black ebony, and between wood and steel sits a block of brass, the bolster, which does more than look expensive.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEtched ladder pattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade shape\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSkinner, wide sweeping belly to a rounded tip\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack ebony with a brass bolster, three brass pins, lanyard hole\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStamped basket weave leather belt sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe billet is drawn out until the layers run in straight bars across the flat, which is the ladder pattern, and the etch brings it up. What cuts is the high carbon core under the pattern, not the pattern itself. At 3.5 inches it is short, and short blades with a deep belly turn tighter than long ones. The bevel is taken wide so the sweep stays thin and keeps its bite through the stroke. Carbon steel dulls to grey over a season, and it will freckle with rust if stored wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEbony is close grained, almost black, and heavy for its size. The bolster is a solid piece of brass fitted where the tang leaves the blade. It shifts weight back into your palm, so a short heavy blade stops wanting to tip forward, and it puts a smooth shoulder under your forefinger instead of a wood corner. The tang runs full length, three brass pins hold the scales, and there is a lanyard hole. At 4.5 inches a wet hand still has somewhere to go.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe leather sheath\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eVegetable tanned leather again, stamped in basket weave, wet formed round this blade so the shorter pattern sits deep and the handle stands proud enough to grab. There is a welt along the stitch line, which keeps the thread out of the way of the edge and stops the sheath cutting itself open over a few years. All the stitching is done by hand. It hangs from a plain belt loop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe bolster is why people pick this over the plain scaled ones. It adds weight at the right end and it looks like somebody made a decision.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who want a short blade that balances back in the hand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who likes dark wood against yellow brass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople buying a gift that must look like one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOwners who want a finished front end, not bare scales\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe skinner, sharpened\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe basket weave belt sheath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngraving details\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEbony varies from dead black to black with a brown cast, and the odd board has a pale streak we leave alone. The ladder bars fall at their own spacing because the layers move as the billet is drawn. Brass is filed flush to the wood on every one, so the joint follows that handle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel gets wiped dry and oiled, same as any carbon blade. Ebony is oily enough to need almost nothing, though a rag with a drop of oil once a year keeps it dark. Brass goes dull with handling. Polish it or leave it, since a soft yellow bolster looks older than it is. Edge on a stone, then a strop. Sharpening is free for life. Full details on the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe laser a name onto the flat for 20 dollars per blade, added on this page. About 30 characters fits. You get a proof image by email and the machine does not run until you reply. Engraved orders take another 3 to 5 business days. Buy 10 or more and the engraving comes free. The \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e has the rest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat does a bolster actually do?\u003c\/strong\u003e It adds weight behind the blade, so the balance point sits closer to your hand, and it gives your forefinger a rounded brass shoulder.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is there no bolster on your other knives?\u003c\/strong\u003e Because it is not always wanted. It costs work and adds weight, and on a longer blade plenty would rather keep things light.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this real Damascus?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Layers of steel welded together in the fire, drawn out, then etched so the ladder shows.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it need much looking after?\u003c\/strong\u003e Wipe and oil the blade, that is most of it. Rust turns up on blades put away damp.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long does shipping take?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the brass scratch?\u003c\/strong\u003e It will mark, like all brass. The marks blend in after a while.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe same steel on warmer wood is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-desert-ironwood\"\u003eDamascus skinner on desert ironwood\u003c\/a\u003e, and for a handle that shrugs off weather there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-black-micarta\"\u003eDamascus skinner on black micarta\u003c\/a\u003e. More of the shape sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/skinner-knives\"\u003eskinner knives\u003c\/a\u003e, the pattern welded ones in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e, and the full list is \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/all-knives\"\u003eevery knife we make\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44146180358262,"sku":"VEF-SKN-DAM-2308","price":199.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/skinner-21-damascus-ebony_1e2ce229-1494-4bb0-9719-33e828c8b500.jpg?v=1788861230","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-skinner-knife-black-ebony","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}