THE HOLY GRAIL OF WROUGHT IRON, OVER DAMASCUS
IronTide is our Riptide layout with a wrought iron twist. The cladding is antique wrought iron cut from pre-1900 wagon wheel rims, the same iron many smiths call the Holy Grail of wrought iron. Under that iron sits a stack of nickel and copper shims built around a thick, dark 1084 shim, all over a 100-layer carbon Damascus core of 1084 and 15N20.
 
The Iron
Every rim we used was made before 1900, back when iron was puddled by hand. The result is nearly pure iron with fine slag fibers running all through it, and those fibers give wrought iron its wood grain when you etch it. Wagon wheel rims had to survive being shrunk onto a wooden wheel and then decades of rough roads, so only good iron made it. The last wrought iron plant in the U.S. closed in 1969, which means the iron that's still out there is all there is.
 
The Build
Cladding: antique wrought iron from pre-1900 wagon wheel rims
Shims: nickel, copper, 1084, copper
Core: 100-layer 1084/15N20 carbon Damascus
Pattern: Chevron
Finish: flat ground, with every bar edge ground back to clean steel
Ships fully annealed
Grind your bevels and the Damascus core becomes your cutting edge. The copper and nickel lines chevron across the transition, and the antique iron stays on the flats.
 
Etching
A light etch brings up the iron's grain and puts the copper and nickel lines in sharp contrast against the dark 1084. Etch deeper and the wrought iron turns to a true wood grain texture. Gator Piss® OG is the right call for copper-laminated Damascus like this one.
 
Good to Know
Wrought iron is old, hand-made material, so small voids and slag inclusions come with it. These are inside the iron itself and add to its character. The core is solid Damascus, so you give up nothing at the edge.
On thinner stock, it's normal to see the copper shims come through the cladding in spots.
Because of the copper layers, this steel shouldn't be laser cut. Use waterjet or conventional cutting.
This product is raw steel only, not a finished knife.
 
Billet Services
If you want your bar rolled thinner or surface ground before it ships, add the Billet Services (Rolling/Grinding) product to your cart along with your billet. You need one service per billet, and bars ordered without it can't get these services after purchase. Keep in mind that rolling thinner makes it more likely the copper shims will show through the cladding.