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 Herb Derr ^I was born and raised in southeastern Pennsylvania. I went to college in West Virginia and graduated in 1974 with a BA majoring in art. I stayed after graduation and now proudly call West Virginia home.
I started making knives in 1990 as a hobby, using the stock removal method. In 1993, I learned to make damascus steel from Hugh Bartrug. I will always be grateful to Hugh for giving me the "damascus bug". In 1994 I sold my business and started knife making full time. With my art background I found damascus knife making was a great way to express myself artistically. I like to call my knives "functional art".
My damascus is made from carbon steels and nickel. I make layered damascus as well as mosaic and powdered metal pieces. My heat treating is all edge quenched in oil to keep a softer spine back and hardened edge of blade. My blades are blued (hot blued) to give the carbon steel a protective coating and also to enhance the color contrasts in the metals. Everything done to my knives has been completed by myself from steel making to sheaths. I even get time occasionally to carve some of my handles in horn. Presently my favorite subjects are reptiles and fish.
My goal when finishing a product is to have a damascus blade, exotic handle material and an interesting sheath to make a "complete package". Another goal is to keep my prices at a reasonable level. My firm belief in sole authorship allows me to keep my prices down because I don't have any extra costs by purchasing services from others.
For the past several years I have been teaching damascus making classes at Cedar Lakes Craft Center in Ripley, West Virginia. Cedar Lakes is where I learned damascus steel making. I enjoy the opportunity to pass on the process to others as it was passed on to me.
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