Making a $5000 Kaleidoscope Damascus Chef's Knife

[@jhublades]

Play War Thunder for free on PC, PlayStation or Xbox now at playwt.link/jessehu New and returning players that haven’t played in 6 months will receive a massive bonus pack across all platforms that includes multiple premium vehicles, 100.000 Silver Lions, and 7 days of premium account!

[@krypinz]

its so annoying waiting 4 days to eventually watch it, if you do it at least just let it be that day. stop teasing it just annoying and upsetting cause i just wanna watch it cause i got nothing else to watch

[@sgenyk91]

@@krypinz Do you know what entitlement means?

[@alandixon7948]

​@@krypinz I take it by how demanding you are that you were a BULLY at school

[@Petey-The-Cat]

Where can i buy the knifes you made?

[@DarkRhodium]

jhublades​@@Petey-The-Cat

[@SatanicPotato]

Bro is casually smithing a knife that would have been a family artifact 600years ago

[@diiiamondmaster1461]

That knife still will be a family artifact.

[@pipisugbo]

​@diiiamondmaster1461 yeah, but it was made casually 😂

[@garrettshadbolt6443]

These videos really underscore the amount of labor it really takes.

[@Valandar2]

@@pipisugbo I wouldn't say "casually". Dude put a lot of work and thought into it.

[@imperialmarchinhumanbowels5726]

That's bbecause hey didn't have angle grinders, petroleum forges, and hydraulic presses back then so it would cost a master bladesmith a year of his life to make it.

[@thatsoundsgood300]

This might actually be my favorite knife that I've ever seen created on KZbin. Nicely done, Jesse!

[@jhublades]

That's a high honor hehe, glad to receive your kind words :)

[@mitch-lawless]

Agreed.

[@jesserego1252]

thanks

[@mentiyYT]

​@@jesserego1252 lol

[@nudgesmate2286]

I love that Jesse replies like an anime girl 😂 teehee

[@AlecSteele]

12:52 the terror of un-coiling a bandsaw blade 💀

[@jhublades]

I swear it’s like defusing a bomb😭

[@sperber-knives]

You know you win when Alec commenting a Video from you

[@kevinschneider1820]

Colab ?

[@sperber-knives]

@@kevinschneider1820 sure 😂

[@ortana-v2]

I love watching Blacktail Studio and that's why I also love watching your videos. They are just like Blacktail Studio but about forging content combined with your unique style.

[@jhublades]

His style of content inspired mine for sure, I love his videos so much

[@nathanielscholtens2812]

@@jhublades now just shave your head!

[@rcnyoplait]

​@@jhubladesand move to Oregon (:

[@xxitz_pr0gxx631]

It's so crazy that you got the pattern of the bolster to PERFECTLY match pattern of the blade! What a beautiful blade!!!!!

[@jhublades]

It was lowkey kind of lucky, I was aiming for it but wasn't expecting it to actually match up as well as it did

[@paulnaylor9135]

An absolute master of his craft. That knife is so precise it looks as though human hand was incapable of engineering it. Such a credit to the craftsman.

[@user-rebbulb7331]

Every time I see you drilling sheet metal on the drill press, you are using jobber length drills. I would recommend getting cobalt split-point stubby drills. Less chance of the drill picking up a wobble and oversizing your hole/ walking. Also, always check the grind profile on the tip from the manufacturer. I have had a couple drills over they years cut .005-.01 oversize and come to realize the grind on the tip of the drill is uneven causing it to wander. ps- if you are still concerned with hole position pick up a cheap set of center drills meant for lathe tailstocks. Some people may not like that because the lead in angle doesn't match a 118 drill, but I've found they work better for thin metal than regular spot drills.

[@jhublades]

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll buy myself some of the cobalt split point stubby drills when I get back into the shop, I know what you mean when you say wobble/oversizing.

[@Kurotaka_]

While the pattern on the blade looked amazing, I swear that the handle was probably the best one I have seen you make so far. If you don't look carefully, I swear the the handle was made out of some type of gemstone.

[@wildcardco1998]

Another good option for a quench tank. A used fire extinguisher. You can cut the top out with an angle grinder and cutoff wheel. They come in many different sizes and can often be found at salvage yards.

[@coreylorance418]

Ain’t no party like a Jesse Hu party

[@Hex05]

No diddy

[@manks5491]

This channel is so good. No annoying music, no crazy in your face shouting, just an entertaining, smooth voice over with very entertaining and beautiful craftsmanship. Thanks Jesse A video idea that just popped into my head would be the Mortal Blade from Sekiro. Not sure if that would even be possible but that would be so sick. Or literally any weapon from Dark Souls or Elden Ring. Black Knight Straight sword would be insane too

[@mmmsword]

i will never get tired of watching you fit spacers. so satisfying :D

[@jhublades]

Hehe I never thought that part was interesting but I’m glad you enjoy it :)

[@ZombifiedWatermelon]

What always amazes me about Damascus is how much steel it takes to create a single blade. You start of forging a broad sword but after grinding, cutting, and reforging the pieces over and over again to get that BEAUTIFUL pattern you end up with a Chef's knife.

[@jhublades]

Yeah the material loss is crazy, that’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to start making Damascus until I got a press to reduce the material loss. If I did this with a hand hammer and/or a human striker, I’d lose double what I lose with the press😭

[@RayanKhan]

Is the material cost that big of a difference ​@@jhublades

[@NolansKnives]

Wow that is one of the most unique patterns i’ve ever seen! That handle is also GORGEOUS! What kind of wood is it? I can’t wait to see how you made this Jesse!

[@jhublades]

Thanks Nolan! Yeah the handle on this one was pretty fun to make, wood is called Amboyna Burl!

[@Randy_RaW_Inspiration]

Beautiful blade! Suggestions for next year. Keep making chefs knives or other "daily" use blades. Fancy swords are cool and all, but the combination of craftsmanship and art for a blade that will be used every day is something special. Fancy swords get put on display and never used. A blade should be used and enjoyed. I love your chefs knives!!

[@khylaldana2757]

I mean at this price ur buying the blade as a piece of art to potentially become a family heirloom, so might as well get a blade specifically for show not for use

[@WesternCommie]

If you are still taking suggestions, I would like to suggest an interesting sword called the Sakabato. It is the reverse edge Katana from Kenshin. I am sure someone else has suggested it, but still.

[@NolansKnives]

Hey jesse i’m not sure if you’ll see this or not but i heard you were looking for video suggestions. So I thought share some that I would love to see you try. I think it would be a super cool idea to take a single piece of steel and then only use hand hammers and your anvil, and show us how to forge a brute de forge kitchen knife. It would be a bit of change from your normal videos and I think people would love to see the different skill sets you have. You could show us the correct techniques and the right hammers for drawing out the material in specific ways. It would also be a super helpful project for beginners and your videos are always so knowledgeable so i bet you would do great!

[@jacobstout9769]

Wow! The absolutely stunning blade pattern aside, that handle is by far the most visually appealing handle I have ever seen. The geometry, pattern, it reminds me of how diamonds are cut, why they are cut in specific ways. I would absolutely love to get my hands on it for 5 seconds. The name of the Damascus pattern is perfect. All the time spent on that was definitely well worth it. Absolutely stunning piece.

[@survivaloptions4999]

Beautiful work as always. For those short cuts, chuck a 1/16 thick piece of steel to the surface grinder, flatten it, then stick the short cuts to that. For the horizontal band saw, you can probably make a stop block with a piece of wood and a quick clamp.

[@Booming-letsplays]

When I took the decision to give forging a try, I was looking for videos on this topic and I found your channel, and I have to say you have been a great source of inspiration. In June I got a huge deal from a smith where I can come on Wednesday evenings to use the forge for 150€/3 months and he is even instructing me. This man is also hosting courses on damascus steel together with another smith and last weekend I gave it a try. We were four participants and with much babysitting by two kinfe makers at the end all four of us were going home with a nice damascus knife. Mine is not perfect, the handle is not straight and the concave curve where the blade ends and meets the tang is not perfect, but overall I am really happy (and doing this stuff is kind of addicting). Now, that I have a bit of context on what you do, I am even more impressed, especially by the damascus patterns and how perfect and accurate your knives are. I saw the difficulty especially when I tried do an octagonal knife handle similar to the one you did.. and then decided to make a round one. :) And I have got a few questions for you about things I have seen in your video, maybe you can answer some of them. 1. You talked about using oil to prevent oxidation when folding. On the course we were using borax, which I think I saw you using too, when straightening the metal. What are your reasons for using one over the other? 2. We were using a power hammer and during the forge welding process sparks were flying everywhere, especially during the first hammering. Your metal seemed to behave very tamely compared to this. Is this because of the oil or the fact that you were using a press instead of a power hammer? 3. Are you using stainless steel for your knives? 4. You were talking about material loss because of oxidation, and it being especially high because of the high temperatures needed to do forge welding. Are you reducing the temperature when you are just stretching the damascus package or are you staying at this temperature? I also have an idea for you since you were talking about needing to turn the damascus package to reach a uniform temperature. The place I visit has ceramic stones with a rough diameter of one centimeter lying in the forge, this creates a distance from the bottom of the forge and a way for the flames to reach the steel on all sides. Oh and, since you were asking for video ideas, have you considered making a bushcraft knife? It is a really versatile tool, close to indestructible and has a nice form factor. I use mine for carving outdoors, cooking indoors, cutting bread, if I had to use only one knife in my life, this would be it.

[@billkigathi3492]

Just stared at the thumbnail for 5 min 😮

[@jhublades]

It’s a cool one for sure

[@Serial.Desig-N.1]

If you could, I’d love to see the katanas from Seraph of the End, or the master sword from ToTK

[@zRockin1]

Hi Jesse, another awesome creation, Rock On and Go Blue!!!

[@jhublades]

Thank you! Go Blue!!!

[@captcaveman69]

That Sir, is a very nice looking piece of metal! I like the transition all along your blade, the 2-tone spacer is really subtle and the choice of handle material is sublime. That being said, can I suggest that if your pillar drill doesn't have a depth gauge, try using a suitably sized collet or even a cable tie, it's so very easy to plunge past your mark's on the drill bit itself. Other than that, once again a very nice looking blade, excellent video and commentary and look forward to hearing more from yourself in the coming years.

[@samuelcotton9298]

Thorfinn's daggers from Vinland Saga would be amazing! Not alot of people on KZbin have made those!

[@SweatiestDegree]

I like how he opens and closes his mouth as he presses the billet xD

[@jhublades]

lmao wait I didn't even notice that

[@ApexATL]

Really enjoying your videos man. How about making something with an ornamental hilt and guard? Might take you out of your comfort zone a bit and be challenging!

[@jonasunderwater]

What I wanna see is a gradient Damascus knife. I don't know if it's possible or anything but I image it being super cool. All the have the same pattern covering the blade. Image it fading away or change from tip to back. Maybe a twist gradient or something like that

[@jhublades]

Gradient Damascus would be very interesting, the twist gradient you’re talking about would be sick, I’ve had ideas with mosaic gradients but they would take a lot of time

[@jonasunderwater]

@@jhublades you should give the twist gradient a try then!

[@keithtrauner1738]

First time watching - always enjoy seeing a true craftsman doing his/her thing. Impressive and calls to mind the sword makers of medieval Japan, where bladed artwork was honored and named and handed down for generations.

[@nwdmg]

The twin bowies blew my mind, but this one made me write a comment. Just absolutely beautiful. I wish I could like the video more than once.

[@mananekq]

this is 100% some of the best content on youtube, keep up the great work man!

[@Hallacairion]

Regarding scribing with the calipers I do it to sometimes especially if its just into soft stuff like brass. But theres an actual tool for that which are marking calipers, they have a little roller and a tungsten tip which you can set in the tool, so that it is shorter than the roller, giving you an easier time. They arent expensive so definetly worth checking out.

[@TyrellKnifeworks]

It came out really nice! Great build.

[@jhublades]

Thanks man!

[@rubo1964]

I am totally impressed how young you are and how mature logical and talented.I cant tell you how inspiring your work is! Great job well done!

[@piesdropies9100]

Would be super cool to see you do one of the blades from Game Of Thrones. Obviously "Ice" would be great, but i do realise that may be a bit too big, so perhaps the dagger that appers troughout both the shows. Anyways, great video as always, keep doing them.

[@jhublades]

I haven't seen the show but I've seen the Man at Arms crew make a few blades from there, maybe I'll check it out and make a blade sometime

[@sholomrabin2011]

As a chef i would be really proud to own a peice like this. its gorgeous. i would love to see you recreate some of your forged-in-fire weapons, but obviously with a lot more time to do them properly and more stylishly.

[@lowkeysalty]

its a good day when Jesse uploads

[@samv3670]

Real

[@mychaylocole4690]

That is absolutely incredible. Really appreciate your attention to detail and dedication to your customer to provide museum quality pieces. These are truly heirlooms, to be handed down for generations. Spectacular work!

[@GeorgeC.bladesmith]

Please, do some feather damascus

[@jhublades]

Hehe maybe soon😗

[@MikeShake]

I'm so impressed by your craftsmanship, man! Beautiful stuff.

[@ECott28]

Do you think you will do more anime swords or knives maybe a demon slayer sword or if you could guts sword for berserk if not, don’t worry still loving the content❤

[@jhublades]

Oh yeah, definitely. Next sword is going to be another one from one piece😏

[@4shinta]

I don't think he's equipped to forge Dragonslayer 😂 Maybe one of the golden age arc blades, but those are still quite large.

[@mhz2634]

yk beyond the fact that jesse makes insanely cool knives and swords and whatnot, i js rly love the voiceovers and method of filming. way more engaging than others imo

[@Darnefankyda]

Rewatch again, the buffer ruining the best part

[@jhublades]

KZbin trolled a bit😭

[@geot4530]

I think the sword that Toji wields from Jujutsu Kaisen would be a dope build, it may be a complicated build but nothing that Jesse Hu couldn’t do💪🏼

[@EmersonClaeys]

This has to be the most beautiful unique damascus patterns I have ever seen with a gorgeous handle. This is really one of your best works!

[@nicholasfulkerson9513]

A lot to love about this Knife, great work. I did actually like the subtle difference of the bass/bronze/brass combo!

[@avarmauk]

As someone who has nearly 30 different kitchen knives, this might be one of the most beautiful I've seen. Truly unique

[@kaylalyons4461]

Thank you for another upload and for showing how you improved some processes and what you’ve learned since your last project. I appreciate your thoughts and enjoy the length and editing of your videos. I can’t wait to see your website full of knives handmade by you. Nice work.

[@abss4808]

The thoroughness from start to finish specifically your measurements using your caliper is so satisfying to watch. One sword that I’ve seen made once that would be awesome to see is your take on is Sokka’s sword from Avatar the Last Airbender. Already looking forward to your next build.

[@beedissle994]

This is one of the most beautiful chefs knives I have ever seen. Thank you for sharing your process! You got a new subscriber here.

[@nickblecha7832]

A true artist of our time. As I was watching this I was wondering and hoping that our ancestors were blade smiths. Like how cool would that be. I am drawn to blade making and I have never picked it up but watching you makes me want to start that journey.

[@davidweber4750]

That is the most beautiful knife I've ever seen in my entire life Bravo brother

[@ThemeParkBeast98]

Holy cow. Talk about a masterpiece. The owner is very lucky to have such a beautiful knife.

[@Sh_tstain]

Jeezless Jesse.. That was one Hellova Video.. That final presentation almost brought me to tears, that aint no joke.. You are one skilled Blacksmith my man, slicker than grease..

[@aviweisbach7816]

Stunning work, as always. And your videos are so clear and well thought out, as are your explanations of what you are doing and why. I'm a weekend knife maker (mostly chef's knives) and hope to some day make a knife half as nice as this. Ok, maybe a quarter.

[@paulhopkins1905]

This is literally one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen created.

[@josephknapp6432]

Making commander norington’s sword from Pirates with Damascus would be amazing Jesse! Just a thought, love you work so much! Immaculate craftsmanship!!

[@LilBeanieboi88]

This is honestly one of the coolest knife videos I've ever seen. Your editing and vids are getting better and better and man was this fun to watch, even though it was an hour, I watched the whole thing 🔥

[@ibag2494]

The part of the pattern at 1:04:09 looks like the leaf of an oak tree. Love the knife! Great work!

[@sloggiz]

this amazing blade is the reason why we need 4k: the patterns are mesmerizing

[@beauperson4298]

I've loved each build, but this knife is by far my favorite! Good luck with your last semester, I look forward to your next knife!

[@yousefaljarrah6625]

your followers really respect what they are seeing from you , thats almost because of the clear effort we are seeing in your videos . making blades from animes and video games will bring new audiences to your channel making the channel bigger, i am pretty sure that they will love your almost perfect blades that will be a clone of the one in there loved anime , if you saw this can you make Tanjiro's Katan WuW😅

[@LionXL]

Truly amazing, i have seen others make knives this way (cutting them up and flipping the pieces) but they always seemed 'erratic', on yours the lines(waves) look continuous.

[@bennettcain635]

That turned out phenominally good. Your prices are pretty fair considering the level of craftsmanship.

[@Benjiwilly64]

This is in my opinion one if not my favorite of your knives you've ever made. Absolutely stunning work!!

[@NinjaTiger12]

‏‪51:52‬‏ hopefully it's shusui, I really want to see how a black blade would look like in real life, and the yoru is way too big. Can't wait.

[@fiddlemyfoddle6374]

Small thing but potentially fun suggestion: I'd love to see you finish your signature etching with different colors! Maybe something color matched to the handle color?

[@FPSMuddy]

This was amazing to watch, I learnt soo much about the whole process while admiring your skills! I was captivated the whole way though. That blade is a showcase of your hard work!

[@stevetordoff]

An incredible knife, the design is off the charts beautiful

[@jhublades]

Thank you! I appreciate it :)

[@plectrumura]

That is an impressive piece of work, man. I can do (and have done) a lot of the metalworking, forge welding, profile and bevel griding, etc. but I swear I have no idea how you got so good at making faceted handles. Especially where the bolster and handle join up since one material moves so much faster than the other. I just can't seem to get the hang of it. If you're still looking for next year video ideas, that's one I would suggest. Either way, put your feet up after making that. Super well done.

[@optetteletter]

Dude!! Thats a work of art! So beautiful. Well done and very fun to watch.

[@stuarttaylor4186]

Currently the best bladesmith on youtube imo, well done Jesse look forward to your content in 2025.

[@grantvickerman5544]

You should make Eragon's sword Brisingr from the Inheritance Cycle Books. Really cool meteorite Damascus sword that I think you could do justice to.

[@WorkLessRideMore]

That pattern and handle really cane out amazing. What a fantastic knife.

[@22_Proton]

I never bought a custom knife, but considering the time, effort, material, quality, and craftsmanship it would be a money well spent and a generational piece

[@davidh9823]

Another amazing project and the reference to Blacktail Studio caught me off-guard as that's one of my favorite channels as well.

[@jakecoleman6576]

I’ve been a CNC laser & Mill operator for 5+ years and I’d say the next piece of equipment you should get would be a small scale CNC Laser either C02 or Fiber optic if your trying to cut 2D flat pieces in no time at all such as your bronze and brass spacers. They cost way less than a Mill and there faster although they’re limited to 2D flat shapes. Hope to hear what you think in your next vid, keep up the good work, and if it’s a bystronic, trumph, or Amanda laser let me know and I can show you the ropes

[@eastonlachappelle6402]

Attaching your dremel with an endmill to a linear slide could be helpful. Great video! Entertaining and informative.

[@micahhopper346]

Absolutely stunning Craftsmanship. Go Blue!

[@RumoVonZamonia]

Nicely done! There actually are special calipers for marking called vernier calipers. In my experience they are a bit easier to use as well sonce the bottom jaw is round and a touch longer. That being said I use normal calipers too in a pinch.

[@kaathepython]

Feels like watching Stradivari making one of his finest violins. With puns and light sarcasm as an added bonus entertainment.

[@Runneround]

incredible knife, unbelievable work! idea for next year: instead of going big, make a very small but intricate knife, like a pocket knife, but give it super high detail in the pattern and handle. i think a damascus spear, clip or drop point pocket knife could be very special and a great challenge

[@King_CJ.LetsGo]

Dude, you’re amazing! They(Forged in Fire) need to have you on as a guest judge or something, like they did with Ben.

[@nathancummins4125]

This is the first video of yours that I’ve watched and I loved it!! The style and end product reminds me of Kyle Royer.

[@daanhoffman8773]

Thick glue layers can lead to shear forces in the epoxy, where its weaker than you might think. You are not glueing suspension pieces together but try to make the glue layer thinner, so its becomes way stronger.

[@EdwardAyers]

So if you read every one, I'm still watching. This may be my favorite mosaic pattern I've ever seen on a Damascus blade. You have a wonderful talent for a man so young. When you're my age people will compare your blades to Masamune, I'd be willing to bet.

[@Bigredforester]

this was a great looking blade. the pattern was so fine that it was beyond the resolution of my monitor on the distance shots..... as for a suggestion on future projects. I have always wanted to see somebody make a replica of a stone age knife but using metal in the blade. the challenge would be in making the metal blade look like a flaked stone blade (maybe with layering and etching or with filing and grinding.) you could hide the tang in a bone handle and simulate the hide bindings using metal wire.

[@Happydad491]

Jesse, your work is amazing. Thank you for sharing your craftsmanship with us. I think I can speak for all of your viewers when I say I would love to own one of your masterpieces. With that being said I think you are way underpricing your work. You could charge $15,000 for that knife. We can see the equipment required, time spent, and knowledge you bring to your work. Congrats on finishing up your degree and good luck on your blacksmith ventures.

[@samsham8218]

WOW!!! You got me. Subscribed! THAT is a BEAUTIFUL knife! Fantastic work ALL around. (Love that rounded choil. Those little details REALLY add SO much. Both aesthetically and ergonomically)

[@HyDeNCiTy]

One of my favorite designs is a katana cane. I bought one for my brother and he loves it. It looks harmless until you unsheathe it. Wish you luck in your studies.

[@mitch-lawless]

Wow. Masterpiece. The buffing and etching at the end... just wow again.

[@JeronimoStilton14]

To answer your question about scribing with calipers, the "right" way to do it is to use something called a jenny caliper, which you set with your digital ones. That being said, machinists can be prissy, if you arent jamming the caliper into the workpiece to leave a ten thou trench, you should be good. That being said you can also use a seperate, cheaper set of calipers to preserve your 'measuring' calipers. Also for video ideas, I kind of want to see you try a small knife, seems like you are always making larger blades, would be a nice change of pace to see you knock out a small knife quickly, with some kind of twist.

[@daviddingus8575]

That work of art is sharp in more ways than one beautiful piece anyone should be proud to have it 😮

[@louisrussell700]

Cyberpunk has a tonne of awesome knives, it has some sick katanas and swords as well. Some are futuristic but Satori is a classic traditional katana with awesome lore, there’s also an accompanying tanto knife.

[@kiankolahi]

Gorgeous work as always! Can you do a video on how you sharpen your blades? That would be cool to see and learn from! Thank you for the content and I hope you have continued success into the future!

[@elizabethjamespack8541]

Looking good, mate. Can't wait to watch how you pulled this off.

[@DragonGal470]

That knife is so beautiful omg, your work is stunning!

[@enriquepalomino8636]

SUGGESTION for 2025: The Kaleidoscope Katana The Mosaic Katana

[@nevi-dan]

Loved the Forged in Fire story! Hope to hear more of them in future videos!