justold52 wrote:what is the GRAY bolster or cap ?
You need a show case to show them off.
My guess is that it would be either a blued mild steel or most likely is blued Wrought Iron that is often etched in Ferric Chloride or other etchant that they would use for etching Damascus (pattern welded steel). Wrought iron has a very low carbon content and commercially it is considered pure iron. When etched it has a grain that can resemble wood - how much grain shows is up to the maker, how deep he etched it. Wrought Iron used to be used for making chain, rivets, pipes, horseshoes and hundreds of other items. Wrought Iron has been replaced by mild steel and is no longer manufactured. Many modern Wrought Iron products are now made of mild steel. The grain in wrought iron is created by the slag formed when the steel is molten.
He could have also just used a piece of steel that was used to manufacture the Damascus, 1075, 1080, 1084, 1095, or whatever blade steel was handy.
There are many ways to do it. I really like his knife - I get tired of seeing nothing but brass or nickle silver as knife furniture. I really like seeing blued steel guards and butt caps - no matter which method or steel was used. Beautiful knife!
Thanks for sharing!