"Gearagh the ancient" 195mm cleaver

"Gearagh"
 
The "Gearagh" is an area in Ireland near where I live that contains a flooded forest of ancient oaks.  The rotting stumps and branches still peak above the flooded shallows in an oddly beautiful and peaceful way that I've always found intriguing.   When forging the Damasteel dense twist pattern, if you draw it out primarily height-wise, the layered twists become quite vertical and remind me of very organic looking roots.  I had the spark to do a knife inspired by this pattern forged this way and create an ancient looking branch texture above just like the ancient wood of the Gearagh. It's only fitting the handle is quite physically aged by burning, aggressively brushing, then fitting the heirloom joint in a way that's natural, and untamed.  It's wickedly thin at, and behind the edge and nicely convexed.  Light and nimble for it's size due to the thin forging, it can no doubt handle any ancient root vegetables you wish to stew.  Due to the brute de forge, and hammer texture on the upper sections of the knife, this knife needs to be dried immediately after use.  The lower bevel is fully stainless and will not patina, maininting it's beautiful pattern reaching up into the branches.  
 
Steel – Damasteel dense twist bar, forged, signature 'branches' texture
Length – 195mm cutting edge
Height – 85mm at heel
Weight – 259 grams
Blade Taper – 2.9mm at handle - 2.2mm halfway - 1.8 at tip
Grind – fine convex lower bevel, nail-flexing edge throughout - slight walkschliff overall
Balance – 4cm forward of choil
Handle Construction – darkened heirloom-fit geometric zirconium bolster, 'live edge' style step down heirloom joint between sections of Arizona desert ironwood - front is charred, brushed, polished and back is polished