Description
Thirteen and a half inches, eighteen point three ounces, and a double-edged blade. The Anaconda is one of the largest pieces in the premium range and it is priced and built as a centerpiece rather than a working tool.
| Overall length | 13.5 inches |
| Blade length | 6.5 inches |
| Handle length | 7 inches |
| Handle | Black horn grip with a sculpted Damascus guard |
| Steel | 1095 + 15N20 Damascus, 352 layers |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC, oil tempered |
| Weight | 18.3 oz |
| Included | Hand-stitched leather sheath |
Built for: collectors, display, and gifts marking something substantial. It is a finished object first. Anyone shopping for a knife to take into the field should be looking at a single-edged pattern instead.
The problem with a double edge
Sharpening both sides doubles the work and removes the one thing every practical knife relies on, which is a spine you can safely put your thumb or a baton on. There is no way to apply controlled downward pressure to a symmetric blade. That is not a flaw in the making; it is what the geometry is. Own it for what the shape represents rather than what it does. The knife and dagger comparison spells out where the line falls.
Seven inches of handle
The grip is longer than most people expect and longer than the blade is wide by a considerable margin. It fills a large hand completely and gives the piece its balance on a stand. In the hand the mass reads as serious rather than nimble; eighteen ounces is roughly double a normal hunting knife of the same overall length, and the difference is immediately obvious when you pick both up.
Care: a collection piece corrodes from neglect, not from work. Set a reminder rather than relying on habit. Wipe both edges and both flats with an oiled cloth every couple of months, handle it with clean dry hands, and keep it out of a sealed display case where condensation can form against glass. Because both edges are exposed at all times, cleaning is a two-handed job done with the blade laid flat on a bench, not held up.
What you are paying for
Size, layer count, hand fitting and finishing time. Larger billets take more forge welds and more grinding, and the failure rate on a long blade during heat treat is higher than on a short one. How much a real Damascus knife costs breaks down where the money goes. At the other extreme, a set of hand-forged Laguiole steak knives costs a fraction and gets used every week.
FAQs
Can it be displayed edge-down? Yes, on a stand with soft contact points. Avoid resting a sharpened edge on bare metal or stone.
Is the pattern the same on both sides? Similar but never identical. Forge-welded layers do not mirror perfectly.
Does it come sharpened? Both edges arrive sharp.
Model: BMK-826
Ken Martin –
Just received the Anaconda and I must say it is a work of art. A truly fine piece of work with damascus steel. If you don’t have one of these in your collection it is a must have. At some point I plan to add another with some other type of handle. Great work Mark!
John D. (verified owner) –
“I’ve been using my new Damascus knife for a while now, and it’s exceeded my expectations. The blade is like a work of art, and it cuts effortlessly. A great addition to my kitchen!”
William K. (verified owner) –
“I’m a professional chef, and I rely on the quality of my tools. This Damascus knife has become an indispensable part of my kitchen arsenal. Impressive!”