Chuck Hawes Custom Copperhead Black Ash and Damascus

Every component of this Copperhead—the 148-layer damascus blade, matching bolster, and stabilized Black Ash handle with deep blue, gold, and black tones—was made from scratch by Chuck Hawes himself.

• Sole Authorship Build — Every part of this knife was forged and fitted by Chuck Hawes himself. No outsourced components, no compromises—just one maker's complete craftsmanship expressed in every detail from blade to backspring.
• 148-Layer Damascus Blade and Bolster — Both the blade and bolster are hand-forged from 148 layers of W1 and 15N20 steel. The layering creates a distinctive visual pattern while producing steel that takes a sharp edge and holds it through real use.
• Flat-Convex Grind — The blade features a razor-sharp edge with a subtle convex geometry behind the bevel, enhancing cutting performance and prolonging its lifespan.
• Stabilized Black Ash Handle — Dyed and stabilized to lock in the wood's natural figure, this handle displays deep blue, gold, and black tones that shift in different lighting. No two pieces ever look exactly the same.
• Strong Backsprings with Half-Stop: Built with strong, reliable backsprings and a clean half-stop, this knife opens with authority and closes securely.
• Detailed Filework: The damascus backspacer and blade spine are both hand-filed, adding detail only found in custom made knives.

About Chuck Hawes

Chuck Hawes has over 30 years of experience crafting custom knives from his shop in Weldon, Illinois. While his work is admired by collectors, Chuck designs his knives to be used, aiming to create knives that will last a lifetime. He is well known for his damascus forging ability, and he still builds each knife the old way, one at a time.