3 October 2025 · 7 min
A billet begins as honest layers of contrasting steel. They are stacked, welded, drawn, folded, and stacked again. At 320 layers the pattern is not decoration; it is geology.
The etch is the moment of truth. If the river is muddy, the piece is rejected. If it sings, it proceeds to fitting, finishing, and the quiet work of engraving.