10" fighting Bowie in Crucible CPM-4v and a matched bullwhip

Matthew Gregory

Matthew Gregory

Chief Executive in charge of Entertainment
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Jan 12, 2005
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I've always loved master bladesmith Bill Bagwell's Bowie knives, and have even made one or two in the past that were reminiscent of his designs, always wanting to make something decidedly in his style yet keeping my own style on it, and this one is no different. I also wanted to have a cool bullwhip with a matching handle, so I contacted my friend Heather of Newland Wicked Whips and she agreed to do a collaboration with me. I ordered a fletch of 5a koa from Peter Rushton ("petescustomkoa" on Instagram), cut myself what I needed, and sent the rest to her.

The 10" blade is made of Crucible CPM-4v, with my own proprietary heat treatment, and features full distal taper, a beveled spine, and an 800 grit hand satin finish. Those knifemakers that have worked with this steel will very likely understand the significance of this, as high vanadium tool steels basically don't finish this way. The simple oval guard of stainless steel has a satin finish, and a rounded and mirror polished edge. The spacer is stacked stainless steel and black G10, and the faceted coffin handle is stabilized curly koa. Balance is just behind the plunge, and the entire knife is about 16", and weighs 14 ounces.

Heather's gorgeous bullwhip features the same wood, unstabilized to reduce weight, and is 6' long.

I'm still working on the sheath - hopefully be done tomorrow. :)


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Thanks for looking, and hope to see you at Blade Show! I'll be the guy wandering around with the dazed look on his face and the bullwhip on his hip. ;)
 
Very nice Matthew, very clean work. I know what you mean about finishing high vanadium steels - when I hand rub a 3V bowie, I go through abrasives like sh.. through a goose. :)

A word of advice - be nice to Joe Paranee at Blade - he has a bull whip too. :D
 
Very nice ! I just got a Bark River 4V so I'll be testing that. How much weight did you save by not stabilizing as it's a fine dense hardwood ? I look for balance rather than weight. What are you going to do with that ? Hunt pigs, bears ? Make a video.
A very fine piece of work !
 
Actually, mete, the handle of the knife IS stabilized, the handle of the whip isn't. Balance of the knife is just behind the plunge.

T.K., Joey is who introduced me to Heather, and our household has three whips, currently. Always room for more, though. :D

Also, 3v is a dream to finish compared to this stuff. No kidding! Rhynowet barely touches it. :confused: No one believes it until they try it. Then, they're usually smart enough to not do it again...
 
bad ass combo. I think the handle on that knife just rocks. great lines, awesome wood. The blade is big but almost dainty by Bagwell standards, isn't it? Don't get me wrong, I am all for that degree of distal taper and size of blade. Just asking...

kc
 
kevin (theprofessor) said:
The blade is big but almost dainty by Bagwell standards, isn't it? Don't get me wrong, I am all for that degree of distal taper and size of blade. Just asking...

kc
Click to expand...


Thanks, bud! The steel is .275", so it's thicker than it may look, but I do think that he left his thicker toward the tip. The photo and the beveled spine exaggerate the taper way out there, I think, as it's still .160" behind the top 'point' of the clip.
 
That's a lovely set there Matt, there's an old saying, you can't fart against thunder. I think you would be hard pressed to find a cleaner, more beautifully finished Bowie. Great work all around.

Steve
 
Thanks, bud!


Forgot I made this video of the knife previous to final assembly... may allow for a better look at the whole package:


 
Sheesh, 4V handrubbed? As someone who mirror polished M390 once I feel your pain....or rather the lack of fingerprints you probably have now.
 
Very nice, I really like the coffin handle with the spacers.
 
Aha, I thought it was more in the .20-.22 range so my perspective was off. Lots of taper is good on those for me. I remember watching him chop with his on some videos and they seemed really beefy (I am sure it was tapered and all, just damn thick to start).
 
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