- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
At the Blade Show in 2005 I picked up a bowie from the table of Les Robertson well done satin hand-rubbed satin finish on the blade, clean fitment of guard and a nice stripey piece of curly maple for the handle. I had no idea who the heck the maker was, but I knew I liked the knife. When I asked Les the price, the answer made me grab for my money real fast (note to self, ALWAYS put down sharp 10 blades BEFORE reaching into your pocket). That was my introduction to the work of a fellow named Sam Butler, the quality of which seriously belied the fact that he had only (then) been making knives for about 2 years.
Seemed like a good idea to get on his list, which I did, some months later.
A few months back I got the word from Sam that my order was coming up. What would you like me to make for you? Well, I am a bit of a bowie nut. And among all the varied shapes and styles embraced by that category, the broad-bladed Southwest bowie has always been among my very favorites. Sam was keen to kick one out in that style, so it was smiles all around. The result you can see below:
This is one beautiful beast of a bowie. The forged blade of 5160 measures 11 1/8, a shade under 2 at its widest point and a stout 5/16 thick at the guard. Overall length is 16 ½. The hand-rubbed satin finish is very well done. I specified amboyna burl for the handle and asked for copper spacer in the ferrule to complement the reddish tones in the wood. Sheath is by Kenny Rowe.
I have something of a habbit of picking up knives in pairs and Sam was happy to forge out a stout companion hunter / utility piece.
This one sports a 5 1/8 blade (also 5160) with an overall length of 10 ¼. Amboyna handle and copper-accented guard match that of the bowie quite nicely. It is a very fine knife in its own right, providing about as much knife as most people need for most situations. I think it would make a pretty darn good hiking / backpacking companion.
Together, they provide a most pleasing 1-2 punch.
Working directly with Sam was an absolute pleasure. He has shown noticeable improvement even in the relatively short period of time between that first knife and this pair. Id say the future looks bright indeed.
Roger
Seemed like a good idea to get on his list, which I did, some months later.
A few months back I got the word from Sam that my order was coming up. What would you like me to make for you? Well, I am a bit of a bowie nut. And among all the varied shapes and styles embraced by that category, the broad-bladed Southwest bowie has always been among my very favorites. Sam was keen to kick one out in that style, so it was smiles all around. The result you can see below:
This is one beautiful beast of a bowie. The forged blade of 5160 measures 11 1/8, a shade under 2 at its widest point and a stout 5/16 thick at the guard. Overall length is 16 ½. The hand-rubbed satin finish is very well done. I specified amboyna burl for the handle and asked for copper spacer in the ferrule to complement the reddish tones in the wood. Sheath is by Kenny Rowe.
I have something of a habbit of picking up knives in pairs and Sam was happy to forge out a stout companion hunter / utility piece.
This one sports a 5 1/8 blade (also 5160) with an overall length of 10 ¼. Amboyna handle and copper-accented guard match that of the bowie quite nicely. It is a very fine knife in its own right, providing about as much knife as most people need for most situations. I think it would make a pretty darn good hiking / backpacking companion.
Together, they provide a most pleasing 1-2 punch.
Working directly with Sam was an absolute pleasure. He has shown noticeable improvement even in the relatively short period of time between that first knife and this pair. Id say the future looks bright indeed.
Roger
