A sowbelly experiment...

TLARbb

TLARbb

Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
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I've never owned or even handled a sowbelly pattern pocketknife. But then some enterprising soul here started a "post your sowbellies here" thread. Pulled me right in. Then there is that "single blade slippies" thread which I follow. Somewhere in all of this, Jason Baker posted a Case single blade sowbelly.

The inevitable happened. I began looking for such a knife. I found one, but somebody ran the price way up and I decided I didn't want to pay enough to buy that one. So, I began the quest for a reasonably priced near mint condition Case sowbelly stockman and found one with cranberry bone scales which I am partial to anyway. So it became mine.

knives1103-.jpg


I thought I might try it as it came to see if I would like the knife as delivered, but it had the same "handful of blades" feeling that all stockmen seem to have to me. But no, it wasn't going to make a "believer" out of me. So, I began to search for a "knife mechanic" to take the spey and sheepsfoot out of it and make it into a single blade knife. I sent PM's to Seals and Pocketedge here and Don replied back first with a "Yes, I can do that for you." So off it went.

It came back to me today and I am very happy with the way it turned out. What a difference it has made. The "handfull of blades" feeling is gone (and no wonder) and the knife feels great in my hand. I'm sure I'm going to be carrying this a good bit; no need to baby it to retain it's collector value. :D

Anyway, here is the picture I made a few minutes ago:

knives1103-013-1.jpg


Thank you Don for undertaking this project and getting it back to me so quickly. I'm proud of this knife and wanted to share it with my forum friends here.

Ed J
 
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hey Ed

at a first glance I didn't like it but after reading (didn't read first :D ) and re-looking to the knife...it looks almost like a custom now, the blade is very nice and handles are "clean" now
really looks so different than before, so much better

comliments! nice knife and even better, it's unique now :D
(what did you do of the 2 blades? scrap?)

cheers
Maxx
 
Very nice Ed. I took an interest in that sowbelly thread as well but I'm not a fan of that too many blades feeling either. I'd rather carry two knives. I'd love to hear how you're liking it after a while.
 
That looks great, Ed! I applaud "thinking outside the box" like you did here in order to get what you want. :thumbup: That does look like it would be very comfortable in hand - its got that curve on the tail end that makes for a nice grip ... somewhat similar to the toothpick pattern but heftier all around. Well done, my friend!
 
Ed,
Man it turned out really nice! You deserve that
knife to be in your pocket!! Congrats buddy.




Jason
 
Don sent the blades, spring and center liner back with the knife. I'll save them if I ever want to put back to original configuration. Today's foto did not come out real good for some reason. I'll try the brick pile later this afternoon and see if I can get a better picture.

Thanks for the comments Maxx.

Ed J
 
Looks great, Ed. I always did like the Case XX script shield, but it really looks good on the cranberry bone.
 
wagglebee said:
Yeah, Jason sends me those, "Rob you should get a ___" PMs too. ;)
Click to expand...

:D :D :D

I took another shot of it closed this morning. The clip blade shape on this knife is aesthetically and functionally close to ideal. It lays close to the handle closed making it superbly friendly to your pocket. I have not had it very long, but the more I handle it and carry it, the more I like it. I sure understand now why sowbelly fans like their knives.

knives1103-014.jpg



Ed J
 
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Very nice, I like it a lot whereas I've never been interested in other sowbelly knives. Don is the man and I'm glad to see he left the correct blade on it. :D
 
The sowbelly is a fantastic pattern.

I'm hoping that Brent Cramer will be up to making one by the time my name gets back to the top of his list.
 
I've never been called an "enterprising soul" before. "a soul", now that's a whole different story...at least I think that is what it was. :D

Before and after, sowbellies are nice knives however you slice it. ;)
 
Turned out really well there Ed, looks marvelous :thumbup:

Mind you, it's not really a Sowbelly anymore, it's a Boarbelly:D

It's another reason why a single blade Copperhead is such a good knife, similar sweep to it.
 
William, yes, it turns out to be very similar to a single blade copperhead but the extra belly in the handle allows the tang to ride flush with the bolster without the swell in the bolster that the copperhead has. It has the same hand friendly and pocket friendly feel of the single blade copperhead. I like the shape of the clip blade a bit better on this knife, but it is very similar to a single blade copperhead overall. No wonder the copperhead is one of my favorites!!! :D

Ed J
 
Ed, yes I noticed a fully sunk joint there:thumbup:

Did the original have this as well or is it as a result of the re-fit?

Regards, W
 
No, that is a feature of the pattern as built. One of the reasons I was intrigued by it to start with. The overall size of the bolster is similar, but the body of the handle does not "taper away" from the bolster like the copperhead patterns do. This makes the body of the handle a bit deeper than a copperhead, but it feels very nice in the hand. It is still significantly more "trim" than a typical moden one hand opener or assisted opener.

Ed J
 
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