A "WIP" The Bruce Bump "Allan Pinkerton Bowie"

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Truly the work of master craftsmen...

I am particularly impressed at how little time and effort is required to build such a complex, precise, and beautiful piece. Seems like you could bang out 3 or 4 of those things in a day. Bet you could get at least a hundred bucks for 'em too.
 
Wulf said:
Truly the work of master craftsmen...

I am particularly impressed at how little time and effort is required to build such a complex, precise, and beautiful piece. Seems like you could bang out 3 or 4 of those things in a day. Bet you could get at least a hundred bucks for 'em too.
Click to expand...

Yep, on a good day I can hammer out 5 or 6 of these simple ones. Prices are the same though, $50 each.:D
 
Bruce & Kevin,
Fantastic thread! Any comments on the original drawing, how it took form. Explanations of details of specs. How did you decide on these? Length of handle, style of clip.. Much of the form seems to follow the drawings to exact measurements, so was this drawn free-hand?
Interesting points from the ckca thread, derivation of the name:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-Pinkertons.html



And, since this pattern seems too perfect, as if by magic, the flaw in the first attempt: http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll18/brucebump/100_6799_edited.jpg
 
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2knife said:
Bruce & Kevin,
Fantastic thread! Any comments on the original drawing, how it took form. Explanations of details of specs. How did you decide on these? Length of handle, style of clip.. Much of the form seems to follow the drawings to exact measurements, so was this drawn free-hand?
Interesting points from the ckca thread, derivation of the name:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-Pinkertons.html



And, since this pattern seems too perfect, as if by magic, the flaw in the first attempt: http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll18/brucebump/100_6799_edited.jpg
Click to expand...

Kevin wanted a 9" feather pattern damascus blade and the long clip and guard that I usually make. The drawing is just hand drawn and sent to him for approval. I like to draw them at full size so the collector can really get a feel for size. I asked him to make any changes and send it back but he liked it just the way it was. The forging process doesnt always allow for an intended size but besides the dropped edge ending up a little short I think it came out very close to the plan. I used the drawing and cut out an aluminum blade and tang to forge to. I made an extra copy to glue to the 1018 for the frame. I find that gluing the paper to nearly everything I make keeps me from deviating from the original plan. I make my pistol parts this same way.
Thanks for the question
 
2knife said:
Bruce & Kevin,
Fantastic thread! Any comments on the original drawing, how it took form. Explanations of details of specs. How did you decide on these? Length of handle, style of clip.. Much of the form seems to follow the drawings to exact measurements, so was this drawn free-hand?
Interesting points from the ckca thread, derivation of the name:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-Pinkertons.html

And, since this pattern seems too perfect, as if by magic, the flaw in the first attempt: http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll18/brucebump/100_6799_edited.jpg
Click to expand...

First, thank you for the many positive comments.

David, here I wanted to commission a knife that was ALL Bruce Bump so about 7-8 months ago we started talking details and e-mailing as to a design. This design ended up pretty much being a 9" feather pattern bowie/fighter with components/influence from Bruce's "Doctor's Bowie", "Tombstone Dagger" designs and his Fighter that won lasts year BF Best Bowie Contest.

Bruce supplied the "actual size" (9" BL about 13-3/4" OAL) hand drawn design drawings complete with details. Actual size drawing are nice as I was able to insure the handle fit my hand properly, especially insuring the lower "finger grove" was positioned well between my fingers.
You will notice that we have made a few subtle changes from the original drawing shown in the opening post.

I like complex designs and there is quite a few design elements going on in this knife (which is risky), however Bruce and I feel it all will come together nicely in the end.

There's one decision to still be made. The engraved guard and frame/rear bolster assembly will come back from Doug Turnbull darkened with streaks of color from the color-cased hardening process. We will decide whether to keep or remove the color leaving a more french gray look. Either finish should go well with the engraving/inlay and dark amber stag in creating the classic/antique look we want with this piece.

Anyway, I'm really thrilled with Bruce's design and how well the creation of this knife has gone.
 
Thanks Gents for clicking back here to check for progress. I did make a little more today. Culpeppers sent the stag back from their amber dying process. They must have been real busy because of the blade show because I think they've had it for almost a couple months. Anyway I set it out in the sun to dry for a couple days and sliced it up into 2 monster sized scales.

I'm going to remove nearly all the excess from the back side so I can keep as much natural bark texture/color as possible but under the surface is where I think the beauty is. I think the pommel end will be wide and pretty much untouched but the scales will taper towards the front and be contoured to match the guard/spacer. Why spend all that money on amber stag and not show it off? I have no idea what this looks like under the bark but I bet its pretty nice.

Because I already finished the frame, guard and spacer I cant touch them again with the grinder. I need to make liners that fit the frame and attach them to the stag. Its nice because everything is removeable and can be cut, sanded and polished and then mounted to the frame.

As soon as the liners and stag are finished I can send the parts off to Doug Turnbulls for the color case treatment.

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I cut the liners today from 416 stainless plate and drilled them for the 1/16" gold pins. I left the liners about .015" oversized and rounded the edges that show. Jere is going to engrave them. They are only .040" thick so he doesnt have much room so I'm interested to see what he does. I could have file worked them but decided on engraved instead.

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Thanks for all the kind comments guys.

Tomorrow the frame and guard goes to Doug Turnbulls for the case hardening. The liners are at Jeres by now and I made some progress on the scales today.

I use a 24 grit belt to remove material so fast it doesnt get time to heat up the stag. Its easy to take too much off so just touch it and check it, touch it and check it. These scales are pretty nice because they seem to match front and back. Its rare to find that I think. The real difference in them is one is bowed out and the other is bowed in which only means one will have more bark than the other when they are the same thickness. Thats OK though as its only natural.

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Forgot to mention I made the thin sterling silver spacer that goes between the two piece guard before sent the frame and parts to NY.

It has a milled slot and checkered edge aka "coined edge".

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Thanks guys for the positive comments.
The color-case hardening process on the guard and frame/rear bolster assembly is complete and on the way back to Bruce.
Knife should be finished next week then Paul Long for sheath and Coop for photos.
 
JParanee said:
This is going to be a great one


Doug Turnbull restored a 100 year old Fox Shotgun for me that was my grandfathers. He did the original period Fox style case coloring and charcoal blueing. I do not think there is anyone better
Click to expand...


Without pictures it never happened. ;)
 
Beautiful bowie, interesting WIP. Congratulations & thanks for posting.

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Incredible!!!

I love feather pattern damascus, the guard, engraving, everything just works great on that knife!
 
That is one beautiful knife and that guard is just right. Thanks for sharing,

Doug,
 
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