Big Bowie

mike deibert

mike deibert

Joined
Jul 2, 2009
Messages
378
I've been working on this Bowie in between orders and projects and have finally got some time to finish it. Even though this was a fun, big blade to forge the guard/handle transition was the project for me. I'm trying to come up with a cool way to make the guard and handle fit together rather than flat on flat. The process is still a work in progress but it's been fun and so far I like the outcome. The tang is a hidden/through tang. The very end is peened over a damascus ferrule. The blade length is 12.5 inches and the OAL is 18.5 inches. Blade steel is 1095. The hamon is much nicer than my camera could capture so I will be sending this out for professional pics asap.



Here's a closer look at some of the details in the handle.

 
one of your best, imo!
Makes a lot of sense, bedding the handle material into converging lines at the guard like that. Seems to me it would work something like a dovetail and provide additional support and retention. Looks cool as hell, to boot!
 
A really cool detail is how you can see from the distortion of the laminations that the guard was forged to that shape...
 
Yes , very good looking and all knives you made , congrats
 
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Lorien said:
one of your best, imo!
Makes a lot of sense, bedding the handle material into converging lines at the guard like that. Seems to me it would work something like a dovetail and provide additional support and retention. Looks cool as hell, to boot!
Click to expand...
You are exactly right Lorien. The dovetailish thing is my goal while at the same time trying to create a look that is simple to reproduce while looking "new".
 
Salem Straub said:
A really cool detail is how you can see from the distortion of the laminations that the guard was forged to that shape...
Click to expand...

Thanks for noticing that! I was like a kid at Christmas as I pulled the damascus from the etchant. Seeing those laminations flowing just as I had intended was a big victory for me.
 
gregorio said:
Great looking bowie, and that hawk is pretty sweet as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks Greg,
The knife and hawk are both "extras" going to Blade. So, if you're going there this year please stop by and check them out. I like meeting other forum members.
 
That is an awesome design and one of the best looking large Bowie that I have ever seen.
 
Awesome! Is the blade wider at the front? Is the swedge sharpened? And what is the thickness?
 
jac_solar said:
Awesome! Is the blade wider at the front? Is the swedge sharpened? And what is the thickness?
Click to expand...

Yes, the blade is wider at the front though I don't have it handy for a measurement. The swage is not sharpened. The thickness near the guard is 5/16" and there is a constant taper starting at the swage. Thank you for looking!
 
Big, Brute, guard and butt details really make it for me, great work :thumbup: Nice piece of Beenatree. What is it?
Cheers Keith
 
Great looking knife!
Even though I am repeating what everyone else has said.....
Very cool handle construction.
 
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