Jim March
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 3,018
c title...then goto:
http://bladesource.com/ and hit the link to "Custom Knives".
You'll see a large Bowie of fairly traditional pattern, except for the milled "jeweling" on the sides of the blade. What's NOT obvious is that the smith is using sections of 1/8th stock sawmill blade in 1084 to create these puppies. I saw this bowie and the smaller companion shown here at the Pleasanton gun show today, and lemme tell you what - this thing is a -=FIGHTER=-. You thought a Panther was light and balanced and "flickable" for a big blade? This critter in 1/8th stock is *UNREAL*.
Heat treat seems good, but without actual edgeholding tests it's hard to say. Certainly it's a simple steel, not hard to treat and the fit and finish of everything else is very, VERY good. That blade there (I'm sure it's the same knife) was marked at $140US and the guy at that page can score more.
Now, if you're in the market for the Ontario Hell's Belle Bowie this critter should be seen as a SERIOUS alternative. No, the steel isn't the absolute best although in this kind of thickness I suspect it's an excellent choice, this is what a lot of good Katanas are made of so if thicker can support a 26"+ blade, this thinner stock should be fine out to 12" at least. Total blade "heft" is low, this isn't going to be a great woods camp and chopper knife, it's a weird yet wonderful "streetfighter".
I figured somebody around here would go apepoop with desire...and I've fondled it firsthand, it's as nice as those pics show.
And I've got no connection with that vendor other than thinking this is a COOL bit of steel.
Jim March
http://bladesource.com/ and hit the link to "Custom Knives".
You'll see a large Bowie of fairly traditional pattern, except for the milled "jeweling" on the sides of the blade. What's NOT obvious is that the smith is using sections of 1/8th stock sawmill blade in 1084 to create these puppies. I saw this bowie and the smaller companion shown here at the Pleasanton gun show today, and lemme tell you what - this thing is a -=FIGHTER=-. You thought a Panther was light and balanced and "flickable" for a big blade? This critter in 1/8th stock is *UNREAL*.
Heat treat seems good, but without actual edgeholding tests it's hard to say. Certainly it's a simple steel, not hard to treat and the fit and finish of everything else is very, VERY good. That blade there (I'm sure it's the same knife) was marked at $140US and the guy at that page can score more.
Now, if you're in the market for the Ontario Hell's Belle Bowie this critter should be seen as a SERIOUS alternative. No, the steel isn't the absolute best although in this kind of thickness I suspect it's an excellent choice, this is what a lot of good Katanas are made of so if thicker can support a 26"+ blade, this thinner stock should be fine out to 12" at least. Total blade "heft" is low, this isn't going to be a great woods camp and chopper knife, it's a weird yet wonderful "streetfighter".
I figured somebody around here would go apepoop with desire...and I've fondled it firsthand, it's as nice as those pics show.
And I've got no connection with that vendor other than thinking this is a COOL bit of steel.
Jim March
