BIG frame handle bowie w/ shell guard and carved blackwood...

Thank you guys. I really appreciate you posting your thoughts and comments.

It is ALWAYS a pleasure dealing with Rick, Claude and Coop. Those three made this a very smooth deal all around.

Some of you are right. I've never attempted a shell guard so I did my research and decided that John White's shell guards were what I wanted to lean towards most, as well as a similar type build with the frame handle. I also had a small, real shell from a display basket my wife has set up. I patterned as close as I could to that. It looks pretty authentic compared to the real thing, I think. That was what I was shooting for.

There is also some influence from my friend Doug Campbell who did a blackwood handled shell guard bowie as one if his JS test knives. It has similar lines. That knife still remains one of my all time favorites from anyone.

Thanks again for all the comments.
 
J. Doyle said:
There is also some influence from my friend Doug Campbell who did a blackwood handled shell guard bowie as one if his JS test knives. It has similar lines. That knife still remains one of my all time favorites from anyone.
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Funny how you would remark this. It's one of mine as well. :thumbup: It's one of 200 images I selected for a pending book. It's that notable.

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I see the influence.

Coop
 
John, You keep raising the bar my friend. I know you worked really hard on this one. Glad to finally see Coops pics. As well as Claude sheath.



Keep them coming

Bing
 
Yep, that's a fine piece. The guard is so well executed as is the handle sculpting. Keep 'me comin' John! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Thanks for the compliments on the sheath. It's a real pleasure making sheaths for all of your great knives looking forward to seeing what you all come up with next
 
Kevin Jones said:
Sounds like the collector challenged you a bit and you are both the better off for it. He got an exceptional Bowie and you have advanced your skill level as a result.
Like all your work, this piece is incredibly clean and well executed though not a design/style I've seen from you.
The handle/guard has a bit of a John White influence to my eye.
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Kevin, I couldn't agree more.
John,
That's a beauty! Your attention to every detail is above and beyond!
The clam shells, Wow!
Great work my friend!
Claude, beautiful leather work!

Kevin, your above comment about collectors working with makers to push their skill sets would be a great topic for discussion! It really is a symbiotic relationship!"
 
John,
Would have been nice to handle that one at the Seattle show. Would really love to see how that style guard feels... cause it looks incredible! And it may give me and idea to run by you sometime! :D
 
Unbelievably well done John! BY FAR my favorite piece from you that I've ever seen...and Coop's beautiful image just knocks the whole package into orbit!! 10/10 guys, just killer work by all involved:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Thanks again guys. I appreciate you posting the comments.

joeshredd said:
John,
Would have been nice to handle that one at the Seattle show. Would really love to see how that style guard feels... cause it looks incredible! And it may give me and idea to run by you sometime! :D
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Hey Joe. I missed bringing this to Seattle by just a couple days. Feel free to run any idea by me, any time. :)
 
Hey John... I seem to have missed this thread when it was fresh. Like all of your work, the lines and presentation on this knife look super-CLEAN. Your attention to the fine details is apparent, and you NAILED the fittings... especially the clamshell guard. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I'm not sure how I feel about the sculpting on the blackwood extending back from mid-handle -- it looks like there's a bit of ridge that rolls from the sides into the back edge of the handle -- but given my experience handling you previous work, I'm sure that it still feels great in-hand.
Claude did a great job with the sheath as well. I probably should give that guy a call. ;)
Erin
 
Erin Burke said:
Hey John... I seem to have missed this thread when it was fresh. Like all of your work, the lines and presentation on this knife look super-CLEAN. Your attention to the fine details is apparent, and you NAILED the fittings... especially the clamshell guard. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I'm not sure how I feel about the sculpting on the blackwood extending back from mid-handle -- it looks like there's a bit of ridge that rolls from the sides into the back edge of the handle -- but given my experience handling you previous work, I'm sure that it still feels great in-hand.
Claude did a great job with the sheath as well. I probably should give that guy a call. ;)
Erin
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Thanks Erin. I appreciate the comments.

For the handle, I wanted to try to do something a little more defined and classy than just a rounded out palm swell. And I didn't want to just leave the scales flat. So this is what I came up with. It's distinct and defined but no sharp ridges at all. The two rear fingers nestle in the hollow right behind the ridge and the two fore fingers are in front of it. The 'ridges' that sweep back and feather out into the rounded scale edges can't be felt at all by anyone who's held the knife. It looks crisp and defined but is VERY comfortable in hand.

I did the same thing on a koa handled bowie that you held at Seattle. It's so subtle in hand that it goes unnoticed, especially when hiding in the grain of some killer koa. You really have to look to see it. ;)

I wondered how many people at Seattle never even noticed it. On this blackwood handle it really stands out.

Thanks again for the good words.
 
Well I now have this knife and I have to say it is good enough to have a MS stamp on it. It is often said pictures do not do justice, well in this case they certainly do not. This is a BIG knife that is not really shown in the photos.

The attention to detail especially on the spacers and clam shell guard is some of the best I've seen as is the file work on the spine.

Erin Burke commented on the handle shape, well I have to say it fits in the hand so nicely, the ring and small finger naturally fitting into the feature behind the "ridge" if that makes sense.

Claude also did an exemplary with the sheath too. All together a great combination.
 
Thanks for posting this Rick. I'm glad you have the knife in hand now and really appreciate your thoughts and comments. I look forward to our next piece and to seeing you soon in Kansas City!
 
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