Big Southwest Bowie in Damascus

John White

John White

Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
2,142
A good client and nice guy fell in love with a Ring Gidgee handled carbon Southwest Bowie I presented as one of my Master's knives in '04, and asked for a Damascus version. Here 'tis, 10 inches of 1084 and 15n20, with N/S fittings, and a beautiful piece of Ring Gidgee given to me by Sean McIntyre.

The Damascus was great fun to make, and rewards a closer look. What at first glance looks a standard two-bar twist, is in fact two four-bars, each made up of two high and two low count "W" billets.

DSC00900.jpg


Do you like that little shoulder where the handle meets the collar?
 
John, that is just beautiful. It has everything. Flow, style, killer damascus, great fittings....I better stop. This could go on for a while. Did I mention I like the knife!!
Bill
 
That's some beautiful and well executed multi-bar damascus. Great looking southwest blade profile, looks similar to Jerry's SW profile. I really like the flared or butterfly choil condition. I see top forgers using this more often.
And yes the handle material shoulder is a wonderful touch in my opinion. The only thing I'm not partial to here is the handle shape.
 
I really can't find anything I dislike about the knife at all:thumbup:
nice job!
 
John White said:
Do you like that little shoulder where the handle meets the collar?
Click to expand...


Personally, I'm glad to see this becoming more acceptable. I've been doing it for over five years, and have often felt uncomfortable in doing so.
I think nothing is worse than spending a lot of time making a knife in Illinois in July, only to send it to a customer in Arizona or New Mexico in December! I don't care what your handle material, or how well it is stabilized, you're going to have shrinkage.
This eliminates all issues.
It's very tastefull, when done correctly.
It makes sense to me.
That knife is stunning.
 
Wow, that blade shape and damascus pattern is stunning!!!

That's not my favorite handle shape, but I can see that it is very well done. The shoulder doesn't bother me at all.

This man is going to be one happy camper!
 
John, another great knife and I agree with Karls insight. Now you guys have to convince the ABS judges as their opinion is that doing this for testing = less attention to detail. Hmmm!! my thought it that it is more attention to being concerned about the condition of the knife in the customers hands.
 
Karl, Murray, et al,

Posted this one mainly because the Damascus tickled me, wish you could see it up close,.. but the question of shrinkage in flush vs "shouldered" fit between materials, as well as the design elements involved also interested me. I got a chance to handle the original knife recently, and the collar/handle joint was still flush after four years, and travel between climates. Still, one worries, tho seasoning and care help.
I think I'll still be doing it both ways, that old "perfect fit" is seductive, but I also think the "break" can be a neat design tool, as well as an insurance policy.

John
 
John White said:
Karl, Murray, et al,

Posted this one mainly because the Damascus tickled me, wish you could see it up close,.. but the question of shrinkage in flush vs "shouldered" fit between materials, as well as the design elements involved also interested me. I got a chance to handle the original knife recently, and the collar/handle joint was still flush after four years, and travel between climates. Still, one worries, tho seasoning and care help.
I think I'll still be doing it both ways, that old "perfect fit" is seductive, but I also think the "break" can be a neat design tool, as well as an insurance policy.

John
Click to expand...
I got to see some of Kevin Cashen's stuff at Troy and his is chamfering both the handle and ferrule/buttcap edges a few thousandths for the same purpose. no chance of am unwelcome edge diging inot your finger a few years down the road. I'm not so sure that the judges would mind if it was done for a specific purpose and done well. I we had a couple of judges at the hammer in, but I'm not sure we got a consensus on that question. I have also seen other guys do this with stag handles lately. It seems to me that this would work well as would the methd that Russ Andrews uses of making a real hollow ring ferrule and inletting the handle as opposed to using a "spacer" type false ferrule.
 
Another beauty!!!

Great knife and damascus.

Thanks for posting it.

I hope to see some more of your knives in person sometime soon.
 
Hi John...
Mighty good looking bowie...like all of yours that I've seen.

Thanks for introducing yourself at Blade too...I really
enjoyed meeting you.
 
Wow this is truly a great piece First off I relly like the ay the clip is done I love the handle shape also looks like it would really fill up your hand the rounded handle has a kind of organic look to it. that is not mentioning the great materials used. class act
 
John I agree with Terry, too much time. The pattern is something else and having handled your knives in person I know the rest of the knife is at your usual standards. Great knife and a very happy customer I am sure.
Great work.

Brion
 
SW bowie not my configuration, but silence is not an option with a knife such as this. The damascus bedazzles while frozen in a photo; I can't fathom how it might shimmer and frolic when rotated in good light.

I have a large block of fabulous, curly ringed gidgee that I'm saving for some special bowie. Some say stablize, others say not; what say you?

ken
 
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