BladeForums Bowie Stage 5: Last Shape Selection

Please select your final design:

  • Knife A

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife B

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife C

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife D

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife E

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife F

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife G

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Knife H

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
Stephen F

Stephen F

Joined
Sep 28, 2003
Messages
1,235
Well, thanks to all the input in the stage 4 thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=452369

I have taken some of the comments and woven them into 8 variants, all with subtle changes in the blade and choil.

I have also added 2 handle variants to mix things up a bit, comments on drop, thickness etc where difficult to address with such a simple handle design without major changes. I think I would also echo comments about the fact that this styling lends itself to a one piece hidden tang design.

Please have a look, pick you favourite, add your comments, and them we will have a final materials vote for the chosen piece.

BFB-Final-Selection.jpg


Cheers,

Stephen
 
E for me. I like the contoured and slightly dropped handle. I actually slightly prefer the slimmer blade profile from F, but since we only get to pick one, E it is. I am not stuck on the broader blade profiles that slip into the recurve territory. Not for a Southwest bowie, IMHO.

Roger
 
It was close between G & H.
The choil sold me on G though.
STeven's on board. :)

Doug
 
G does it for me. It's a tough call and I like a lot of them but I had to make a choice.
 
I do like "G".

Nice job Stephen, you managed to create something fresh after all.;)

Looking forward to the finished piece.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I don't think I have enough experience as a collector to vote in the poll, but thought I'd add something from the user perspective.

Knives G & H seem the most popular in the poll, and the main difference between the two is that G has a slightly broader blade with more belly, while H is a bit more slender and graceful, and has gotten a few more votes. And, oddly enough, F has gotten zero votes, with its blade just a bit more narrow than H. So it seems folks can appreciate a bit of meat in the blade, but still want it to be graceful, and there comes a point where taking off just a little more steel from the edge makes it completely unappealing.

I have to agree that the blade shape of H looks best to my eyes, therefore, I would choose design G if I were voting.

Why? Because that extra belly on G leaves you more metal to accomodate sharpening and edge repairs from heavy use. After two years of good service, it will look like H, thus getting more beautiful with time. But if you start out at H, you only have a few years before it starts looking funny. I have already sharpened over 1/8" of steel from the belly of my big bowie, and I designed it with a bit broader tip for this very reason. It's starting to look more distinguished now.
 
Nice work, Stephen. I went with D because of the index finger groove but B was a close second. If we could go with stag for model B then I would choose that one.
 
Got to go with "H", though "G" is nice too but just a, little too much belly for me.
Great job Stephen.
 
I'd like to have one of each.:D

I like G best.

Excellent work, Stephen. This was fun.
 
Jose Reyes said:
Nice work, Stephen. I went with D because of the index finger groove but B was a close second. If we could go with stag for model B then I would choose that one.
Click to expand...

I agree, a nice carver would look great with that blade profile.

Once the final shape is chosen we will have one last round to choose steels and materials ...... we'll throw in a carver to see what the committee thinks.

I would also like to invite PM's or E mails with suggestions for Steel and Handle materials (wood types etc, micarta ..... ivory :) ) and the more sensible ones will be included in the poll:D

Cheers,

Stephen
 
I like "F" blade and "H" handle (longer and wider handle).
Click to expand...

I picked 'F' due to the slimmer blade profile, which I like on a Southwest. A little more 'beef' in the 'F' handle would suit me, too.

- Joe
 
Stephen F said:
Once the final shape is chosen we will have one last round to choose steels and materials ...... we'll throw in a carver to see what the committee thinks.
Click to expand...

Do keep in mind that a quality bowie sized carver with good density, figure and colour is not exactly easy to find. The committee may well want it, but sourcing it may be a whole other issue.

Roger
 
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