Bowie #2 and Hunter #1

Cajun Kamikaze

Cajun Kamikaze

Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Messages
598
Started on a couple knives this past Friday, working to get big #7 and #8 under my belt lol. A large Bowie for the guy who built my gas forge and a small hunter for the guy who gave me my KAOwool for the forge. The Bowie isn't designed as a fighter but will used instead for bushwhacking, so we went with .25" 1095. Has a nice Distal taper and a tapered tang. The guard will be brass and the handle scales I haven't decided yet but will be an organic product, probably some sort of hardwood (opinions and critique welcome) . Using 3/8" stainless tubing to pin the Bowie scales and 1/8" stainless pins on the hunter. The hunter will have brass lower guard only and Cypress handle scales. Both clay tempered.

Went and met up with Shiva early Friday morning and he had the coal forge up to temp making some Damascus billits. It was my first time to observe someone else making Damascus, learned a lot, but have a lot more to learn, like his Samurai Steel recipe ;). He's walking me through the Bowie, of which I have already destroyed the primary grind, Oh well, it was the first time to try and attempt that design. Seems like I foul everything up on the first go. Hopefully I'll nail it next time. Anyhow, I forged the profile and the tapers into the blade then jumped to the grinder where he jumped in and started all my bevels for me talking me through some key points. I really like seeing the individual differences in process from one maker to the next. That's when I learn the most, seeing individuals of different skill levels do a different process to acquire similar/same results.












 
After the screw up on the plunge line I started to flatten the ricasso and draw the plunge line forward again, using a half used 80 grit belt, to get the feel before I threw a new one on. Was a little sketchy at first but I figured it out. Using the little 2"x 42" Craftsman belt sander doesn't make it easy to grind vertically. The ergo's suck... Going to use some brass stock I have for the guard. The guard will also be of Coffin design like the handle, started drawing that up last night.











 
I likes the look of that there hunter.

How many of you people live around here that I don't know, jeez. I would like to grind too.
 
Thanks Guys! I know my stuff isn't on point but I'm hoping to see the evolution evolve over time with my builds and posts.... Which will also get better with more attention to production photos and description as the product gets better. That's what I hope anyway.

Steve,
I'm sure you may have see this thread but if not here is the link http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1010375-Louisiana-knife-lovers-unite!

Besides you, Dredd and Clive are the only La collectors and/or makers I have spoken with on this site.
CliveHamilton (aka not his real name, aka 4 Brothers knife works ;-)) walked me through with my first and got the ball rolling. I've been getting guidance from Shiva (Man depicted in original post) and go over to his place now to gain experience.

Big knives, I like Big ass knives!
 
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This little hunting knife came out fairly decent. It was originally designed to be a larger Bowie but I broke about 1/3 of the blade off so I decided to re-purpose. It was hand forged from a 30yro high carbon Greatneck Mill bastard file. I used stainless pins cut from some Excel dirtbike spokes to pin the brass guard and the Cypress handle scales. The guard and the scales are both peened and epoxied in place. The handle has a palm weld and it feels pretty dern comfy. This is my first knife to also heat treat on my own. I did a differential and the Hammon came out pretty good considering the the rough finish...

Wondering what I should coat the handle with. I was thinking to just go with Linseed oil but now I'm thinking along the lines of a sealer...











 
Thanks dude.

I Think I'm done with Brass. I don't like the look at all. Something about it makes it look cheap and old. I have another knife I'm making for barter like this one and should use up the rest of my Brass stock on that then I'm done with it.... Composites too, done with composites for the mean time....
 
Agree. Time to make something sleek and vibrant... Working on a few design now so I can start pumping out some nice blanks.
 
I finally got around to heat treating the Bowie blade and have started to clean it up a bit. I was only able to bring it down with 220 Friday evening so that night I started tampering with the Hammon to see what I might be working with. Looks like a pretty interesting hammon. I forged a steel guard for it instead of going with the original idea of brass. I may even decide to forge a Damascus guard instead, will see, not in a big rush.






 
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