Bowie Design Critique Please

D

deker

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
3,496
Hey folks. I'm working on a Bowie project at the moment that will have a 328 layer twist pattern blade, wrought iron fittings and probably either an apple wood or birch handle (I'm using recycled materials for this one. The woods are from my firewood pile.)

I've got the billet done, and it's time to forge out the blade. I'm looking for some critique of this design. Most specifically, I'm concerned with the overall flow and ratios of each part to each other part. It'll be my first really large knife and I want to make sure I've got the proper feel for sizing of all the components. The scale below the image is expressed in inches.

Please be brutally honest. You won't hurt my feelings, I guarantee it.

PhiBowieCrop.jpg


Thanks,

-d
 
I like it from the guard back but the blade needs some thinning out. I can see the clip being longer with a false edge and a straight spine in place of the humped one. The ricasso seems too long also.
I like it otherwise. Hey you asked. :)
 
Bruce Bump said:
I like it from the guard back but the blade needs some thinning out. I can see the clip being longer with a false edge and a straight spine in place of the humped one. The ricasso seems too long also.
I like it otherwise.
Click to expand...

Well, the humped spine is just my lack of drawing skills, as is the bad drawing of the false edge on the clip. :)

Hey you asked. :)
Click to expand...

Yup, I did. Thanks for the response Bruce!

-d
 
Looks good. I think with that broad of a blade I would go longer. Seems a bit "stubby" as is. Just my opinion though. The handle and guard shapes look real good as well as the clip point. I would suggest either thin out the width of the blade or stretch it out a bit. Either one would help the blow and balance look of the blade. Again, just my opinion.

Can't wait to see progress pics and the finished knife.

Charles
 
Bruce Bump said:
I like it from the guard back but the blade needs some thinning out. I can see the clip being longer with a false edge and a straight spine in place of the humped one. The ricasso seems too long also.
I like it otherwise. Hey you asked. :)
Click to expand...

I go with what Bruce has to say. Make sure you don't forget the barrel coming out the ass end. :D
 
Deker, if that handle/guard is going to be 5.25", redraw the knife with the blade at 8.75" and see what you think of the proportions then.

I use French curves a lot when I draw knives because they have the smooth sweeps that please the human eye already built in mathematically.
 
Im with Bruce, heh, and CShephard, mwahahaha

Add 2-3 inches in length and remove a lil' width by giving it recurve(which also flows into that lovely handle,(very nice deker!)and gives more user versatility, ever tried chopping greenwood with a straight edge? heh),
If weight is concerned too, I think I speak for the masses, fullers are gorgeous!

The ricasso should stay that length, the geometry is spot on, but I'd change it slightly......and add a subhilt considering the construction you chose, shouldn't be difficult...and would balance the knive well, both in weight and focus....
*oooh ooh, that blade, ooh oooh oooh! the handle!*
Know what I mean?.......... :cool:

Mwahahhaha!

Also the overall geometry now seems to mimic an eagle, model name? ;)

Btw, I'm just listing my tastes, but wouldn't recommend you making such....
As I cannot afford to get one commisioned! :D
 
Raymond Richard said:
I go with what Bruce has to say. Make sure you don't forget the barrel coming out the ass end. :D
Click to expand...

I'd just shoot myself in the foot! :eek: Of course, this one is big enough that we could make it a .45! :D

It seems that so far you guys are thinking about the same thing I am. This drawing was actually a bit of an experiment with "the golden ratio" (Phi) to see how it would work out and what people thought of it.

- The ratio of blade length to handle length (minus buttcap) is Phi
- The ratio of spine length to clip length is Phi
- The ratio of the blade height to ricasso length is Phi
- The ratio of the grind height (and midline of the blade) to the spine height is Phi
- The ratio of the blade height to the ricasso height is Phi

Seems that the Greeks weren't quite right after all! :D

P.S. Fitzo, that makes some sense. I originally had a 8" blade with a 5" handle, but in drawing it the buttcap smooshed (that's a technical term mind you!) out a little farther. I should have added the 3/4" to the blade to match...


-d
 
Yeah, it works, Deker. It depends on where you put your centerpoint. Suprisingly, slightly "off" is harsher on the eye then more divergent.
 
Deker, I too have played with the golden ratio and sacred geomtery in the past, but never thought of applying it to weaponry till recently.

And you're right, The greeks were students! of that art, not scholars! lol
 
Decker,

Having a broad spectrum of makers, draw up their thoughts on the ideal

Bowie knife, would make for an interesting thread. I know you would get

a lot of different interpretations.

You have asked yourself the most important of all questions; what

should the proportions be; one part relative to the next one. Does the

knife, flow from tip to butt? If you approach your design with these, as
the parameters, in the end I believe you will come up with an

acceptable design.

There are many makers posting on this site, who's work can be viewed

as representative of, good bowie design. I'm not saying to copy, but,

for the sake of input. I look at all good maker's knives, to see

how they made it look, the way it does.

I will leave the comments on your design to others, only giving my

above comments as encouragement.

Post pics when you get it completed, Fred
 
If you are going to use the round choil, thn I would go with a slightly upswept southwestern profile. On a blade that size, I would also narrow it, but not a whole lot. shorten the ricasso to no more than about 70% the length you have and shorten the handle to maybe 4 3/4 or give it some drop or both. If you plan to have that much belly, I would also consider making the guard slightly assymetrical, Maybe something like this:D
 
I am not a knifemaker but if I can offer something??


Ahh it needs to be alot bigger...BIGGER

Handle is about right and I like the design...just make the blade around 8" longer
 
Fred.Rowe said:
Decker,

Having a broad spectrum of makers, draw up their thoughts on the ideal

Bowie knife, would make for an interesting thread. I know you would get

a lot of different interpretations.
Click to expand...

And that's a thread worth starting! I might just do that...It'd be fun to see.

You have asked yourself the most important of all questions; what

should the proportions be; one part relative to the next one. Does the

knife, flow from tip to butt? If you approach your design with these, as
the parameters, in the end I believe you will come up with an

acceptable design.

There are many makers posting on this site, who's work can be viewed

as representative of, good bowie design. I'm not saying to copy, but,

for the sake of input. I look at all good maker's knives, to see

how they made it look, the way it does.
Click to expand...

I've been doing a fair bit of looking at other folks' work (yours included!) and I've been trying to figure out what it is that makes those "spectacular" knives just seem to radiate perfection. I came across the idea of using Phi in blades and figured I'd see where it led me.

I will leave the comments on your design to others, only giving my

above comments as encouragement.

Post pics when you get it completed, Fred
Click to expand...

Now that's not fair Fred! Yours was one of the opinions I was waiting for! :D

-d
 
Leatherface said:
I am not a knifemaker but if I can offer something??


Ahh it needs to be alot bigger...BIGGER

Handle is about right and I like the design...just make the blade around 8" longer
Click to expand...

Ok, you can come on down and swing the sledge on the next billet! :D My power hammer can't work stuff much bigger than what I started with.

-d
 
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