Bowie Pics: 1084 and Mesquite

silver_pilate

silver_pilate

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
3,974
Just put the final touches on this one. It's a blade I ground out a long time ago (spring, I think), and I finally got around to completing it. This is my KITH entry this year, and it's also the first bowie, first hidden-tang, and first file-fit guard. :)

The blade is Aldo's 1084 and the handle is Mesquite sanded up to 1000 grit and finished with Danish oil. It has great chatoyance. I'll end up putting several more coats on and then finishing it with a hand cloth buff.

The specs are: 1/4" 1084 stock removal blade; 7-7/8" cutting edge; 8-3/4" tip to guard; 13-3/4" OAL. The blade is just shy of 1-1/2" wide at it's tallest point. The blade is finished with a satin machine finish, and there is a small scuff just forward of the plunge I need to fix from where I sanded the mark to clean the edges. Hardware is 440C. Balance is at the ricasso, a little forward of where I would like it to be (have to get more distal taper next time and not thin the tang as much). I also would have liked more width to the botton of the handle, but the block I had was just big enough to work as is.

The blade is a full flat grind, blended slightly convex towards the edge and finished with an extremely sharp convex edge bevel. I'll throw in a picture of some paper curls. I know that's trite, but this thing just glides through paper, cuts nylon rope without a thought, and can take chunks of carboard without even slowing down.

Sorry for the somewhat crappy pics. It's 12:00 and I only have indoor lighting and no light box. Thanks for looking, and let me know what you think. Critiques always welcome.

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--nathan
 
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Thanks, Nick! Hey, if you have any critiques for me, I'd love to hear 'em. You know I've always liked your bowies.

Thanks, Dustin. I do appreciate the comments.

--nathan
 
Very nice :thumbup:
I like how clean and simple it is. I think it exemplifies the concept that a knife doesn't need mosiac pins, file work, etc to look outstanding.
 
Looks wonderful!!! Question , did you pin the guard to the spacer?right above the wood? Im intrested in making one like this but havent done it yet, thanks buddy
 
Thanks, guys!

C., I did not pin the spacer and guard. I had originally planned to to keep everything lined up, but the spacer ended up being such a good fit that it didn't need the extra stabilization especially when the acraglass set up. If it were a take-down piece, I would definitely have pinned it.

--nathan
 
Wow! Beautiful work! Did you stabilize the mesquite? It's supposed to be a really stable wood, without doing anything to it.
 
Wow Nathan, that's a gorgeous knife! Congrats, and someone's going to be very happy when they receive that one.
 
Nathan, that's a great looking Bowie. :thumbup:

My preference, like yours, would be for a bit more "meat" at the butt of the handle... but overall, I'd be real happy with that one.

I also think, with a longer blade like that, it doesn't hurt to have the weight a bit forward of the ricasso.

Good job!:thumbup:

Erin

... you and Bruce are making me want to try a hidden-tang. :D
 
Very, very nice Nathan! I've got one with an almost identical handle (shape and material, and eventually even the same small mosaic pin) with a 4.5" drop point blade on the bench right now, nearly finished. They could be cousins! You know what they say about great minds...

I think you've inspired me to make a big one.
 
Thanks everyone. Bruce, it's looking at pictures of knives from you, Nick, Fred, and others that inspired me to give a bowie a go, so I'm thrilled that you like the blade!

Diver, yes it is a small Posner mosaic.

Troop, the mesquite isn't stabilized. It's well dried, and very stable on it's own, but I bet it would also look great after stabilization. I've got a whole bunch of coats of Danish oil on it right now to seal it a bit.

--nathan
 
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