Bowie That Was Fun To Make!

Greg Covington

Greg Covington

Joined
Oct 28, 1999
Messages
1,563
As you all can see I am a Bill Bagwell fan!

I wanted to try and forge a 12" Helle's Belle. I used a 5/16" thick section of 5160 and stretched it out to a 12" blade.

The blade is triple edge quenched and triple tempered. The guard is forged and gun blued. The ferrule is 416 stainless (I had a chunk lying around).

The handle is cocobolo wih brass pins and a smal steel name plate that I made of shim stock and then heat blued.

I heat blued the blade mostly for effect but also to take a little hardeness out of the tip.

The second pic shows an odd bright section in the wood which came out pretty neat.


<img src="http://www.fototime.com/3014A4E1E7088B3/standard.jpg" border=0>

<img src="http://www.fototime.com/0E379D193F4D707/standard.jpg" border=0>
 
Very nice. I have been commissioned to make a similar knife only the fellow wants a 13 inch blade. Expect some emails. One question right off...was the 5/16 stock the right thickness in your opinion or would 1/4 inch do? Would 3/8 be better??? I don't make very many BIG blades at all. I may have to put roller skates on to grind the thing after forging.:)

C Wilkins
 
Originally posted by C L Wilkins
was the 5/16 stock the right thickness in your opinion or would 1/4 inch do? Would 3/8 be better??? I don't make very many BIG blades at all. I may have to put roller skates on to grind the thing after forging.:)

C Wilkins
Click to expand...

The 5/16 stock was great for this knife. I own an original Helle's Belle and it is about 3/8 at the guard. On this one, I bumped the thickness of the ricasso up to just about 3/8.

If you keep the blade with a nice distal taper and don't be afraid to take alot of material off of the tip end....it will balance nicely and you will be surprised at the low weight. Also don't be afraid to thin out the edge somewhat on the finish grind....that'll take out weight too.

The Spanish notch was drilled with a 1/4" drill and then I used a triangular file to finish it thru.

Just remember that the Helle's Belle is a fighting Bowie rather than a camp/survival knife and to get the right feel you should start with 3/8 or 5/16 and give it some serious tapers and bevels.

Ask away with the questions!!!!!!!
 
I'm not sure Xrayed, didn't I see that in Smokey Mountain Knifeworks catalog?

Beautiful knife, the sapwood just adds a little color to the Cocobolo.
 
Originally posted by peter nap
I'm not sure Xrayed, didn't I see that in Smokey Mountain Knifeworks catalog?

Beautiful knife, the sapwood just adds a little color to the Cocobolo.
Click to expand...

Peter, it was shown to me in an AG Russell catalog...for some reason the fellow I will be doing this for is interested in this particular guard and is partial to coffin handles. I normally wouldn't do anything "special" but this is intriguing to me. Cuchillo Grande - but there was only one.

C Wilkins
 
That =is= really awesome looking. Mind if I share the pic on other forums?

How did you get that wave look on the fire blueing, does that basically soften the blued areas?
 
Originally posted by tallwingedgoat

How did you get that wave look on the fire blueing, does that basically soften the blued areas?
Click to expand...

I placed the blade edge down in a cake pan full of water and then used a MAP gas torch to heat the spine. Longer heat in the "dipped" areas.

This knife was edge quenched so the heat blue serves no full purpose except out at the tip. If the knife was fully hardened then the blue areas would be drawn softer to be spring like....which would be beneficial.

It is fine if you'd like to use the pic...thanks for the compliment!

Greg Covington
 
Gee... I was just kidding CL. I'm just grumpy because I spent all day making 2 knives and neither turned out. I do love the knife though. I even like the guard and it doesn't feel like I should. It just looks right on that knife!
 
Beautiful knife! I really like the heat coloring. Hope I can do something that nice someday.

Dave
 
Thanks Greg,

It's a beautiful knife and I wanted to share. I understand you also make cable damascus knives. I'll bet they look devastating with that blueing effect.
 
Beautiful Blade!
I liked it so much, I put the cursor over it, right-clicked the mouse, and made it my wallpaper on my computer screen.
Thanks.
 
Originally posted by tallwingedgoat
How durable is the fire bluing effect? Would it stand up to light wear?
Click to expand...

The bluing effect is very durable even with hard use. It would have to be actively sanded out of the finish to remove it. I chopped down a small pine yesterday with the knife with no ill effect other than having to clean all the sap off the blade.
 
Originally posted by blade runner
Beautiful Blade!
I liked it so much, I put the cursor over it, right-clicked the mouse, and made it my wallpaper on my computer screen.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Wow...I am honored! Thanks!:D
 
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