Brut Bowie WIP

E

El Mucho Hombre

Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
52
As far as I can remember, this will be my first post here.

I ordered some 80crv2 to test out for bowies, and forged this one yesterday and today, a 10" brut de forge

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I'm still trying to decide on the handle material I want to use on it, but as of right now I'm leaning towards desert ironwood with 6 stainless pins.

Here's a few more pics of it.

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No grinding has been done on it, in fact the only power tool I've used on it so far was the angle grinder to cut it off the bar.
 
No grinding has been done on it, in fact the only power tool I've used on it so far was the angle grinder to cut it off the bar.
Click to expand...

What? Something wrong with hot cutting??:D

Real nice, accurate forging there. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Welcome to the fray!

Darcy:)
 
Nothing at all! One day when I have a proper anvil with accommodations for hot cutting tools, I will throw my angle grinder away and be a real man!

Thanks for the kind words, I will post more pictures of it after I finish it up.
 
Looking great so far, that thing is going to be a beast. I'm looking forward to see this project progress.
 
Forging is complete, and I cleaned up the profile and set the edge, and picked out a set of scales for the handle. Stainless pins and Koa. Gotta get some fresh belts before I grind it, until then I have a W2 one with a hamon to finish up.

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Nice work. Looking forward to seeing it as it progresses.

I would suggest either nickel silver or brass pins for koa. Stainless gets hot in sanding/grinding and will make dark rings around the pins in woods like koa.

Only other comment is that the tang looks very thick and heavy. It can still be reduced in thickness and taper when grinding.
 
I did leave the tang a little on the thick side intentionally so I could grind it evenly. Try though I may, I haven't been able to forge in the taper absolutely perfectly for an air tight fit with the handle materials, so I hammered the taper close and left enough material to grind off.

I was planning on using stainless pins simply because I haven't been able to find nickel silver easily, and wasn't sure how brass would look with the Koa.
 
Thanks, I've only been making since November, and this is the best forging I've done so far so I figured I'd put it up and get some opinions on it.
 
Most every hobby shop carries nickel silver round stock, as does every industrial and knife supplier. Texas Knife Supply has them, as does Jantz, Alpha, USA Knifemakers, etc.
Brass does fine with koa, as it does with most brown woods. Nickel silver is just a common name for white brass ( what it really is) and it will patina with age to a more yellow look.
 
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Looks great! I've been making knives for a few years now, but just started forging. I'm I pressed with your work! :thumbup:
 
I'll check my local hobby shop for them. The last few months I haven't been able to find 1/8" nickel silver rods any of the places I order supplies from, so I got a bunch of SS rod.

Thanks Willie! Hasn't been easy and I've had a lot of help from a couple of great smiths.
 
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