D2 Bowie

[Steve Hayden]

I don't generally make knives this big, but had a special order that left me with some 2" wide X 5/32" D2 stock. For grins I made this bowie. It has a 6 1/2" blade, is 12" OAL. The handle is a moose antler crown with a piece of mesquite crotch wood, brass and colored spacers and a guard of heat blued steel.
They say D2 is too brittle for chopping and I didn't test to destruction, but did chop a notch in a piece of 4 year seasoned osage orange without chipping the blade.
The blades was hardened at 1950 F and snap tempered at 450 F, freeze treated overnight with dry ice and double tempered at 450 F. It should be around HRC 60.
I thought I would post this in the gallery and see what comments I get.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

It looks like one brute of a knife. For me, the blade is too wide for its length, but other than that I think it looks pretty good.

 

[ExamonLyf]

The blade width does detract some esthetically for me (as Keith mentioned).., but I love the materials you worked with.., and I'll take D2 with a good heat treat anytime..

Nice work.., and thanks for sharing it...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

 

[Steve Hayden]

I agree about the width of this blade. I bought the bar to make a custom order and this was one of the knives I made with the extra.
I generally work with steel between 3/4" and 1 1/2" wide and make blades from 3" to 7" in length.
This turned out to be such a bruiser, I thought I would put it on the Gallery.
I have just switched to a digital camera and am working out the kinks in my technique. I will post more knives as I get better at the photos.