Damascus & Stag Sub-hilt Bowie, Russ Andrews, MS

[ptgdvc]

I figured I should come up with a nice entry for our annual "Bowie of the Year" voting.

So I asked Russ Andrews, AKA E.R. Andrews II, MS, to try and match the damascus sub-hilt, built originally for Stephen Foster and which currently resides in the sinister clutches of Michael Starr. It has always been one of my favorite Bowies and I simply had to have one. We settled upon a subtly etched ladder pattern and amber sambar stag. I am quite pleased with the result. The blade is 11.5" and the knife is 16.375" overall.

Here it is with a couple of other siblings from Russ.

 

[Michael Starr]

Jeez, I must be tired - I followed the link to your Fototime page to see this one.
I thought I remembered you saying you were going to Coop's.
Didn't even see this thread I was so green with envy over the Wheeler's.

Beautiful knife - great picture - I'll be sending mine tomorrow.

 

[Will York]

That oozes richness from stem to stern. What a beautiful bowie.

Will

 

[MARSUS]

Very great bowie,beatiful damascus-

 

[Jon Brand]

Wow thats an amazing knife. I would love to see it.

 

[RogerP]

Fantastic knife. I'm guessing that's the largest subhilt Russ has built to date. The slightly wider guard gives this one a bit of extra flair. It certainly makes for a fine centerpiece to your stag trio. Congrats my man!

Roger

PS - I nominate that puppy right now!

 

[peterinct]

WOW!!! After the Wheeler display, and this...I DON'T think you need to envy Michael Starr

Another simply AWESOME bowie by Russ Andrews!

Peter

 

[Greg Obach]

that is a very sweet knife

wow

 

[Mike Quesenberry]

That's one Beautiful Beast:thumbup:

 

[SharpByCoop]

Those are the real deal.

That stag is grippy. Feels SO good.

Thanks, Peter, for the opportunity. (He's also quite the good Art Director... I just do as he asks and make quiet suggestions. )

Coop

 

[Calhoon]

I'm not big on sub hilts...that is till now!:thumbup:
That stag is magnificent..... Great knife for your collection Peter!

 

[John White]

Beautiful example of Russ's great talent, (and of what must be a fantastic cache of stag!)

John

 

[JParanee]

Fantastic work Russ

Congrats Peter

 

[Doug C]

This is a gorgeous Bowie if there ever was one.
Killer stag..great overall profile and I just love that awesome blade.
Enjoy this masterpiece from Russ, Peter.

Awesome images !

Doug

 

[Kevin Jones]

Yes, a beauty in deed and you know a close inspection would reveal it's perfection.

 

[Steve Nuckels]

Simply put....Fantastic!

Who would not appreciate that knife!

Steve
---------
Potomac Forge

 

[Russ Andrews]

My thanks to Peter for the challenge and the thread, and to Coop for the great images..!!,
The blade is 1040 layers of Duplex Ladder, with 624 in the core. The mounts are Duplex also,
but a lower count. I made three sets of mounts before getting the look...fornt, back, and side that
I was looking for.
I'll have to confess being pretty happy with the way it turned out......

Thanks guys,for the comments...

 

[canineforge]

Spectactular!! From stern to bow. Great work, Russ. Congratulations, Peter. :thumbup: :thumbup:

- Joe

 

[SharpByCoop]

As I'm printing this out I'm now studying it even closer. There is an aspect I hadn't given much thought to, and it's SO important:

Russ carved the fittings to match the stag profile. But he ended them via spacers, just before the two guards and the buttcap, leaving them with clean undisrupted shapes.

Sometimes I overlook the details. Wunnerful.

Coop

 

[Calhoon]

Thanks Coop for pointing that out. I had, of course, noticed it but hadn't really seen it. My stomach dropped out a bit and a smile lit my face at the brilliance of that detail.
It is so often about the details! Your fine photography really highlights what this superb knife is all about! :thumbup::thumbup:
That is a breath taking knife Russ!!!