Design Modifications

T

The_Dave

Joined
Dec 5, 2008
Messages
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I've struggled with the idea of posting these pictures here, especially of a work in progress, and me with so little experience in knifemaking in general and bowies/guards/stick tang knives in particular... But this one will be a gift for my uncle who got promoted recently and has been very helpful in attempting to get a career off the ground for me, so I thought I'd do a little thing in return and as a congratulations.

With that in mind, I'm trying to do this the right way(even though I got excited and rushed into it to begin with). So my general question to the fine makers here is: Do you see any glaring mistakes in design or execution so far --that can be fixed at this point in the process?--

I usually just draw up a design and start cutting/grinding, and so I'm not sure how this one has turned out. Which is why I ask if there's anything I've messed up that can still be fixed now...

With bowies, I notice the edge is sometimes dropped. Is it dropped enough here? Does the clip point have enough of a curve to it?

Thanks very much for taking a look :o

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Wow Dave I think everything looks like you are off to a great start. I am guessing you have already annealed the file since you have it all profiled out. The "Bowie Knife" has to be the broadest term in the knife design industry, you have a pretty traditional design going. Your clip point looks good, If you have too much of a curve in your clip point it makes the bevel pretty hard to get right in my limited past experience. The guard doesn't look like it will fit over the tang, I am guessing you will be either filing the Guard out or slimming the tang down. On a bowie if your tang (Hidden Tang) is wide your handle will also be wide, I have done some bowies that I wish I had slimmed the tang down to get a narrower handle. Phillip Patton did a great WIP not to long ago, I will see if I can find it for you. Take it slow and think it through.
Ryan

Patton WIP
 
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I ain't a "fine maker" as you say, but I do know a good looking knife when I see one. The dropped edge on your knife looks a little short to me, but not a major thing. I would just make sure to try and match the guard to it. Personally I like a longer and straighter clip, but yours looks perfect for the style you chose. Did you anneal the file first? How do you plan to heat treat?

Everything looks great to me! That wood sure is purdy!

-Xander
 
Looks great!

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Are you going to leave some of the teeth on the file after you grind it?
 
This comes from someone who knows nothing - maybe a bit like your uncle. I have never made a bowie and I am certainly not any kind of authority - but it seems a little 'blocky' or rectangular to me in profile. I looked up the 'original' design and found this.

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The blade exhudes piercing and slashing ability. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is the site I referenced http://www.galenfrysinger.com/little_rock_bowie.htm

I'm a little embarassed to even respond to this, but maybe a little input from the uninformed is useful. :o

Rob!
 
Ryan, thanks very much for the WIP link... I need pictures sometimes! :D

I do plan to thin the tang a bit, especially after noticing that it will indeed make for a thick handle... But I'll also be filing out the guard as well, since the slot is so tiny. The guard itself will be cut down as well. It's huge!

I managed to anneal the file without much difficulty in my little charcoal and firebrick forge thingy, so it's been relatively easy to work. As far as heat treat goes, if I can be patient for maybe a month or so then I'll have the funds for an EvenHeat and hopefully a really solid heat treat. If I get antsy, I may just break down and do it like I've done the others, again in the charcoal and firebrick forge thing.

I'm definitely going to keep the file teeth on, I love the way file knives look and getting the different designs on each side will look really cool, I think.

Thanks all, for the kind words. I'll be getting some more work done on it this weekend, so I suppose I'll post up some more pictures as we go, as long as I don't screw it up too badly :)
 
Here's Saturday's work... I thinned out the tang in width a bit, and tapered it a little as well. Also started the bevels, but dang if it isn't taking forever. The file was around 3/16" to begin with, so there's lots of steel to remove this time around. I may need to bring those bevels up a smidge, as the edge looks like it would be pretty thick otherwise. I really like the way the teeth look on both sides.

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It is your knife, so make it as you wish.However, there are a few places that could stand some attention.

I would bring the bevels at least 1/2 to 3/4 the way up the sides, adding the plunge at the drop. What you have now will look like a file with an edge. That is not to say it is wrong, just that it may look a bit off. At the same time ,you should add some distal taper. Doing these three things will greatly change the look of the knife and give it more of the style Rob was talking about. The distal taper and raised bevels will make the file pattern "fade" away to smooth and shiny steel where it counts, which will also greatly enhance the file effect. Right now it is too predominate.

Consider the file work like a tattoo on a pretty gal. A little in the right places can make the woman interesting and sexy. Too much covering everything makes the entire package look weird and cheap.
 
Stacy, thank you for the suggestions. Having looked it over, I can see now you're exactly right, and when I get back next time to work I'll give it a shot.

By the way, the pretty girl - tattoo simile is right on :D
 
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