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Final Run

The Walnut handles (knife shown) are not stained. I did use boiled linseed oil on them - in fact you can see (in the picture) where I managed to get some on the blade. As I recall, for these pictures I had rubbed the handles with a tiny bit of baby oil on a soft cloth. I wanted the handles to have a bit of shine to them (for the pictures) so they'd "pop" a bit with the lighting and help balance out any shine on the blade.

I agree with John, his Improved Bowie is among the best models made and would certainly be at home as a woods knife that can do both the bushcrafty things and the kitchen duties in camp. In fact, out of all the knives I own (or have purchased) I would guess that the Improved Bowie comes the closest to those knives actually used by yesteryear's frontiersman.

While I own the first one John made, I am saddened to learn that he won't be making more of them in the future.
 
I found a 1956 Herter's catalog in the attic today, it shows an Improved Bowie unlike any I have seen. I will try to scan and show. The knife has a SABER grind, a clipped point(dropped, and a slightly different handle shape from any other I have seen.
 
Ok! This is an order for a JK Improved Bowie END OF THE TRAIL EDITION!.
Specs: 3/32" O1 stock
NO thumb hump Early 50's style blade as in pic I sent above
Sabergrind 5" blade
3 large brass pins or rivets plus a large, lined lanyard hole. no liner
ZIRCOTE handle slabs (unless you have African Tigerwood)
Your cartouche in the usual spot PLUS G.L.H. ON REVERSE (George L. Herter)
If it's ready by Feb 8th we can show it at the Tinley Park Fishing Show!
Can a Herter's style sheath be made? Not embossed or carved, just in that style but with your heavier leather.
If not, then I'll take it sheathless
Money soon....call it a layaway!

Thanks John! I'm already salivating onto my keyboard.....yuch!
 
B JACKSON said:
Ok! This is an order for a JK Improved Bowie END OF THE TRAIL EDITION!.
Specs: 3/32" O1 stock OK
NO thumb hump Early 50's style blade as in pic I sent above OK
Sabergrind 5" blade OK
3 large brass pins or rivets plus a large, lined lanyard hole. no liner Pins OK, when you say no liner, you mean handle liners?
ZIRCOTE handle slabs (unless you have African Tigerwood) Zircote OK
Your cartouche in the usual spot PLUS G.L.H. ON REVERSE (George L. Herter) OK
If it's ready by Feb 8th we can show it at the Tinley Park Fishing Show! OK
Can a Herter's style sheath be made? Not embossed or carved, just in that style but with your heavier leather. OK, but no rivets
If not, then I'll take it sheathless
Money soon....call it a layaway!

Thanks John! I'm already salivating onto my keyboard.....yuch!
Click to expand...

That`s my favorite version so far, kind of a sodbuster handle shape.
 
Two weeks left to get on the list. So far I have one confirmed order, and two "maybe."
 
Only 1 week left to order one of these. Several other models are also being dropped, the Early Style Hunter is already gone, and the Scout and Beast will follow.
 
John, is the Beast still available as a custom order or is it gone for good?
 
Caba said:
John, is the Beast still available as a custom order or is it gone for good?
Click to expand...

I`m giving the Beast a little longer, but just deleted the Improved Bowie and Scout from my website. Been too busy shoveling snow!
 
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That's good news. I wanted one before it's gone. I'll take one with ironwood handles and red liners for March Cheers!
 
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