First Bowie, first take-down (Final pics added)

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
Lots of firsts.
Also the first time using stabilized wood. Sweet stuff! :D
The knife is not done of course, lots of cleaning up to do and sharpening. Handle is only sanded to 220 grit. I would have liked more shape for the handle but this was made with scales and that's all the size I had to work with. Some of the proportions are a little off too. Something to change in the next one. When it is done I'll post better pics as well as stats and a list of what I learned in the process.

bowie_take_down1.jpg


bowie_take_down2.jpg


Your input is more than welcomed of course.
Thanks for looking.
 
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Patrice Lemée;9153102 said:
Lots of firsts.
Also the first time using stabilized wood. Sweet stuff! :D
The knife is not done of course, lots of cleaning up to do and sharpening. Handle is only sanded to 220 grit. I would have liked more shape for the handle but this was made with scales and that's all the size I had to work with. Some of the proportions are a little off too. Something to change in the next one. When it is done I'll post better pics as well as stats and a list of what I learned in the process.

bowie_take_down1.jpg


bowie_take_down2.jpg


Your input is more than welcomed of course.
Thanks for looking.
Click to expand...

Looks pretty smooth to me bro. Take some apart pictures.
 
That looks really good Patrice. The blade is OK, but the handle is classy. I love what you've done with the spacers, the fileworked spacer always looks good on a bowie. That spalted handle material looks real good with the copper and the overall understated tone of the knife. I want to see a closer pic of the buttcap/nut treatment, it looks cool from what I can see.

Firsts are always great in a knife, and that's a great first bowie.
 
Sure, I'll take some apart pictures too when it is finished.
Salem, the butt is the part that needs the most work. I'll include pics of it when it's done.

Thanks for the good words guys.
 
+1 on the handle, fittings and spacers. Well done! I wonder what a copper spacer in front of the pommel too would look like?
 
I think its looking really good as it is, and then I read Phil's comment and yeah if you can squeeze a copper spacer in front of the pommel it would give it a more balanced visual affect.
 
Phil Dwyer said:
+1 on the handle, fittings and spacers. Well done! I wonder what a copper spacer in front of the pommel too would look like?
Click to expand...

+1

I like that idea of balancing out each end

What other changes would you make?




I've spent alot of time looking at others ie ABS -Fisk and Hanson
so my comments are biased on those styles

I'm also looking at the clip, I think I want it as a shallower angle and coming back farther.

At the ricasso, I would keep grinding it a bit more until the radius comes forward past your plunge.
The dropped edge ABS look...
engbird-trout.jpg



and maybe a bit of a rounded arc on the handle spine.
or a tapering of the pommel towards the butt
 
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12345678910 said:
At the ricasso, I would keep grinding it a bit more until the radius comes forward past your plunge.
Click to expand...

Nice looking work Patrice. I do agree with the Count however... I think that the plunge should be in the ricasso area rather than on the dropped edge.
 
A spacer in front of the pommel was in the original design. I completly agree that it would balance things. I did not put one cause sometimes there is such a thing as too much symetry. Maybe not in this case though. But I also like a more asymetrical look and wanted what I could do with the pommel to balance things without simply replicating.
Any of that makes sense?

Count, the more rounded handle is definitely something I would have done if I had more wood to work with. As stated, these were scales maybe a little small for this project. But the slender look is growing on me.

I'll keep your mods in mind for the next one.
I know my grinds are trailing a lot behind my handle work. :(

Thanks again folks for the tips and good words.
 
I think the grind looks fine, although it seems as if it's a tad high. When looking down the spine, do your plunges come all the way to the spine of the blade? If they do, you still have some room to bring the grind back, if you want to. I actually like the straight handle, along with those fittings it has a tad bit of an asiatic flair to it. Nothing wrong with being different.

I like the copper. How are you planning to finish it? Varnish?
 
Pat that is one fine piece! :thumbup:
I think I would make a copper spacer to go in front of the pommel put in on and look at it for a while before you do all your final sanding. In this case you might like it!

You say it is stabilized wood but you don't mention what kind of wood it is! What is the wood? What ever it is I like it!

Overall I would give it a 9!:D

When you do additional pics do a shot looking down the spine! I really like how that one turned out!
 
Ok, you guys win. I am heading to the shop to try and fix the plunge. I hope I don't mess it up. :(
I'll also make that spacer.
I'll get back to you guys on the wood, I think Spalted Maple but I am not sure.
 
Very nice. I love Spalted Woods!!!:thumbup:
 
Patrice Lemée;9156191 said:
Ok, you guys win. I am heading to the shop to try and fix the plunge. I hope I don't mess it up. :(
I'll also make that spacer.
I'll get back to you guys on the wood, I think Spalted Maple but I am not sure.
Click to expand...

In the end it doesn't matter what we think, it matters what you think. If you liked it as it was then leave it well enough alone and be happy with it. As I said if Phil hadn't mentioned the spacer it wouldn't have dawn on my at all and I liked it as it was/is.
 
I like it Patrice! :) Looks like you're really stepping up your game my friend :)

I'll be the 4th or 5th to get in line about the plunge. Some folks do it just like that, very much on purpose, but personally... it stops my eye, dead on that spot. But that's just how I see it... everybody is different.

After a bit, we'll get you making the handle 0.010" proud of the ferrule spacer because it looks cool ;) :cool: and it is a good idea with natural handle material since it can move. :)
 
Dude that knife is really nice. I agree with the plunge line being moved back but I wouldn't try it on this knife now. I'd be afraid to screw it up. Just try it on the next one you make. Awsome work!
 
I like it just the way it is. Make changes on the next one! That is the beauty of this 'craft', it's art!

WTW...Nice spalted Maple!

Lets see the sheath, next!

Dennis
 
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