Gidgee Bowie

Karl B. Andersen

Karl B. Andersen

Joined
Jul 27, 2003
Messages
5,666
I just like sayin' "Gidgee Bowie"!
I got a really choice piece of Gidgee from Down Under and mated it with a forged 5160 Bowie Blade about 10 1/4" inches long.
Differential heat treatment on this blade.
The multi-faceted and hot-blued fittings are mild steel.
Handle, of course, faceted to mate the hardware pieces.
Take-down assembly completes this package.
15 1/2" overall.
(Look for this in Atlanta!)

GB7-1.jpg
 
Very nice piece Karl. The handle design and guard brings to mind Rob Hundson's exceedingly elegant bowies. Nice to see a full size bowie from you.

Roger
 
Lovely. I agree with the Robb Hudson visual lineage.

If I may, a few things that would make this piece even more attractive:
- Guard branches that don't curve back.
- Spacers between the ood and the hardware.
- Slightly smaller blade.
 
Karl, I don't post a lot, but I REALLY like that one.....just the way it is. And..I will look for it in Atlanta.

Paul
 
Your fit and finish is absolutely mind-boggling, Karl. GORGEOUS!!!!!
 
Thanks.
I thought I should mention that the guy I got that piece from in Australia called that material "Broken Hill Gidgee".
Not sure what that means, but I'm gettin' more!
One of the most figurative and rich looking materials I've ever seen.
Thanks for the kind words.
 
I am curious to know whether buyers of these actually take them apart that often. I have a take-down model from another smith and I have never been tempted to use that feature.

What feedback do you get from your users, Karl?
 
I love Gidgee! Heres one i made from a chunk of it....pics do not do justice...this stuff was just like Cat's Eye gem and moved like crazy in the light.
6.jpg
 
rbmcmjr said:
I am curious to know whether buyers of these actually take them apart that often. I have a take-down model from another smith and I have never been tempted to use that feature.

What feedback do you get from your users, Karl?
Click to expand...

I have got quite a following of customers that will accept nothing else from me.
Something for everyone.
I would recommend that you take that knife apart, especially if it has steel to steel threaded parts! You don't want them rusting together! I use about a 50/50 mix of mild steel and sometimes stainless, but the tang is always non-stainless - in my knives - as it is the blade steel. It will rust if not maintained.
I put a small drop of gun oil into the pommel nut, and they are good to go.
I also use a lot of hot-bluing in my knives, so I like to have the option of re-bluing down the road if necessary.
I like having the option of backing off the tension on the knife and letting the handle material move if it wants to while in long term storage.
I find a great deal of advantages to the take-down assembly.
I make fixed assembly knives as well, but the design and fastening procedure is the same.
Strongest assembly I have ever used.
 
Thanks, Karl. You guessed pretty close on the composition. The blade and tang is W1 and the pommel nut is stainless. I will take it apart and do some service on the threads.
 
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