Gnarly Hanson Bowie

canineforge

canineforge

Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
3,972
Don returned from Blade Show '05 with some great pieces of walrus, plus this gnarly piece that seemed at the time to be the 'black sheep' of the new acquisitions. After a few more trips to Don's shop, we started talking about how this piece needed to be used to make a unique knife. The fun part of doing a step-by-step process of selecting materials, designing, changing minds, and finally putting a final okay on a plan with a maker like Don, you know the results will be great. I think the results were just that. Hope to have this professionally photographed at a later date. (As the descriptions always say on E-Bay, the photos don't do the knife justice).
I picked the W-1 blade out last year after Don completed some forging because I liked the shape, size and width. Don retreated it and ended up with a 'gnarly' hamon to go with the handle. Lots of activity in this one! The random damascus guard is from the same piece used on my avatar hunter, with a small copper spacer for accent. 9-inch blade with 5-inch guard/handle. Copper pin in handle. Fitting the handle to the guard was a trick on this one, but was done well.
Thanks Don, for being patient through this one.

Gnarly1.jpg


Gnarly2.jpg


Gnarlyhandle.jpg


Gnarlyhamon.jpg
 
What a stunning gnarly Bowie!
The copper spacer in the guard and pin in the handle accentuates the "black sheep" Walrus and brings the whole piece together.
The hamon is cool and shows lots of activity.Superb. :thumbup: :cool:
Beautiful sheath.
Don is amazing,as is this Bowie.Congrats.:thumbup: :thumbup:

Doug:)
 
The great thing about a handle like that is that you are never going to see one quite like it again. Definitely a unique piece. The handle and sheath go together very well. Overall, a great package.
 
Well conceived and executed. That's a striking piece that you should both be proud of.

Roger
 
Very Cool I especially like the guard treatment..Gnarly Rules!..Enjoy
 
[Thats quite a knife! I'd give my left nut for another piece of handle material like that.]

R.R. - Don has the larger piece this came off of. It will need to be cut up as scales. If he is not too demanding (i.e. - left nut), maybe he will let some of it go. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the compliments everyone. The natural contour of this tumbled piece of walrus feels great in the hand. Balances right in front of the guard. Don tapered the front one-third slightly to fit the guard, and with the uneven ivory and the lower 'finger-grips', I don't anticipate this one slipping in the hand.
 
Glad you like it Canine and thanks for posting the gnarly thing.
I also appreciate all the comments guys, thanks.
 
Don works magic no matter what, and that's a really unique, in a good way, piece of ivory, I have seen Don use similar ivory before, he always makes whatever he uses look perfect and he only chooses perfect materials for a given knife, funny how that works out. Very cool bowie, and of course, that Hamon is off the chain. :)

I would sell every bowie I own before I sold my Hansons, simply because I haven't seen a better bowie yet.
 
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