Groove around the out side of an oval Guard?

[David Loukides]

Hi guys.
How do you do it?
Do you use a small round file and a guide?
I would like to add it to my next Bowie
Thanks

 

[Phillip Patton]

The few I've made like that, I used a round file with no guide. Then sandpaper wrapped around the file, then I buffed it using the corner of the buffing wheel.

 

[mdoyle]

Dave,
I'm glad you asked that I was wondering too. Thanks Phil.
Matt Doyle

 

[tmickley]

this is a great question that has come up several times and the answer is almost always just like Phillip describes...

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The way I show people to do it is to saw or file a single line down the center of the edge ( I use a jewelers saw). Then take a triangle or square file and open that line up a bit.Move to a round file ( a thin chain saw file is my favorite) and make the round groove.It only takes 10-15 minutes to do a bowie guard.

 

[David Loukides]

Thanks for the help:thumbup:
The groove sure does add a classy look to the guard and bolster:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[raylaconico]

Attach a cut off wheel (reinforced dremel type is best) to a drill press. Put your guard flat on the drill press table and use the table as a guide. Adjust the height of the cut off wheel on the side of your guard where you want the groove to be. Use the cut off wheel to make a groove all around the guard. It will be straight everytime and you can't really screw up as long as you keep the guard flat on the table. The only thing you have to work on is controling the depth of the groove. Then you can use a file to make it cleaner, wider or rounded if you want or you can just leave it as is.

In this picture I used a small roun file to make it rounded and wider

Here I left it as is and blackened it to give contrast

 

[Ilovetoolsteel]

Attach a cut off wheel (reinforced dremel type is best) to a drill press. Put your guard flat on the drill press table and use the table as a guide. Adjust the height of the cut off wheel on the side of your guard where you want the groove to be. Use the cut off wheel to make a groove all around the guard. It will be straight everytime and you can't really screw up as long as you keep the guard flat on the table. The only thing you have to work on is controling the depth of the groove. Then you can use a file to make it cleaner, wider or rounded if you want or you can just leave it as is.

In this picture I used a small roun file to make it rounded and wider

Here I left it as is and blackened it to give contrast

I'll go you one easier, I take a dremel rotary cutter, (the one with a ball on the end) chuck it into my drill press and adjust the table to center the ball on the guard. Run my press at 6000 rpm and lightly work my way around the guard. The shaft will act as a depth stop or follower.