Hendrickson Southwest Navaho Bowie

Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones

Joined
Oct 28, 2006
Messages
13,363
Thought I would share the Bowie Jay Hendrickson made me to replace the Skinner I ordered close to five years ago that was stolen from my luggage on my way home form the Reno Show. Jay agreed to make me a Bowie similar to the Skinner so as I would have a set rather than two identical knives if the Skinner is ever recovered.

Jay communicated that he would try to deliver the Bowie at this year’s Blade Show, however being the fantastic individual he is he immediately got to work on it and sent it to me a couple weeks ago.

I consider Jay to be one of the most multi talented of makers, so I decided to incorporate most of his talents into the design of this piece. I give him a canvas to demonstrate all his talents on one knife. However, some may be in the opinion that I have come close to over embellishing the Bowie.

My recent thread addresses over embellishment or going too far with a knife’s design and knowing when to stop.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=468105

Thanks Chuck for the great job on the photos.

Southwest Bowie with a Navaho Theme

OAL: 11¾”

BL: 6¾”

Maximum blade width @ spine: ¼”

Balance: @ guard

Blade Steel: Jay’s random pattern Damascus of W2 & 203E steels with
an appleseed ground cutting edge.

Handle: Curley maple w/amber crown stag, fine silver inlay, carved damascus arrowhead from blade steel @ butt and jewelry grade turquoise stones all worked in Navaho Motif.

Guard: Nickel silver oval guard with filework.

Sheath: Bass wood lined sheath wrapped with Kuda leather, leather throat and strap.

Thanks for looking and ALL comments are welcome.

HendricksonSWBowie.jpg


HendricksonBowie-Sheath.jpg
 
Sick, man!!!:D I have two of Jay's hunters. He is not only one of the truly gifted makers, but he is also one of the guys who has gone above and beyond the call of duty for years to promote the custom knife game and to help measly little hack smiths like yours truly. He is truly a class act.
 
I'd have to say those are most likely the best looking Hendrickson knives I have seen. I must have one!;)
 
I have nothing against over the top embellishment, but this knife specifically isn't my cup of tea. Jay sure is one heck of a gentleman though.
 
Okay, how do I put this? I like the handle very much. I like the blade and guard as well. My problem is that they don't look to me like they belong together. In my opinion the blade should be more rustic in design, and there should be no filework on the guard. To my eye there is also a lack of balance between the blade and the handle. The sheath looks great, but would look better to me if it was in a frontier style.

Anyway, there are things that I like individually about this knife, but as a package, it doesn't turn my crank.

The more I look, the more I think the filework looks really out of place on this knife.
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Okay, how do I put this? I like the handle very much. I like the blade and guard as well. My problem is that they don't look to me like they belong together. In my opinion the blade should be more rustic in design, and there should be no filework on the guard. To my eye there is also a lack of balance between the blade and the handle. The sheath looks great, but would look better to me if it was in a frontier style.

Anyway, there are things that I like individually about this knife, but as a package, it doesn't turn my crank.

The more I look, the more I think the filework looks really out of place on this knife.
Click to expand...
Thats cuz you iz a memba of da Arkansas Mafia:D just kidding. It is a Maryland knife and a fairly fancy one.......there has to be filework on the guard.....it's a law there. Actually, If anyone has an issue, I would have expected someone to say that "they didn't like the fact that on a knife that fancy, the wood handle butts right up against the guard with no spacer or ferrule." i have heard that said before on here, but ya ain't gonna hear it from me. A lot of times you don't notice it because the wire inlay goes right up to the guard, but this is a relatively new patern of embellisment that Jay is using and I like it. I am a huge fan of Jay and the "Maryland School"..........and those boys from Arkansas too:D
 
Anthony Lombardo said:
OK Kevin, you asked for it.
The knife is so busy I am......
:confused:
Click to expand...

Yes, I asked for it and expected it Anthony. As this is a conservative group here in regard knife styles. I realize the carbon steel blade, wood handle, plain oval guard is very popular here. And I appreciate them as well, but a little pazas and color is nice from time to time.;) :D
 
DANG! I just bit my tongue!

I think that the Damascus Arrowhead is very cool!
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Okay, how do I put this? I like the handle very much. I like the blade and guard as well. My problem is that they don't look to me like they belong together. In my opinion the blade should be more rustic in design, and there should be no filework on the guard. To my eye there is also a lack of balance between the blade and the handle. The sheath looks great, but would look better to me if it was in a frontier style.

Anyway, there are things that I like individually about this knife, but as a package, it doesn't turn my crank.

The more I look, the more I think the filework looks really out of place on this knife.
Click to expand...

Keith, I wasn't looking for a rustic, primitive or frontier style knife, but more an Art knife form a maker who has many skills to bring a piece to life. I have Southwest Bowies from Jerry, Harvey, Steve Dunn and several other ABS smiths, Jay's is just another style for my collection as Southwest Bowies are my passion. But I do respect your opinion and welcome it.
 
Well, that knife is fantastic! I collect a lot of Native American/Canadian art and jewellry and that knife would fit very nicely into the collection. It is a wonderful art piece and has been done with a great artistic flare. I'm sure you are proud to own it. If you ever decide to part with it, let me know.
 
It's probably not the way I would order it up from Jay, but I do appreciate it for what it is and dig the Native theme, particularly that oh so cool arrowhead.

Roger
 
Thanks for ALL your comments and opinions. As implied, we were not trying to create a Southwest Bowie to compare to the typical that many of us are crazy about, but rather an art version of that style.

In any light, I knew it would create some interesting print.

In addition, I like the arrowhead too. It probably required near as much effort to create as the blade.
 
Chuck's photos are amazing here in my opinion. Perhaps even too good :eek: :D

As the photo shows a very slight flaw I didn't notice upon inspection. :o

Look close at tips of the silver wire inlay nearest the guard. The silver does not quite meet as the lines come together. :confused:

Again Thanks Chuck :thumbup:
 
Kevin, I am not a carbon steel, plain oval guard, wood handle kind of person. I prefer pattern welded steel, guards that compliment the design of the knife (this comment is in no way directed at the guard on the knife being discussed here), and ivory or high quality stag handles.

I realize that the knife was made to your taste, not mine, but I can only comment based on what I see in the knife.
 
It sure aint like the rest of the knives out there.
I like it.
Sort of a frontier town pimp knife.
And I mean that in the most positive way :D
 
Keith Montgomery said:
Kevin, I am not a carbon steel, plain oval guard, wood handle kind of person. I prefer pattern welded steel, guards that compliment the design of the knife (this comment is in no way directed at the guard on the knife being discussed here), and ivory or high quality stag handles.

I realize that the knife was made to your taste, not mine, but I can only comment based on what I see in the knife.
Click to expand...

Actually, I didn't have you in mind at all regarding that comment. Not that's there's anything wrong with carbon, wood and oval anyway. It's just that we see a lot of it here. And as I said in the same post "I respect your opinion and welcome it". And I do like the Bowie a lot, but had it made more for a purpose than as a matter of taste.
 
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