Hollow Handle Bowie

raylaconico

raylaconico

Joined
Jan 30, 2004
Messages
4,030
I've always wanted one of these ever since I saw Rambo as a kid so I decided to make one for myself only a little smaller and without the saw back. It was really fun and exciting to do. The the steel is 5160 differentially tempered. The blade is 7 1/8" long by 1/4" thick and 12 1/4" overall length.
I know a lot of people don't like hollow handle knives and I know they're not very practical but I did this to amuse myself and with my B-day this month make myself a present!
The first two pics are before and during assembly with the last pic of the finished knife. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks
-Ray
 

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:thumbup: You are making some great stuff Ray!

When are you going to make me that 6.5 inch camp knife!! HA!
 
270 Weatherby, I have a bad memory. Did I tell you I'd make one? If I did, please email me with the specs of what you want. Thanks.
 
Looks great Ray :thumbup: really like the total design of blade, guard and handle.

The only thing I have a question on is the threaded area holding the blade to next component, will that take hard usage and still keep going?

I would guess it picks up allot of strength went screwed into that component.

Plus, what is the available area inside the hollow handle, enough to put waterproof matches in etc?
 
Ray,
I was a teenager when I first saw a Lile hollow handled knife, in the beginning of my sickness for custom knives. I still get a kick out of them now even though I don't think they're very practical anymore. Thanks for sharing this one. It was a real treat to see.

I hate to admit it but my Rambo knife fascination as a kid had a lot to do with me buying a Chris Reeve hollow handled knife a few years ago.
 
Well you should make more of those.... I like'em and others will too....:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Thanks to everyone for the great comments. I had so much fun making this that I plan to make more.
Spearz, I haven't tested the knife but by the way it's constructed, I'm very confident that it is plenty strong for normal and even hard use. The spine is drawn to a spring temper and the threaded part is even softer. All three shoulders on the tang are radiused even thought it's hard to see in the shadow. All parts screw together and reinforced with JBweld so it's permanent. The JBweld also fills any voids in the joint so that it's solid and can't move.
Right now I'm puzzled as to how I'm going to make the sheath. The guard is wider than I'm used to so I need to figure something out so that it won't rub too much against the belt loop.
 
Okay, apparently like a lot of you, I, too, was attracted to the hollow handled "survival" knives, from where that started, I haven't the foggiest, as that was soooo long ago. So, my first one was an old Garcia hollow handled knife, which I actually regret having given away. I think n2s has one pictured on his site. And it's also responsible for me having purchased several CRK's!

As to your's Ray... I love the blade style - something about the clip-point, and I guess my earliest exposure was my Father's Camillus Pilot Survival knife I got to use as a Boy Scout is responsible for that... Anyway, I love the blade... Don't know much about construction techniques, so the only two things I would propose to change if I were to have a similar piece made would be to either widen the handle, or reduce the width of the ricasso/blade so the overall flow of lines between the spine of the knife and the top of the handle are reasonably continous, and the same for the ricasso and bottom of the handle (if that makes any sense?) It's a visual thing for me! :o
I would also like to see a drop to the edge of the blade where it meets the ricasso, so it would form a usable choil.
But remeber, that's just my personal taste and it is mostly visually based (accept for the usable choil part - I do like to choke up on my blades for certain cutting chores!) - I do feel that you've constructed a very field worthy knife!

Most excellent thing to treat yourself to on your own birthday! :thumbup:
 
Joeshredd, I know what you mean about the ricasso. This one is 1 1/2" wide!! On my regular bowies, I always make the ricasso and handle about the same width. I decided to do it the way I did as a "style" thing. I was greatly influenced by the knives at www.faridknives.com which I was looking at before making this. Although I'm very happy with the way this one turned out, my next one will have a narrower ricasso to flow with the handle. Thanks for your comments. I really appreciate it.
 
raylaconico said:
Joeshredd, I know what you mean about the ricasso. This one is 1 1/2" wide!! On my regular bowies, I always make the ricasso and handle about the same width. I decided to do it the way I did as a "style" thing. I was greatly influenced by the knives at www.faridknives.com which I was looking at before making this. Although I'm very happy with the way this one turned out, my next one will have a narrower ricasso to flow with the handle. Thanks for your comments. I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

I've also seen the stuff by Farid... I can see the influence!
And I can't wait to see your next one... :D
 
Ray... that's a GREAT looking knife. Please put me on your short-list when you decide to sell some of these and let me know the prices and specs. :) :thumbup:
 
That is a great knife !Maybe you don't have to make the handles permanent so you can change the length.Is it possible to make the handles more oval instead of round as I think oval is more comfortable to hold? I sure would like to get an idea as to cost of getting one but not a bowie but more of a drop point edc.
 
Ray, great design and strong connection there!

Tell me, do you have access to a fly cutter and milling machine? ;)
 
Cool knife, Ray! I think all of us have a certain romantic view of Rambo... he's kind of the Post Viet Nam equivalent to the WW2 era John Wayne, I think.

How did you machine the handle?

Happy birthday, man!
 
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