Is a stainless bowie sacrilege?

Sando

Sando

Knife Maker
Joined
Jul 4, 2002
Messages
1,148
I have a hankering to make a Bowie, but I haven't done carbon steels in a long time.

Given the toughness of AEB-L (thanks @Larrin) I'm considering using that for ~10" blade. I have some 0.20" stock just sitting there.

If I do make it, can I admit it to anyone? Would you guys run me out of town on a rail?
 
It could be if you’re a member of the ABS. Otherwise, lots of world class makers have made and do make bowies out of stainless.

Hoss
 
Oh heck no, don't do it!!! It'll be shameful like these ones I did.

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so what is the thickest available aeb-l stock? Just curious, but personally, I would see no real reason to go over 3/16
 
Sando said:
I have a hankering to make a Bowie, but I haven't done carbon steels in a long time.

Given the toughness of AEB-L (thanks @Larrin) I'm considering using that for ~10" blade. I have some 0.20" stock just sitting there.

If I do make it, can I admit it to anyone? Would you guys run me out of town on a rail?
Click to expand...

First tip, dont worry about other people. If you make knives to be excepted by the “croud” then it’s going to be stressful. Just make what you want and have fun. 2nd tip, don’t grind the edge bevels befor heat treating.

Also where did you find .200 thick AEBL? All I have found is just under that.
 
JTknives said:
First tip, dont worry about other people. If you make knives to be excepted by the “croud” then it’s going to be stressful. Just make what you want and have fun. 2nd tip, don’t grind the edge bevels befor heat treating.

Also where did you find .200 thick AEBL? All I have found is just under that.
Click to expand...
Someone I forget what dealer is selling it had it listed but when you look harder I think the thickness was just rounded up from .195 or so.
 
yeah, I expect the sizes are not really 'round' to any decimal place but rather just conversions from 16ths

1/8 = 0.125
3/16 = 0.1875

still, I can't really see where 3/16's isn't enough, even for a bowie since aeb-l is so tough
 
Alpha Knife Supply has a nice selection of AEB-L sizes including .196". One side is so smooth it looks polished, the other has some mill coating, looks like paint. So it's a very usable .196" - nothing to grind off.
 
Yup. I didn't mean "nothing" as in nothing o_O. I always exaggerate. I should have said "no hard scale or deep pits".

I know what you mean about the skin. The first time I bought it, I thought there was plastic or something on there and tried to scrape it off.
 
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