John White “Old Glory” D Guard WIP

I just can't begin to express how beautiful this knife is.The damascus,the stag,the small details and it's not even finished yet! Truly outstanding craftsmanship. I'm a big Bowie fan and have seen some incredible work on BF,but the stars and stripes damascus just flat blows me away. Can't wait to see it in final form. Thank you both for sharing this WIP with us!
 
First of all, thanks again for all the comments and interest in following this thread.

The bow and fittings are with Joe Mason now for the gold inlays. I've always loved Joe's work so am very
excited to receive my first work from him.

Thought you may like to see the Paul Long sheath. The inlay is Rattlesnake. Thanks Paul.

PaulLongSheath.jpg
 
That's a great and fitting sheath for this wonderful knife.

I got to handle this one in San Antonio and it is even better in person than the pictures suggest. It's absolutely beautiful, and also handles like a dream. Kevin, you scored big time!
 
What a great WIP!!!!!!

Fantastic knife and sheath. Spent the evening reading through the thread.


I think I stared for 1/2 at the drawing for the little geometry equation to get an oval........................... and I am no closer to understanding what just happened there..............or how the lines and boxes made it possible to grind a perfect oval..................

I got C's in math, so that might explain it. (or the fact that I only made it to pre calculus in highschool................and never took another math class in my 2 year, 4 year degree, or law school).

I am pretty sure I took geometry some where in there........but I still don't get it.


The one thing I would change about the entire project is a very small thing (and only because of an OCD thing!). I would love that same sheath with another inlay material. Crocodile, shark skin, ray skin, ostrich skin, elephant, beaver, toad, frog, you name it. About the only skin inlay I could not have on a sheath is snake skin. I have some sort of OCD thing about the texture if touched in the wrong direction! Which is funny, because I really like the feel of live snake skin in the hand, and I have held all sorts of live snakes. Python, anaconda, boa, Rattler, Bull snake all feel fine when alive. But mounted snake skin makes me shiver if I run my hand the wrong direction! (don't ask why, I can't say......same for mayonnaise touching my hands. Fine to eat it, but shiver thinking about it touching it).


So as long as a sheath is not made with Snakeskin or Mayo I guess, I am golden. I keep going back to look at the fine stitching on the sheath! Stellar.



I just noticed that some of the pieces are out for inlay, so I am even more excited to see the total package, and the pro photos!
 
Bigfattyt, take two aspirin and call me on the morning. The maker was VERY specific about the inlay of Diamond Back Rattler and the theme of "Don't Tread on Me" for Old Glory, but we were very careful to make sure no mayonnaise was used in the construction of the sheath. By the way, I descale all my snake skin inlays prior to setting them into the inlay. They would only sluff off later any way. The pattern is the same with or without the top scale and it is almost smooth to the touch.

Paul
 
xaman said:
That's a great and fitting sheath for this wonderful knife.

I got to handle this one in San Antonio and it is even better in person than the pictures suggest. It's absolutely beautiful, and also handles like a dream. Kevin, you scored big time!
Click to expand...

Thank you Eli.
I'm pleased to have heard quite a few positive comments from folks who handled and inspected the knife in San Antonio.
A few commented verpositivelyly on what pleasurere the knife was to handle and that it was especially light and well-balanced for a knife 17"+ long.
 
Bigfattyt said:
What a great WIP!!!!!!
Fantastic knife and sheath. Spent the evening reading through the thread.

I think I stared for 1/2 at the drawing for the little geometry equation to get an oval........................... and I am no closer to understanding what just happened there..............or how the lines and boxes made it possible to grind a perfect oval..................
I got C's in math, so that might explain it. (or the fact that I only made it to pre calculus in highschool................and never took another math class in my 2 year, 4 year degree, or law school).
I am pretty sure I took geometry some where in there........but I still don't get it.

The one thing I would change about the entire project is a very small thing (and only because of an OCD thing!). I would love that same sheath with another inlay material. Crocodile, shark skin, ray skin, ostrich skin, elephant, beaver, toad, frog, you name it. About the only skin inlay I could not have on a sheath is snake skin. I have some sort of OCD thing about the texture if touched in the wrong direction! Which is funny, because I really like the feel of live snake skin in the hand, and I have held all sorts of live snakes. Python, anaconda, boa, Rattler, Bull snake all feel fine when alive. But mounted snake skin makes me shiver if I run my hand the wrong direction! (don't ask why, I can't say......same for mayonnaise touching my hands. Fine to eat it, but shiver thinking about it touching it).

So as long as a sheath is not made with Snakeskin or Mayo I guess, I am golden. I keep going back to look at the fine stitching on the sheath! Stellar.

I just noticed that some of the pieces are out for inlay, so I am even more excited to see the total package, and the pro photos!
Click to expand...

I'm with you as I don't like the feel of dead snake skin either with the scale on. However as Paul states, the way he processes it the color and definition of pattern is
brilliant yet is very smooth to the touch in either direction. Here's a larger photo that shows detail better.
http://www.customknifecollectorsassociation.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=14795#post14795

The look of this knife will change a bit when completed as not only will it have quite a bit of gold inlay, but remember, the fittings/guard/bow have not been etched as of yet.
It will of course be professionally photographed.
 
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I'm tickled to see folks talking about "Old Glory" and it's sheath, as well as the inlays.

The big photo over at CKCA really begins to show Paul's meticulous work. "Don't Tread on Me" is the theme of the sheath, to carry on the "Old Glory" flag scheme, and this Rattlesnake sheath does the job big-time.

Joe Mason is working on the gold this week-end. He's got his own take on the gold work, and I'm just hopping up and down to see how he adds to the knife.

As Kevin noted, lots of people, makers and collectors, got to handle this one at San Antonio. It ain't just a pretty face, though, of course, as the proud daddy, I appreciate the complements in that direction. "Light and fast" was almost always added by those who had it in hand.

We'll have more photos soon, and then get it the professional touch when all is done.

Meanwhile, thanks for following along here and at CKCA.

John
 
Spectacular knife, spectacular sheath.

Impressive!

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Kevin,

It looks great, just the right amount of engraving.

John, as usual super job!

Jim Treacy
 
Thanks guys.
The skill John demonstrated here in manipulating the steel/pattern is amazing IMO. Notice how the pattern lines up and
is perfectly centered on the bow/guard. The waves in the blade pattern simulates a flag blowing.

Final3-Copy.jpg
 
Absolutely fantastic conclusion to an amazing project! :thumbup:
Congrats to all involved!
 
The engraving is perfect Kevin, and adds a very elegant touch. Congrats again!
 
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