Ken Hall, JS ~ Tactical Carbon Fiber Bowie

Caleb Royer

Caleb Royer

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Joined
May 7, 2013
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Today we have a kool tactical bowie by Ken Hall. Carbon fiber is super fun to shoot. Don't forget to click on the image to enlarge then click again to zoom in. Enjoy!


Maker: Ken Hall, JS
Website: http://www.kenhallknives.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ken.hall.5059
Tactical Bowie
Overall Length: 13 1/8"
Blade Length: 8"
Blade Width: 1 5/8"
Blade Material: W2
Handle: Carbon Fiber
Guard, Pin & Thong Hole: Stainless steel

 
Nope....that one isn't there yet.

The handle "contouring" is good, but the shaping is odd, the guard shape is disproportional from side to side and the butt of the handle just......ends.

The overall blade shape is lacking crisp direction and that hamon is another example of "better to just do a straightforward performance heat treat".

If the clip is sharpened, the demarcation line is soft.

BTW, Caleb.....check out the band PitchShifter....they have a song called "to Die is Gain"....you may or may not like it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven, it's not there in you eyes. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If we all liked the same thing then life would be dull and there would be no variety at all. Like Rick Menefee says It looks pretty good to me, or maybe it's just a Rick thing umm.
 
Big Rick said:
STeven, it's not there in you eyes. Remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If we all liked the same thing then life would be dull and there would be no variety at all. Like Rick Menefee says It looks pretty good to me, or maybe it's just a Rick thing umm.
Click to expand...

I'm not looking for "pretty good".....I'm looking for "AWESOME" with respect to experience, intent and skill level.

Everybody has a different vista for what they like. Mine is not ever to say...."really nice" or "whooyeah".....mine is to see what the intent was and comment that either the maker nailed it...or they have a ways to go....why and how.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
This is my favorite Ken Hall blade to date.
I like the blade shape, the crisp choil and the choice of materials. Keep going where you're headed brother!

-Haley
 
DesRosiers said:
This is my favorite Ken Hall blade to date.
Click to expand...

I agree with that statement! That thing looks really quick and sleek.

Wrt the thong hole; in my opinion it would be better placed at the other side of the butt, from both a utility and aesthetic pov. The extra material there would provide plenty of room and allow other options for use of a thong, say as a knuckle guard, or other such crazy things.
 
I gotta say, I'm with STeven on this one. Everybody likes to get the compliments but Steven's remarks have merit. I know he can defend his own comments but I'm in agreement. That's not to say I don't think it's very good work. I think it is, but I don't think the piece has achieved it's potential. The handle shape particularly along the top is a bit, um, unconventional. The line from the bottom of the guard to the middle peak along the bottom of the handle has a couple of kinks and does not flow as well as it could. This is exacerbated by the fact it seems the bottom of the guard and the joint where the handle meets the guard are not in alignment with the bottom of the ricasso. The soft clip line was one of the first things that I noticed. Again, very nice work.
 
Personally, I like the over proportions, and the blade finish (at least, what you can tell from a photo) looks well executed.
I'm not as into hamons as some and don't usually offer many opinions on them.
I don't care for the guard design/shape, however feel that's more a preference issue as opposed to a defect.
The handle design and lack of a crisp transition line from blade to clip would be areas for improvement imo.

Very nice photo.
 
rickmenefee said:
Gezzus made different colored women because everybody likes something different.
Click to expand...

I like all women...don't matter what color....although Orange, Purple or Green(especially) might give me a pause or two.:D

There is a reason for a horse race.....they can't all be a winner.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I grew up riding and showing doc bar offspring. Know my baby's do the same. Horses come and go and anybody can WIN one. Consistency what's coming out of the birth canal is what counts.

Best
Rick menefee
 
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We see so many bowies, from such talented and accomplished makers, that the "ideal" modern-style bowie has become so common as to be anti-climactic, IMO. A departure from convention is about the only thing that will get me to comment on a bowie these days, and I like this one.
 
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