L6 Bowie WIP

C

Calvin Richardson

Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
377
This is a bowie that I am making from a big, honkin' sawmill blade. I honestly don't know exactly what the steel is, but I've read that most sawmill blades are made from L6. It's been made with a stock removal method. The bevels have been ground in freehand with an angle grinder and then hand filed to final profile. The profile was done with a bench grinder and files. Lots and lots of filin'. If you have any questions or comments on how I've done anything ask away. I just thought that I would post some pics of the Bowie that I'm working on.
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If I ever get to finish other people's knives, I might actually get to finish this one for myself.:rolleyes:
The knife is actually farther along than it was in these pics. I just don't have any new pics yet. These were taken with my phone too, so the quality sucks.
 
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that is pretty nice. why did you choose to go for the large finger guard, though? it looks cool.
 
Thanks. It actually provides leverage with the large finger notch/ choil. This is first knife that I started on, I just haven't had a chance to finish it yet. I'm trying to figure out how I want to heat treat it as well. I would love to clay harden it, but I'm afraid that's beyond my capabilities at this point.
 
durrrr, just saw the title. how do you know it is L6, and what equipment do you have available?
 
If it is indeed L6, you'll find it to be too deep-hardening to show much of a hamon. It might respond better to an edge quench, it could then be etched and would show a "quench line" to some extent. Edge quenching ain't too tough to pull off... you can use a torch if you have no forge.
 
Cool design. And I like how you transferred your template onto your stock... smart... with I would have thought of that haha :thumbup:
 
Its just a guess as far as the steel is concerned. I've asked some people and have been told that's more than likely what it is. I have some thinner 10 series steel from farm equipment and this stuff feels completely different under a file, even after annealing. As far as equipment goes, I have a cutting torch, a bench grinder, and a bunch of files, a drill, and lots of sandpaper. That's exactly what I do for a quench Salem. Heat the edge to critical and quench in warm peanut oil. Smells great!
 
You're quenching in white paint? Bet it doesn't smell as good as peanut oil.

Paint quenching... hmmm...
 
I finally got to work some on my bowie. I heat treated it when I did my zombie chopper, Bone Cutter. Edge quenched in peanut oil and double tempered in an oven at 475. When I'll actually get to finish it is anybody's guess. Enjoy the pics of my feet as well:D
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It looks massive and it is, but man is the tip lightning fast. It's deceptively agile and hostile.:thumbup:
 
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Got the blade polished. Dad thought that the blade would look good with what I would call a variable polish. I think it turned out awesome. Now it just needs to have the handle scales put on and finished. Let me know what you think!!
 
Looking good Calvin, I really like that profile.
 
Thanks Ben. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I look at your stuff and drool man.
Maddog, it was lotsa grindin and filin. This is actually the first knife that I started on back in May of 2011 when I started making knives. I have since started cutting them out much closer to my pattern. Way too much grinding. ;)
 
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looks good. cant say that I'm diggin the finger gaurd, and I'm not a fan of the rough finish flats with mirror polish bevels. Looks to me like it's not done yet. Just my opinion and you know what they say about those, and certian bodily orifices......
 
Kind of funny because I kind of dig the polished bevels with the rest rough out sometimes. Kind of a cool contrast but that like Cutting edge says ......

Great looking creation ya have there.
 
Calvin Richardson said:
I finally got to work some on my bowie. I heat treated it when I did my zombie chopper, Bone Cutter. Edge quenched in peanut oil and double tempered in an oven at 475. When I'll actually get to finish it is anybody's guess. Enjoy the pics of my feet as well:D
2011-12-17%25252017.24.24.jpg

It looks massive and it is, but man is the tip lightning fast. It's deceptively agile and hostile.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

rule number 1!!!!!! come on no one wants to see you get kicked for this kind of behavior lol
 
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