Large Fighting Bowie

mcswood

mcswood

Joined
Jul 2, 2005
Messages
762
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Heres a bowie I'm working on now. I took some advice and narrowed the guard on this one. The blade is leafspring. It's 13" X 1.1/2" X 1/4". The guard is 1/4" keyway stock. The handle is leather spaced fiddleback maple with a threaded aluminum pommell.
The tang is 3/8" in diameter. On one side I have my mark ( M ) followed by the model and length ( B13 ). On the other side is the date it was finished ( 707 ).
I think doing a heavy polish to this would ruin the look. Should I do more finish work or leave it the way it is ?
Thanks,
Mike
 
I don't think that it should be polished, but that spine is just screaming for filework.
 
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I made the solder joint on the bade side of the guard small. It's only for looks anyway. The guard is welded to the tang. I'll leave filework to those who are good at it. I'm not.
Thanks,
Mike
 
Can i get a little more info on you heat treat, are the blade hardened throught out, or harder edge softer spine?
What kind of testing you evaulation have you put your blades through?
Thanks
 
For every blade; I take a sample piece of steel and harden it untill it can be broken. I only use steel that that I can get to break I quech all steel in used motor oil. After a blade is hardened and cleaned I heat it at 375 in an oven untill it can be filed. It's then air cooled. My forge is a heavy gauge steel drum. I fill it with oak and force air through the hot coals with a blower and tubing. I check my knives edge holding ability by holding on to a few and beating the hell out of them ( low tech., but it works ).
Mike
 
How long have you been making knives? I love the look of this one, especially combined with the sheath. I absolute agree with some of the comments that it does not need to be polished, looks great with the finish it has. Kudos
 
Also I just took a look at some of your past knives on Ebay, I think I like this one the best so far. Makes me dream of spending some time with some old pro and learn the secrets to forging steel and being a man, instead of going to classes all day, learning to work for the Man.
 
I've made knives on and off for 20 years or so. I have some of them at picturetrail.com under my member name of mcswood.
Thanks,
Mike
 
Very Keating! I dig it!
 
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