Larry Harley Battle Bowie

C

cutter17

Joined
May 16, 2006
Messages
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I've been collecting a few custom tactical folders for about 6 months now. I really like those I've acquired and am planning on picking up some more as the year progresses. I've not collected many fixed blades and only have a couple; a CRK&T First Strike Military, and a SOG Tech Bowie. I am about to rectify that situation with the purchase of a Larry Harley Battle Bowie---www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com I had seen these a few years ago when he was advertising to book wild hog hunts! I like the overall design of this knife and it just looks plain wicked! The blade is 8.5" long and is from L6 steel, a steel I've never had. I also believe it is sharpened all the way down the top edge. Comes with a nice leather sheath but I'm thinking it might need a kydex sheath also.

Anyone have one of these they can show some pics of or give a quick review of (good or bad)? What about L6 steel, what can anyone tell me of it? Finally, who for the kydex sheath? Thanks in advance.
 
Thought I would bring this back up to the top and see if anyone could provide answers on the L6 and Kydex. I also went to his website www.lonesomepineknives.com and checked out his knife gallery and also the hog hunts you can book. Anyone done a hog hunt before? Any feelings on it? Sounds sorta interesting to me!:thumbup:
 
ok then,are u the Harley from Harley-Davidson?:D.
sorry mr Harley,couldnt resist
 
harm said:
ok then,are u the Harley from Harley-Davidson?:D.
sorry mr Harley,couldnt resist
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ouch!!
somebody ck my back and see if i,m bleeding:)
i mighta had some relatives that were part of that Harley Davidson bunch.
but even back then i promise u that we was the poor side of the equation and it ant changed
since:)
oh ya by the way ive found L6 to be THE toughest blade steel i can find and that link to the heat treat guide doesnt talk about forming banite in L6.
thats the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!
it rusts like a banshee so i gun brown it or if the client has deep pockets i put ti or carbon boron on it
harley
 
The really cool way to post pix is to become a member -- then you can upload your pix directly from your own hard drive to the Bladeforums servers. Click on "Upgrade your forums experience, and help support this site" at the top of any page for membership details.

You can also post pix by using another host on the web. There are several tutorials floating around the forums; you might have a look at http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=371650
 
larry harley said:
oh ya by the way ive found L6 to be THE toughest blade steel i can find and that link to the heat treat guide doesnt talk about forming banite in L6.
thats the ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Larry-
I'd be really interested in hearing your experiences with L6 in this regard. What are the differences you see between a standard heat treat to 58 Rc, vs. forming bainite (I assume a few points softer)? Does a harder martensite treatment resist deformation better? Does the bainite treatment roll a little more, but resist gross damage from severe impacts against hard stuff better?
 
the possum said:
Larry-
I'd be really interested in hearing your experiences with L6 in this regard. What are the differences you see between a standard heat treat to 58 Rc, vs. forming bainite (I assume a few points softer)?

at the same hardness the banite blade will not onl;y be tougher but hold a better edge




Does a harder martensite treatment resist deformation better?
L6 gets chipey and nickey when its too hard (ive found out the hard way:()

Does the bainite treatment roll a little more,
no it rolls less!!!!

but resist gross damage from severe impacts against hard stuff better?
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boy howdy it sure does:)
ive seen it beat it on a forklift tung w NO damage to the blade for 30 min
a sm nick appeared then !!!!small!!! small!!!
 
larry harley said:
boy howdy it sure does:)
ive seen it beat it on a forklift tung w NO damage to the blade for 30 min
a sm nick appeared then !!!!small!!! small!!!
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Hey, Larry. It's not a good idea to beat on a forklift tung with a knife blade, didn't ya know that? :p:D
 
Danbo said:
Hey, Larry. It's not a good idea to beat on a forklift tung with a knife blade, didn't ya know that? :p:D
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i didnt tell the whole story:)
the thing was then turned edge up and beat on the back of the blade on an anvil for abut 5 or 10 min
w each strike the 20 in long blade would flex over the anvil l and almost touch the ground!!!!
(the anvil was setting on the ground
it broke and we was happy
banite works
harley
 
Guys,
Larry is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.There's no BS with Larry what you see is what you get.He also doesn't blow his horn...so just to let you all know...some of his blades are in the sandbox"takin care of business"!You ever see him at BLADE...say hi...if you were not a friend..after you meet him you become one!
Jim Clifton
 
Thanks for the response, Larry!
larry harley said:
at the same hardness the banite blade will not only be tougher but hold a better edge
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Well, this is pretty much what I figured, but was under the impression L6 Bainite could only get up to around 56 Rc. How would that compare to martensite at 58 Rc?

larry harley said:
L6 gets chipey and nickey when its too hard (ive found out the hard way)
Click to expand...
And what hardness is "too hard"? Are you talking about taking it above 60 Rc, or do you still see chipping at 58 Rc?

larry harley said:
Does the bainite treatment roll a little more,
no it rolls less!!!!
Click to expand...
And again, am I correct in assuming this is when both are run at the same hardness? I probably would expect martensite at 55 or 56 to roll more than bainite in that case, from what I've read.

Sorry to pester ya with so many questions, but I've been thinking about this for a long time & would love to hear more input.
 
mr harlet....i checke dout your site due to this post and must say i am impressed by your work.....very nice knives.....do you stock the battle bowies you make......can you share a little about sharpening L6 compared to other steels.....i am familiar with sharpening 1095 ....is it anything like that....i don't wanna get into a whole metalurgy discussion....just curious....it looks like a really tough knife i must say.....ryan
 
the possum said:
Thanks for the response, Larry!

Well, this is pretty much what I figured, but was under the impression L6 Bainite could only get up to around 56 Rc. How would that compare to martensite at 58 Rc?


(i try to get L6 martensite to a 56 57, banite too
a banite blade at the same hardness as a martensite will be tougher and more ductile )



And what hardness is "too hard"? Are you talking about taking it above 60 Rc, or do you still see chipping at 58 Rc?

(at rc 60 the edge will look like a hack saw in short order:)and not much chiping at 56 57)


And again, am I correct in assuming this is when both are run at the same hardness? I probably would expect martensite at 55 or 56 to roll more than bainite in that case, from what I've read.

( YES!!!!!)

Sorry to pester ya with so many questions, but I've been thinking about this for a long time & would love to hear more input.
Click to expand...


all my first knives were always L6 martensite cause its what my dad used.
I made damascus long before i was a bladesmith an started useing L6 and o1.
over the years i drifted away from that in the search of something better
BUT
in the past 5 or 10 years ive drifted back to where i started:)
harley



Kukri4302 said:
Guys,
Larry is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.There's no BS with Larry what you see is what you get


( its the hillbilly way:))




.He also doesn't blow his horn...
over the years ive seen way too many internet horn blowers lol
selling stuff at inflated cost because of preceived quality insted of true quality



so just to let you all know...some of his blades are in the sandbox"takin care of business"!
my dad started makeing knives back in the mid 30s out in montana
thers been harley knives in every conflict since ww2
i was !!!!!(CRUSHED)!!!!! when i had to take a yr of chemo and had to turn down servicemen i give them all a 100 discount for that battle bowie if they r not officers


You ever see him at BLADE...say hi...

( please do i,m gen not selling any thing just setn there watching them internet blow hards makeing moiney hand over fist:) lol)



you were not a friend..after you meet him you become one!
Jim Clifton
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harley
 
That is interesting (bainite roll vs martensite chip), I have a L6 blade coming with a 66 HRC edge, spring spine. I am curious to see what it will take to chip it, the resisitance to deformation should obviously be high.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
That is interesting (bainite roll vs martensite chip), I have a L6 blade coming with a 66 HRC edge, spring spine. I am curious to see what it will take to chip it, the resisitance to deformation should obviously be high.

-Cliff
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me too
i think it will be way too hard
harley
 
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