Leaf Spring Bowie

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Had an order for a short wide bowie acouple weeks ago and got the idea for this knife. 8 1/2 x 2 1/2" wide blade with bronze fittings and an elk bone handle with a steel ring nut. Please let me know what you think about the combination of material on this bowie? Ray
PDRM0277.JPG
 
Wayne Goddard put me onto the mustard treatment a year or so ago when I was messing around with different etch treatments. This is what Wayne had told me. Use regular yellow hot dog mustard. I take my finger and dab it on so that it peaks. You want to do this to the whole blade. Then you let it set over night or for a day and then wash it off. The vinigar in the mustard will etch the blade. I cheat, I'll put the mustard on the blade and then take hot air and somewhat dry the mustard so it sticks on the blade better. I'll then stick my blade in my etch of FC and water for about a minute. Neutralize it and then wash it off. You may want to do it again. I'll do this after the first temper cycle. Then after the blade has been washed and dried put it back in the oven for the second temper cycle and it will darken it even more.....Ray
 
There is something about this design that really appeals to me. Really. And I can't put my finger on it.

It's the size of the choil vs. the width. The balance between the guard, blade, and handle sizes.

Then there's the textures. The mustard job and the aged bone vs. the polished guard and spacer.

Dang! The whole thing balances out.

That's a Beaut!


Steve
 
Absolutely GORGEOUS !!!!!!!!
Love the blade finish and that bone is outstanding looking,The color of the bone is to cool.
Man you can't get any better than this can you?:D
Keep it up Ray,maybe someday I will be able to make one as nice as yours.
Bruce
 
I figured this would be the other place I would find this knife. You are right about it being very likely that one day I will own one of your knives. It is also quite likely that it will be in this style.
 
Thanks you guys for all the great comments!

Bruce, appreciate your comment but I think you got it turned around. It should be when my knives become as good as yours. I still got alot to learn before mine are as good as the kids....:D

Keith, I'd say you got a full house. I'll have to stick it somewhere else but I'm thinking you'd find it anyway. You got a real nose for knives. When the time comes let me know and we'll see what we can come up with......Ray
 
Man that's a good looking knife!!! Very good looking piece of bone. Good combination of elements. Thanks for the information about the mustard etch.
 
Very nice knife. I love the combination, of course I like knives that are a bit different. You put it all together really well. Great job. Thanks for the patina info., I'm gonna have to try that one.
 
possum, please take sometime and read some of the replys and you'll find you question has been answered.......Ray
 
Originally posted by Raymond Richard
possum, please take sometime and read some of the replys and you'll find you question has been answered.......Ray
Click to expand...


Well, ummm.... possums were never known for their intelligence, so maybe you could point it out to me. ? I saw that the bone handle was "aged". Did they mean naturally aged, or artificially? I was wanting to know, if he did the patina on the handle himself, how did he do it? How did he get those particular colors? I saw plenty about the mustard treatment on the blade, but nothing about the handle. Any help?
 
possum, Sorry about that, when I saw pantina I assummed you were talking about the blade. Postassium Permanganate was used to color the bone. Leather die, Rite Dye, strong tea, and maybe even onion peels will even color the bone. The trick is getting the color to stay since it does seem to just effect the surface. I used Minwax Wax as the finish on the bone. Hope this will help you out.....Ray
 
Thanks Ray! One last question if I may. What is Potassium Permanganate? Is it an ingredient in common household substances?
 
possum, The Postassium Permanganate is used in water purrification, its not a real easy chemical to find. When I finally found some I had to buy I'm guessing 5 pounds of it, all I wanted was a few table spoons of it. The other things I mentioned work just as well and are a heck of alot cheeper.....Ray
 
Don't know if the Menards store chain is everywhere, but while shopping for household cleaners today I found a 5 lb plastic bottle of potassium permanganate on the shelf for 15.00 Menards is a store like Lowe's and Home Depot. Haven't tried it myself, but will soon.
While searching for this stuff a few months back everyone told me it was hard to get because it is so expensive. (A plumber wouldn't even give me some of his)
 
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