Making my Bowie..evolution

J

johned

Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
58
Well, I have a set of antlers that are to die for.....big. I am into Black Powder and I wanted a period knife that would compliment my Long Rifle equipment. Bowie was my conclusion.

First I thought it would be neat to make the blade and I saw a mower blade converted into a knife and the blade had the unmistakable three holes everyone associates with a mower. Turns out the steel isn't really known and heating it and hammering it was a ok project except I don't have a forge.

Then I happened on the Marble Jungle Bowie Machete. I ordered it and the full size as back up stock. !095 but maybe too thin at 3mm. Looked good though. $15 ????

THEN I HIT PAY DIRT....I think. I bought a 10 inch Cold Steel Bowie blade made from V and I have learned that V is 1095 plus some stuff and a bit better. Thicker than the Marble and profiled and ground.

So please tell me what is wrong with my current plan. Comments of any kind are welcome.

John
 
johned said:
!095
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Hey, you do the same thing I do; trying to capitalize the number at the beginning of the sentence. :p


If you wanted to make your own, you can make a knife that holds a pretty good edge out of a mill bastard file, and you can find them big enough to grind out at least a small bowie knife, which will be my next project, because I'm too cheap to afford blade steel.

As far as the others, I don't really have any experience with them, I hear mixed things about Cold Steel, don't really care for anything they have, aesthetically. I've heard good things about Marble's though.
 
Re-handling a TrailMaster is a great project--here's mine:

TM1.jpg


If, however, you want to make one from scratch spend a (surprisingly) small amount of money for a bar of known steel and go from there.
 
Mr.,

I looked at 4 or 5 supply houses and could find nothing over a slab that would yield and 8 inch blade. Am I search challenged? Probably.

A blank was where I was going at one time. I read so many good things about steel V and one was that it was basically 1095 with a slight twist in the formula. It said it was only slightly better than 1095 but easily proven to be superior. I decided to go with hi carbon instead of stainless. A few steels came out harder but they were harder to work and needed more complicated heat treatment by professionals. What hi carbon would you recommend to me for a blade material. I am veryu inexperienced.

Thanks,

John
 
I googled the Cold Steel Bowie and only found one with a handle, is this a blade blank or a whole knife that you want to rehandle with stag?
 
The Kraton handle on a TrailMaster is very easy to remove. The vintage Carbon V ones (like mine in the picture above) have a very good rep for sharpness and edge holding ability. It does have a convex edge so sharpening must be done properly.
 
johned said:
So please tell me what is wrong with my current plan.
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johned said:
I am into Black Powder and I wanted a period knife that would compliment my Long Rifle equipment. Bowie was my conclusion.
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What time period are you interested in? Because a bowie may well be the wrong conclusion from the get-go.

Ask some questions on Bernard Levine's subforum here about what would have normally been carried during the time period you're trying to re-create.
 
Patrickknives said:
I googled the Cold Steel Bowie and only found one with a handle, is this a blade blank or a whole knife that you want to rehandle with stag?
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Patrick,

The bowie is a semi finished blade. The edge is unsharpened and 1.3 mm wide. The blade is 7.3 mm thick and has sharp right angle edges. Seems quite hard but can be filed....barely. I would call it roughed in.

Thanks,

John
 
the possum said:
What time period are you interested in? Because a bowie may well be the wrong conclusion from the get-go.

Ask some questions on Bernard Levine's subforum here about what would have normally been carried during the time period you're trying to re-create.
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I can't find Bernard's forum "on here". Sounds like the man I NEED to talk to. Please advise further.

Thanks,

John
 
I am in a similar boat. I now have 3 "Cold Steel blade blanks from the old Camillus factory" They are water jet/laser/punched blanks that are supposedly heat treated but unfinished.
 
The Possum,

The Great Sandbar fight took place in 1827 and the Bowie was made famous in that altercation by Jim Bowie using a knife gifted him, and designed by, his brother. Within a couple years it was so very popular that Sheffield Steel and Cutlery was mas producing the knife and exporting it to the USA. It has since then never passed out of fashion and has had a strong following and demand till todate.

The Civil War transpired from 1861 to 1865 (I think) and the Kentucky Long Rifle, invented circa 1740, was used by "sniper" Companies in the Union Army and most certainly in the Confederate forces ranks. The major change is that the variant used in the Civil War used percussion caps instead of flints. Areas of Appalachia, Va, NC, Ken, continued to use the rifle well into the early 1900's and given its resurrection in popularity among Black Powder enthusiasts and hunters it has been with us continually since 1740.(loosely stated) Likewise, the Bowie has been in vogue since its introduction to the public awareness in 1827 so each has existed alongside the other since 1827.

I am not claiming correctness about anything but dates, and even those only mostly sure, but I don't understand your reservation in naming a Bowie a "period piece" with the Long Rifle. Serous question now. Not sour grapes or a contradiction of your statement out of hand.

Thanks,

John
 
Sounds like you're at least aware then. No problem. It's just when I think of the "heyday" of the long rifles, I'm thinking of the later 1700's, before the bowie came into vogue. If you're trying to depict someone from a later date who's carrying a 100 year old rifle, that's up to you.

Still, even bowie knives have changed over time, and it wouldn't hurt to do some research or questioning on Bernard's forum (linked above) to get a feel for the types common in the period you're looking at. What time frame are you trying to portray, by the way?
 
johned said:
I am not claiming correctness about anything but dates, and even those only mostly sure, but I don't understand your reservation in naming a Bowie a "period piece" with the Long Rifle. Serous question now. Not sour grapes or a contradiction of your statement out of hand.

Thanks,

John
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I don't think there is any question about "Bowies" being in use during that period. But, I am pretty sure that the Cold Steel Trailmaster, while being a very cool and useful knife does not, even with a more period correct handle (wood or stag), much resemble "Bowies" in use at that time. Remember, the original "Bowies" were basically modified butcher knives.
 
I strongly agree with you both. This won't be a "correct" collection of anything. The hey day for the LR was the late 1700's. And the original Bowie has been described as a "butchers" knife by one that attended the fight in 1827. Every one associated with or observing the Bowie says it has "evolved" greatly over the years. I really like the "Cold Steel" evolution.

I have a mid 1800 Derringer, a LR, Kentucky Pistol, steel throwing tomahawk, my Bowie, Black Powder paraphinalia, Antler racks that are certainly modern and lots more stuff that I take pleasure in making, owning and USING.

I have made all of what I have either wholly or in part. None of it can be considered valuable except the LR. I am certain beyond doubt that the Smithsonian will never be even remotely interested in anything that I own. The "in process" Bowie is only the latest example. So far the people here have been a great help in info and advice. I hope that continues and that it will include the two of you.

So often this is a cold medium in which to communicate and have you true attitude and intention understood. If anything I say or have said seems "sharp" or "pointed" rest assured I am talking about a knife alone. If in doubt re-read the underlined words above.

Thank you,

John
 
johned said:
So often this is a cold medium in which to communicate and have you true attitude and intention understood. If anything I say or have said seems "sharp" or "pointed" rest assured I am talking about a knife alone.
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Upon re-reading what I typed above, I did come across a bit gruff. Hopefully in person I wouldn't seem that way. Good luck with your project.
 
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