- Joined
- Aug 18, 2009
- Messages
- 1,915
Oh My!
Steve
---------
Member, W. F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS AP
Steve
---------
Member, W. F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS AP
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Mark Bartlett S-Guard Bowie - Abbreviated WIP
- Thread starter RogerP
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
And now the final steps, and for me a special treat. When Mark first floated the idea of colour case hardening the fittings, I'll admit that I had to look it up. 
I was vaguely familiar with the concept but had only seen it applied to firearms, which largely fall outside my area of expertise and interest.
I won't attempt to explain the process here, as I would no doubt soon betray my fairly superficial understanding of this superficial hardening of the steel parts. I do know that it is labor and time intensive, and that there is no guarantee that the knife gods will smile upon your efforts and impart the lovely mottled array of gold and blue hues that are the visual signature of the process. Props to mark for sharing the very specific details of the methodology and materials he employed (you can find much discussion of this and a few vids on Facebook and Instagram).
Here's a truncated look at the steps as applied to my knife:
Parts to be colour case hardened beside the charcoal mixture:
Packed tightly within a metal casing:
Fully covered:
And sealed:
Aaaaaand - the knife gods smiled. Check out the fittings now:
The warmth of the colour in the fittings now provides a perfect compliment to the rich warm tones of the Koa scales, with he bright anodized titanium spacers lending just a bit of visual pop.
And that's all folks. Next step will be a custom made sheath by a different artisan, then professional photographs by Coop and then at last on to me.
Mark - thanks for all of your hard work and for taking the time to document the steps. Your skill and your willingness to share knowledge should both be applauded.
I was vaguely familiar with the concept but had only seen it applied to firearms, which largely fall outside my area of expertise and interest.I won't attempt to explain the process here, as I would no doubt soon betray my fairly superficial understanding of this superficial hardening of the steel parts. I do know that it is labor and time intensive, and that there is no guarantee that the knife gods will smile upon your efforts and impart the lovely mottled array of gold and blue hues that are the visual signature of the process. Props to mark for sharing the very specific details of the methodology and materials he employed (you can find much discussion of this and a few vids on Facebook and Instagram).
Here's a truncated look at the steps as applied to my knife:
Parts to be colour case hardened beside the charcoal mixture:
Packed tightly within a metal casing:
Fully covered:
And sealed:
Aaaaaand - the knife gods smiled. Check out the fittings now:
The warmth of the colour in the fittings now provides a perfect compliment to the rich warm tones of the Koa scales, with he bright anodized titanium spacers lending just a bit of visual pop.
And that's all folks. Next step will be a custom made sheath by a different artisan, then professional photographs by Coop and then at last on to me.
Mark - thanks for all of your hard work and for taking the time to document the steps. Your skill and your willingness to share knowledge should both be applauded.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2009
- Messages
- 1,915
Yes Sir!!!!!
Steve
---------
Member, W. F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS AP
Steve
---------
Member, W. F. Moran Jr. Foundation
ABS AP
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 5,191
very inspirational, thanks for posting !
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2017
- Messages
- 8
Thanks for putting this together my friend. It’s been a pleasure.
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,336
Another amazingly executed knife from the wizardry of Mr. Bartlett. His design sense include colors and materials and techniques we rarely see.
Screws on a BIG Bowie? Yup. He makes them look right at home. I particularly love the (Hill Pearce inspired?) file work.
The large handle finger grip and the uber-long blade make for notoriety.
A privilege to capture.
Thanks to BOTH of you! 
Screws on a BIG Bowie? Yup. He makes them look right at home. I particularly love the (Hill Pearce inspired?) file work.
The large handle finger grip and the uber-long blade make for notoriety.
A privilege to capture.
Thanks to BOTH of you!
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
- Messages
- 5,191
a cut above the rest !
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
Mark is doing World Class work and is just getting started....a Maker to keep a close watch on....get ‘em while ya can!
My sentiments exactly!
And thanks to Coop for the excellent pics. I'm so looking forward to having this one in hand.
