Modifying Ontario machete into bowie knife?

[lonestar1979]

I plan to get the thicker Ontario machete, modify the tip into clip point,change the grind into full convex and handle into something coffin shaped ,so it looks like bowie knife(have no money to get custom bowie I like).Any sugestions?

 

[the possum]

Have you seen the Cold Steel bowie machete? For $18 it might save ya some work on grinding in the clip.

The problem as I see it, is that pretty much any cheap machete is gonna be way too thin to make a bowie knife. The end result may look kinda like a bowie, but without distal tapers it won't have the dynamic balance of a fighting blade.

 

[lonestar1979]

Ontario machete is thicker,and I assume has better heat treat and steel than Cold Steel one.

 

[davek14]

A quick, cursory search showed Ontario using 1095 and Cold Steel using 1055. Dunno on the HT.

 

[Pondoro2310]

You might ask Tooj in the Ontario knife forum. But to me your idea seems sound. 1095 is a very traditional alloy for a Large home made knife.

 

[hhmoore]

Granted, I'm not all that familiar with Ontario's machete lineup; but just what are you talking when you say thicker? If I remember from when I was looking, most of them are 1/8 inch; only a few are thinner. Even the 22" HD is only 1/8 - I know because I used it this morning - but their 22" models are 1075, vs 1095.
I'd suggest using a 12" model...but that's a lot of work on a heat treated blade. If you're using power tools, make sure you keep it cool.

 

[lonestar1979]

Yeah IM hetting the 12 inches one,and its thick enough,have power tools and have experience in using it,shouldnt be a problem.1/8 should be thick enough.

 

[jackknife]

The 12 inch Ontario makes a fine bowie knife. JUst work slow and don't over heat the steel.

 

[Phydeaux]

Haven't used a machete to make a bowie yet, but I did make a nice kitchen knife from an Ontario 10" field knife. Thinned the blade a little to make it a better slicer and put a birdseye maple handle on it. My kids call it the machete knife.

I am planning to do something similar to an Ontario 14" butcher's knife (Old Hickory).

Like jackknife stated, work slow and keep it cool.

I had to drill new holes in the tang for hidden pins. The tang was also hardened. I spot annealed it to soften so I could drill the holes. I put the blame in a bucket of water, deep enough to cover any part of the blade that I didn't want annealed. Hit the areas where I wanted to drill with a propane torch, let it air cool. Drilled easily.

Have fun making your bowie.

Ric