Before I get into talking about the knife, I want to give a big shout out and thank you to John Doyle. Before I started this project, John was on the phone with me for over an hour, patiently describing how to taper a tang and talking me through many other techniques. Then when Aldo was out of stock of the steel I needed, he sent me a piece of his steel. On top of that, he also dealt with my frantic phone call when the blade warped during HT and talked me through straightening it out. I can't thank him enough for all the help, he has really helped me to grow as a knife maker. I hope to meet him in person some day and shake his hand and say thank you!
About the knife- I was contacted by someone who puts on the local Friends of the NRA banquet dinner and asked if I'd be willing to donate a bowie to be put in the live auction... and this is the result. I'm my own worst critique, I wish the pin holes would have turned out better and the hamon didn't turn out well (I think I applied the clay too thick, because I know the entire edge hardened) and my makers mark didn't turn out very pronounced. I could critique it all day, but I learned alot in the process of making this knife! It has been a humbling project!
The blade is 1/4th inch 1075, with a tapered tang and distal tapered blade- it balances wonderfully right at the ricasso. The overall length is just over 11.5 inches... it was longer until it slipped out of my vice and in an an attempt to catch it, I threw it into the shop floor tip first. The handle is Hawaiian Koa with black G10 liners and carbon fiber pins. The sheath is a Paul Long inspired (obviously his work is alot nicer than mine) butterfly sheath made from 9oz Oak Double Shoulders. I went around the yard and chopped sticks with it and then took it in the kitchen and prepared dinner with it... is feels very comfortable in hand and was shaving sharp after I played around with it.
Comments, questions and critiques welcome!
About the knife- I was contacted by someone who puts on the local Friends of the NRA banquet dinner and asked if I'd be willing to donate a bowie to be put in the live auction... and this is the result. I'm my own worst critique, I wish the pin holes would have turned out better and the hamon didn't turn out well (I think I applied the clay too thick, because I know the entire edge hardened) and my makers mark didn't turn out very pronounced. I could critique it all day, but I learned alot in the process of making this knife! It has been a humbling project!
The blade is 1/4th inch 1075, with a tapered tang and distal tapered blade- it balances wonderfully right at the ricasso. The overall length is just over 11.5 inches... it was longer until it slipped out of my vice and in an an attempt to catch it, I threw it into the shop floor tip first. The handle is Hawaiian Koa with black G10 liners and carbon fiber pins. The sheath is a Paul Long inspired (obviously his work is alot nicer than mine) butterfly sheath made from 9oz Oak Double Shoulders. I went around the yard and chopped sticks with it and then took it in the kitchen and prepared dinner with it... is feels very comfortable in hand and was shaving sharp after I played around with it.
Comments, questions and critiques welcome!
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