MY first Bowie

Cajun Kamikaze

Cajun Kamikaze

Joined
Dec 30, 2013
Messages
598
I'd like some feedback from you guys. I've only made 4 knives; 2 skinners, 1 bowie and 1 tanto and have only been into making knives for 1 year. Any critiques positive or negative please. These are all from stock removal process, 1095 High carbon and differentially heat treated by Lee Oats with Bearclaw knives.

My first - built this one for a wedding gift for my best friend. It has red and black micarta handle. Resembles the blade shape of an Alaskan ulu. Scandinavian grind





The Bowie. First pic was taken after a nice polish but it pulled the hamon out so I had to re etch it. I built this Bowie for my father. All I knew is I wanted to try a full tang Elk crown handle with a brass guard and mosaic pins. I was inspired to build the Bowie for him because he is a huge History buff and one of his all time favorite heroes' is Jim Bowie. Not to mention Daniel Boone and Davey Crocket. Dude is a Texan and Loves the Alamo and its history.






Then I built the tanto survival/hunting knife for myself and another skinner much like the original (first knife build) but a larger blade and a half flat grind unlike the Scandinavian on the other.





The second skinner with bamboo scales.
 
Last edited:
Well, it is still the holidays, my friend and there's lots going on both here and yon, so that could be the cause of the lack of response. You are at a point in your knife making where a long drawn out critique might cover techniques you are not ready for yet. Suffice to say you seem to be off to a good start, although when you look at these knives a few years from now you will have a completely different view of them.

The knives, while finished nicely for your experience level, lack a smooth flow in design and balance, but that will come and get better with each knife. The fact that you started at all and seem to want to continue is a major stroke in your favor.

By the way, I'm not a knife maker so take what I say with a grain of salt. I just dabble with sheaths.

Good luck and come back soon.

Paul
 
While you have some things going in the right direction there are a few others that you may in time choose to change. From what I can see your plunge grinds are done very well for your experience level. The main issue I see is your designs could be streamlined a bit. I like that your using good steel and insuring good heat treat. I would recommend looking at as many knives as you can to find design ideas. Coops image thread stickied at the top of this forum is a great place to start. Keep after it, make each one better than the one before.

This forum showcases some of the best cutom and handmade knives in the world. That in mind I applaud you for showing yours here and asking for feedback. That will serve you well if you take the advice given and put it into your efforts.

Thanks for sharing.

Chris
 
There are a few forums here that cover the nuts and bolts of knifemaking, and are geared to aspiring bladesmiths, along with more experienced makers. Spend some time in Shop Talk, and Hammer and Tongs which are both in this site. I am learning the ropes myself, so take what I say with several grains of salt. In your favour you have known steel, well chosen for the knives at hand. :thumbup: You had this steel heat treated properly. :thumbup: The basic construction looks sound with appropriate materials. :thumbup: Now for the areas I would focus on: Look at the designs experienced makers use. There is a reason the shapes are sort of generic; they work well in hand for the intended purpose. To me it looks like you tried to reinvent the wheel. Good on you for trying to be original, but I am having a hard time thinking of what some of the design features are for, or how they would feel in hand especially with extended use. :confused: Secondly, the steel looks well sanded, but it appears you did not use a firm backing (sanding block) and the grind lines look washed out. :thumbdn:

I think you are off to a great start, and light years ahead of the files with a 45deg bevel that get posted asd first knives. You put thought into what you needed to do, and picked tough projects. Keep making, and post in the knifemaker forums, starting from the drawn design in paper. The guys over there are a great bunch, and are very helpful. :thumbup:
 
Thanks a ton guys. It's been a while and in the mean time I have built a gas forge, acquired a nice Anvil and completely destroyed my first forged blade on heat treat.... Yay, I learned what not to do.
 
I doubt many/most knifemakers could have come so far w/their first 4 knives........excellent! Bill
 
If you learn what not to do, you're ahead in the game! Learn as much of what not to do as you can. :)
 
Thanks Bill!

Yea, I always learn the hard way. If I would have just stopped and thought about what I was doing, reach back to my basic fundamental knowledge, I probably would have said, "Hey buddy, you know you're about to make a mess of this blade, don't do it..." But instead I wanted to be some super witty mad scientist and reinvent the wheel again.... LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top