My first custom Bowie

[A.S]

Hi everyone.

I've been a member of this forum for a while now, but this is my first post.

I started making knives a couple months back. I bought myself the most basic equipment to get into this hobby. I have a 1x30 belt/disc combination sander, a drill press attachment to mount a drill, an anvil, and a self-built coal forge.

After may hours of research and scrolling through threads on here to learn various techniques and skills, I decided to give it a go.

This is my first semi-forged Bowie, made from salvaged leaf-spring steel. The blade has a slight recurve to it. The finger guard is made from mild steel. It sports a full-tang handle with Imbuia wood, and stainless steel pins.

I tried my hand at creating a classic "coke-bottle" shape on the handle, and I'm pretty pleased with how it all turned out.

Thanks for taking a moment to take a look, I appreciate it. And thank you for the wonderful knowledge on this site which is a valuable resource to a new knife maker such as myself.

 

[Dawkind]

That’s quite the effort for your first…pretty exceptional to me.

 

[Richard338]

You're off to a great start! Please come check out the Shop Talk section of this forum.

 

[jfk1110]

Hell.of a first.GO!!!!!.......Great job.......Looking forward to seeing what you do in the future!

 

[i4Marc]

You have a talent for this. You seem to have digested the information you consumed quite well.

 

[A.S]

That’s quite the effort for your first…pretty exceptional to me.

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[A.S]

You're off to a great start! Please come check out the Shop Talk section of this forum.

Thank you Richard, I'll definitely check it out!

 

[A.S]

Hell.of a first.GO!!!!!.......Great job.......Looking forward to seeing what you do in the future!

Thanks man, appreciate the feedback! I have a hidden tang Bowie and a large gyuto lined up in the near future

 

[A.S]

You have a talent for this. You seem to have digested the information you consumed quite well.

Thank you Marc! This site is a wonderful resource for new makers.

 

[Forrest Taylor]

The grinds look pretty symetrical. So does the file work.
Nice job

 

[beeinak]

I am impressed! As a knife nut who plans to attempt knife-making as a hobby in the future, I find your knife inspirational. So many awesome makers here who are generous with their guidance/mentoring. Best wishes, and please keep posting your work.

 

[SharpByCoop]

You have a REAL good eye for proportions and style. As they have noted it is MARVELOUS!

May I? Having captured thousands of Bowies, one thing did give me pause: the sharp rear edge on the brilliantly-shaped guard. Only from a potential thrust and usage standpoint.

First impressions are POWERFUL. You done good.

Coop

 

[A.S]

The grinds look pretty symetrical. So does the file work.
Nice job

Thank you!

 

[A.S]

I am impressed! As a knife nut who plans to attempt knife-making as a hobby in the future, I find your knife inspirational. So many awesome makers here who are generous with their guidance/mentoring. Best wishes, and please keep posting your work.

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! I will definitely share more of my work as I improve

 

[A.S]

You have a REAL good eye for proportions and style. As they have noted it is MARVELOUS!

May I? Having captured thousands of Bowies, one thing did give me pause: the sharp rear edge on the brilliantly-shaped guard. Only from a potential thrust and usage standpoint.

First impressions are POWERFUL. You done good.

Coop

Thank you, that means a lot!

I agree with the guard. That is something I need more work on. That was in fact my second guard, because my first one got even sharper and thinner. Somehow I keep taking slightly more material off on one side, which then forces me to correct the other side, and before I know it I've whittled it down way more than I wanted. Definitely something I need to improve on.