My First Custom Bowie

T

The Savage Rabbit

Joined
Nov 30, 2006
Messages
351
I've wanted a traditional looking bowie knife for as long as I can remember or at least since I was 8. By that, I mean a knife with a wide, thick, 10" long, clip point blade (though I prefer lower points than steeply upswept) with an oval guard and a stag or wood coffin shaped handle. Maybe even a reinforced spine to perry the long overdue living room bayonet charge I know my enemies are planning. :D Although I'll probably only fondle it while I watch TV I want to be able to use it too. I want to be able to use it to help skin a pig and chop through the leg bones to prepare it for the butcher. But pride of ownership will be the main reason.

To this end, I have begun to look for a knife that is already made. I'm not patient enough to wait several months let alone years for a knife to be made. Assuming the Solvang Knife Show has a good selection of bowies, I plan to buy one there. Failing that, I'll speak to a maker and send him or her some drawings and pictures I've collected.

If it has to be made, I'm thinking of a 10" long, 2.5-3" wide, .25" thick ATS34 blade with a lower clip point, with an oval nickle silver guard and a stabelized Koa coffin shaped handle.

The purpose of this post is to put this idea/plan out there and see if the experienced collectors, makers, or anyone has advice or suggestions. At this point in my collecting (or accumulating) I don't know what it is I don't know. Maybe ATS34 would crack if I tried to chop through bones (Jesse from www.jesseshuntingpage.com chopped though the legs on one of my pigs with a Cold Steel Trail Boss without any apparant damage to the knife, so I know it can be done). Or maybe everyone else knows that coffin handles are far from "traditional" or that a 10" blade is a cumbersome length and that 9 or 11" is better. I have no idea.

Any and all suggestions, bits of knowledge, and comments are welcome.
 
Ya. I've been on their site every night this week comparing blade shapes and steels, guards, handle shapes and materials. Great site. I bought a Surefire there two or three years ago at a time when I wouldn't even look at custom knives beccause I couldn't imagine myself paying that much for a knife.

I guess I've grown as a person since then. :D
 
You forgot the most key bit of info - budget. And a 3" wide blade? Yikes! Going to look a bit too much like a boat paddle, imho. Competition cutters are generally limited to 10" by 2" and they are plenty tough for almost any task. A blade of such dimensions with good distal taper can be very quick and very powerful at the same time.

As for coffin handles - they certainly are a traditional look and attractive in their own right, but not the best design for hard use. Decide at the outset the degree to which performance plays a role in your design requirements.

Do you not have a picture anywhere of a similar knife to the one you have in mind.?

Finally, if this is something you've wanted for as long as you can remember, might it not be worth the wait to do your homework and find the right knife at the right price rather than rush to scratch that itch as fast as you can?

Roger

PS - Why not grab some web pics of bowies that you like, post them, and indicate what design features appeal to you and why. If you like, I will post them for you.
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
with an oval nickle silver guard
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I agree with everything Roger posted,in addition,I think you would more appreciate a stainless steel guard as opposed to nickel silver unless you shellac the nickel silver.Way less maintenance with stainless.

Doug
 
My price range goes up to around $650. As for not rushing into things, the Solvang show is in the end of April, so 2 months is longer than I've considered any knife or gun purchase. The knife will mainly be used for looking at with pride but I want it to be capable of being used to skin or chop.

What is a cutting competition knife?

I'll have to reconsider the 3" blade. I'm looking for a blade shape similar to the Mark Nevling bowie shown on page 112 of Knives 2007. I like the style of the blade. I'm not looking for damascus, an S shaped guard, or funny blue coloring. To my eye, thinner blades don't have what I consider to be that "traditional" look. I also like the Robert Blasingame bowie on page 116 but it looks a bit long and unwieldly. But, I'm still looking at knives to see what types of bowie shapes are out there.

I guess a toned down version of those two blades is the Billy Bates blade on page 114. I haven't come across sites with photos similar to these knives but if you know of any I'd love to see them.

This is one I've found. The blade is longer and bit widder than I am imagining. This looks a bit too "Roman" for my taste but it doesn't simply look like a long knife.
COFFIN_71606_2.jpg
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
What is a cutting competition knife?
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It's a knife used in a cutting competition - an organized competitive event where makers put their knives to the test in performing a number of designated tasks - such as the ever popular 2 by 4 chop and water bottle cut.

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These knives are limited to certain dimensions as previously mentioned - I pointed that out to emphasize the fact that a 3" wide blade probably won't gain you much in performance and definitely won't gain you anything in terms of looks.

This competition knife by Dan Farr is 10" long by 2" wide at the wodest point. If it were 33% wider with the same length, it would look ridiculous, IMHO.

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I don't have Knives '07 so I can't comment on the knives you referred to. The Gatlin suggestion was a good one. I also recall that Randy Morgan had a couple of bowies in your price range that are definitely worth a look (right here on the Custom knives for sale - individuals forum). I recall a Tomberlin and another Gatlin. Lombardo had some too, though I'm not sure what he has left. $650 can definitely get you a very nice bowie.

There is a Jason Knight stag bowie for sale on Les Robertson's site right now right at your number. You won't likely find a Knight bowie priced any lower and certainly not with stag.

Lots of choices. Look around. Good luck.

Roger
 
I have Knives 2007, and looked at your choices. You like some very nice traditional patterns and there are many makers who may serve this need. The style is referred to as a 'Miller' bowie (although I couldn't find a reference to it in my Antique Bowie Knife Book). Notably John Nelson Cooper uses this style with brass on the backspine for strength and fending off attackers (?).

Mark Nevling is a good man and a fine maker. Here is his contact address:

PO Box 9
Hume,IL 61932
Phone: 217-887-2522

He is a full-time lesser-known maker with a family to support and some really good pricing. Keep looking. Good for YOU!

Coop
 
What steels would you recommend for a 9 to 10" bowie? I see a lot of them are made of 1084 or 1080. How do those compare to ATS34?
 
TSR: Who am I talking to? First name please? I really hate cryptic identities. This is a friendly place.

The ones you pointed out look right around the 2" mark to me.

1084 and 1080 are steels used in forging from a maker who will forge the blade out. ATS34 is a very successful barstock that a maker will use the 'stock removal' method to shape the blade. Both are very suitable. The ATS34 has the ability to mirror polish. Not sure about the others, but they are more likely to have a rubbed (hand sanded) finish.

The method of construction or build will vary greatly from forged to stock removal. Probably easier with stock removal, but I wouldn't let that be a deterrent of quality.

I'm glad you are asking these questions. You are going to learn a bunch.

Regards,

Coop
 
The Savage Rabbit said:
My price range goes up to around $650. As for not rushing into things, the Solvang show is in the end of April, so 2 months is longer than I've considered any knife or gun purchase. The knife will mainly be used for looking at with pride but I want it to be capable of being used to skin or chop.

What is a cutting competition knife?

I'll have to reconsider the 3" blade. I'm looking for a blade shape similar to the Mark Nevling bowie shown on page 112 of Knives 2007. I like the style of the blade. I'm not looking for damascus, an S shaped guard, or funny blue coloring. To my eye, thinner blades don't have what I consider to be that "traditional" look. I also like the Robert Blasingame bowie on page 116 but it looks a bit long and unwieldly. But, I'm still looking at knives to see what types of bowie shapes are out there.

I guess a toned down version of those two blades is the Billy Bates blade on page 114. I haven't come across sites with photos similar to these knives but if you know of any I'd love to see them.

This is one I've found. The blade is longer and bit widder than I am imagining. This looks a bit too "Roman" for my taste but it doesn't simply look like a long knife.
COFFIN_71606_2.jpg
Click to expand...
This knife appears to have a 10" long blade that is 1-3/4" wide. I don't think I've ever seen a custom bowie with a 3" wide blade. I would highly recommend a forged carbon steel blade also.
 
Hi Jack,

Speaking of Solvang, this is listed on Dave Harvey's site now: English Bowie. Just another of the style you are looking for.

Coop
 
2" looks good then.

How much weaker, if any, is a hidden tang than a full tang? Do you guys have a preferance for your bowies? If a hidden tang is used, would a heavier than usual steel pommel (for a lack of a better word) be used to add a bit more weight to the handle end of the knife?

I really appreciate all of the responses. Actually seeing the knives at the Solvang show is be necessary but your responses will be invaluable to my being able to understand what I see and feel.

- Jack
 
SharpByCoop said:
Hi Jack,

Speaking of Solvang, this is listed on Dave Harvey's site now: English Bowie. Just another of the style you are looking for.

Coop
Click to expand...

I've looked at that knife every night this week. I plan to take a look at it when I'm in Solvang assuming it hasn't sold yet. I also really like that Gatlin listed earlier. Good price too. But, I would like to handle a few large bowies before buying.
 
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