Phatwater Bowie for 2009

T

tvandeventer

Joined
Oct 5, 2006
Messages
199
Morning!

As some may remember, every year I am asked to make a bowie knife to commemorate the Phatwater Kayak Challenge held in Natchez, Mississippi. Paddlers from around the world converge for the 42 mile race on the Mississippi River from Port Gibson to Natchez. The US Coast Guard shuts down (and backs up) barge traffic on the river for the entire day. I'll bet John Cohea just loves that!

The knife is raffled off on October 10th at the end of the race. 500 tickets are sold at $10 each and all of the money is donated to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

This years piece is damascus, silicon bronze and sambar stag. The blade is 10 inches and the OAL is 15 inches.

The damascus is supposed to depict the winding Mississippi bordered by sand bars (15n20). The cut-offs represent oxbow lakes which form islands. Couldn't get an alligator in there but one of those sand bars might be the Vidalia Sandbar. You be the judge.

It's a fairly simple Turkish Ribbon damascus. I'm not a chess player or a fighter pilot. And rightly so. Those guys have to think many moves and many miles ahead. Same goes for damascus. Guys like Tom Ferry are truly "Top Guns" when it comes to predicting the outcome of the patterns a good ways down the road. I never possessed that ability.....

If anyone wants to purchase tickets, they can call (601) 806-1216

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Cheers,


Terry Vandeventer


Terry L. Vandeventer
ABS MS
 
Terry,

That's one worthy of the Big River. The ribbon look great, and not so simple at all. Love the "san mai' effect. How'd he do that?

John
 
That's a very nice Bowie to say the least. Love the guard and damascus a lot.

Marcel
 
There is something to admire on every square inch of this bowie Terry. Beautiful knife Terry.
 
Really a beautiful Bowie Terry. Don't know what I like the most, that beautiful damascus or the outstanding guard/spacer treatment.
Very gratuitous of you supporting so many worthy causes throughout the year.

Bet the event is a heck of a lot of fun to attend.
 
Thanks folks.

John, the "san mai" effect comes from (I hate this term) "dead areas" in the damascus. Areas that were not boldly patterned. In this case, it's 1084 and 1095 W patterns. If you look closely you can see the design. It's just that they are not very contrasting when used side by side. It gave me the "islands."

Kevin, let me say that I am not completely altruistic. I am paid a stipend by a local well-to-do antique bowie officianado. He donates the check and uses it as a charitable donation. My little way of giving is accepting half-price as my fee.

Cheers,

TV
 
Terry, you can call it whatever you like, but to me it's always going to be "The Massasaugua". The pattern on that damascus just reminds me of that snake. Beautiful knife and the guard is just beautiful.

Paul
 
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