[Re titled] Designing 2 custom Bowie's to be built

Status
Not open for further replies.
GREENJACKET said:
Anyone who has an interest in swords doesn't automatically mean they are going to ever use one for real. Bowies come is many forms, just like Kukuris. Therefore you need to find one that you like, feels right for you, just like.

Think we are big boys here and can manage a discussion.

Two bowies can look similar but feel completely different. Its all very personal.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, which is why I wanted to hear everyone's personal opinions!

Charlie_K said:
Also, you simply can't have a pure fighting knife discussion without at least one person bringing up shivs, since they really have no other purpose.
Click to expand...

Notice the (Bowie's only). Shiv's are great but not what I'm currently searching for.
 
The balance point will never be in the handle unless you had an all steel handle. i shoot for the balance point to be at or right forward of the plunge cut on my big knives.
ExtraBaconPlease said:
Just read all the posts here. Thanks everyone for the input I really appreciate it. For a long time I was thinking "bigger is better" as long as I could keep the balance point in the handle (using thicker stock and flat ground blades) but I will do as Coke said and try the ruler method and see how it goes. I'll mock a few up out of cardboard and see what I like and likely go with a custom maker unless there is a extremely close production of want I end up wanting.

Thanks again.

Cheers.
Click to expand...
 
jdm61 said:
The balance point will never be in the handle unless you had an all steel handle
Click to expand...

A full tang knife with a stock thickness of 1/4" or more (i was using those thicknesses) combined with a full flat grind will yield a balance point in the handle depending on the blade shape and size.
 
Horsewright said:
gadunz whats that in the little pocket on your targe?
Click to expand...
Not mine unfortunately.
A spike to affix to the front centre boss. Only to be used in duels, or when so outnumbered by enemy there's no chance of piercing an ally.
th

scots.jpg
 
Last edited:
Becker BK9


Ontario SP10


And let's face it folks, this is really an example of a pure fighting blade, as they serve no other purpose to anyone.
 
I'm no knife fighter, so I can't tell you the best fightin' Bowie out there.

I can tell you that Al Mar / Kirk Rexroat made a tactical fighter that was awesome. 7 and a quarter inch blade, 11 ounces. If I was to go down swinging, I'd swing one of these.

Al Mar also had the Grunt. A stacked leather washer handle like a Ka-Bar, but a gorgeous bowie blade on it. Saw one once and didn't buy it. Aw well.

Like I said, I don't know the "best" per se... but there are plenty of makers around here who could brew up the best one for you. Give them a shout!
 
There is no best.
There is different.
One goes thru different knives (or fly rods or pool cues or whatever) until you find the one that fits.
What fits you won't necessarily fit the guy with the ruler or me.

Think of it as a journey.
A quest.
:D
 
After doing lots of reading and watching more than a few youtube vids on the matter, as well as playing with a few fighters that I currently have and thought long and hard about what/when/where I would actually use the knife, I have come to agree very much with Charlie Mike's video "What makes a good fighter?" - link below.

[video=youtube;qJNKPRp3K7w]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJNKPRp3K7w[/video]

Time to get some custom work done me thinks.
 
What axe is best for digging the garden? What spade is best for chopping trees?

Compromise pig sticker /skinner/boner. Svord Hunter 7.
Svord%20Deluxe%20Hunter%20Knife%20-%20Model%20280H%20copy.1.jpg
 
[video=youtube;Oo_Um0uHJvM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo_Um0uHJvM[/video]
 
Even if you could manage that, you would not like the result. Also a full tang bowie with a double guard is going to result in either a very narrow blade or a broomstick handle. Also, on a big blade a full flat grind is no guarantee of shifting the balance point to the rear.You also need distal taper.
ExtraBaconPlease said:
A full tang knife with a stock thickness of 1/4" or more (i was using those thicknesses) combined with a full flat grind will yield a balance point in the handle depending on the blade shape and size.
Click to expand...
 
[video=youtube;lo7Wsf_OokU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo7Wsf_OokU[/video]
 
jdm61 said:
Even if you could manage that, you would not like the result. Also a full tang bowie with a double guard is going to result in either a very narrow blade or a broomstick handle. Also, on a big blade a full flat grind is no guarantee of shifting the balance point to the rear.You also need distal taper.
Click to expand...

You're right, I didn't like the result but it was still possible to create with a 6" handle and a 12" blade with distal taper at 1/4" thickness.

Charlie Mike said:
[video=youtube;Oo_Um0uHJvM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo_Um0uHJvM[/video]
Click to expand...

CM, thanks for sharing the vids and your input on the thread man. I've been binge watching your vids, gaining some useful info and lmao along the way.

Cheers
 
13 inch long blade, 1.75 inches wide, around .275 thick at the ricasso, hidden tang threaded with cut down large Corby nut silver braised to the underside of the butt cap. It balanced about an inch in front of the plunge cut. ;)
 

Attachments

  • DSC_0129.jpg
    DSC_0129.jpg
    61.2 KB · Views: 25
ExtraBaconPlease said:
... I'll mock a few up out of cardboard and see what I like and likely go with a custom maker unless there is a extremely close production of want I end up wanting.

Thanks again.
Cheers.
Click to expand...

Bacon,

I've named one of my bowies, the Carlton Bowie; who else but an Aussie would do that? I'm thinking of naming the next one, the Toorak Bowie, meant for Toorak Cowboys.... and given the suburb, it'll have to be a poofy design, with a 1 carat diamond embedded into each scale... so you won't want that one. :D

I think if you're serious about getting any knife that you intend on treasuring, you'll have to give some consideration to a custom knife. If you do, feel free to draw up a sketch of it, outline dimensions, then take a picture of it or scan it and make a jpeg to post herein somewhere. Or if you wish, message me a link to download the sketch, and I'll knock up a hi res template of it for ya, ready for printing at Officeworks. Just ask them to do it for you on their quality stationary cardboard or thickest paper they have. They can do it in A4 and A3, so if the knife exceeds 12.75" in length overall, I'll save it to an A3 size formatted page, set to 100% scale ready for printing as is. Officeworks charge peanuts for the printing. Up to you.

Here's one I did a week ago for a mate of the integrated hilt Super Attack I've drawn up, ready for the maker:



200qtu8.jpg





692xd3.jpg



If you decide to go commercial blade, don't end up doing what I did and spend another 30 years before actually seeing and holding an original Attack 14 in your hands to then realize what a mistake you made in taking so long to do it.
 
All of my needs are met here...

 
CM, I used to have a late 70's/early 80's O1 Randall 15 with the border patrol handle that I picked at a gun shop in Tampa in like 1990. I really liked that knife, but traded it and a couple of other new Randalls, leather handled matching models Model 1 and 2 with 6 inch blades, for a 1959 30-06 Winchester Model 70. I really wish I still had that 15. I also had a Model 14 CDT with a stag handle that I bought out of the case at the shop when they still did that. IIRC, I did a part trade for a Walther P5 with that one.
 
jdm61 said:
13 inch long blade, 1.75 inches wide, around .275 thick at the ricasso, hidden tang threaded with cut down large Corby nut silver braised to the underside of the butt cap. It balanced about an inch in front of the plunge cut. ;)
Click to expand...

That's one sexy looking bowie jd.

I had a neighbor many years ago when I was in my teens, a wise old Jewish man who once told that the secret to wealth is to acquire and NEVER relinquish. They were the terms he used, acquire and relinquish, not "save" and "never sell" or "never swap".

I did mention he was a wise old man no? :D
 
Last edited:
Coke, CM, jdm, anyone else that wishes to chime in;

I've got my general blade shape down and have nearly decided on the guard (I like the slight S shape) but am stumped on the handle design.

I'm thinking a slight curve like a stag handle but made from modern materials like G10 or Micarta.

Any handle suggestions? What do you guys think of coffin handles?

Cheers
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top