Ring Guard Bowie Progression

[G. Shahan]

Kyle,

Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Those of us that are learning find these posts to be very educational.

Greg

 

[goodeyesniper]

Here you can see how I forged the bars so they will follow the blade edge.

that's really awesome!

 

[Kyle Royer]

Thanks for the great complements everyone! I really appreciate it.

We decided to go with the 18K domed gold pin and let me just say that I am glad we did. I think it adds to the knife and is small enough that it doesn't take away from the Ivory.

I'll have some pictures on here in a few minutes for you all to see.

Thanks for keeping with this thread.

 

[Kyle Royer]

OK, I'll just jump in.

This is my caustic salt bluing heating up.

It's hard to imagine that this yucky greenish goo can make the knife a lot prettier.

Here Is a picture of all the blackened damascus. I will take 2000 grit paper and lightly hit the 15N20 in the damascus (15N20 being the steel that resists the etch thus being higher than the 1080.) leaving the 1080 Black with great contrast.

Here is the 18K gold I'll use for the pin.

I've cleaned the damascus off with 2000 grit paper and you can see how the 1080 is nice and dark.

The pin will not go all the way through the handle because of the take down feature so I'll dome the pin before I put it in the handle. Next I'll peen over the pin on the backside of the handle, then I'll do the same to the other ivory scale.

I have cleaned up the pin and buffed the ivory a little more in this picture.

Here's how the pin looks.

And a shot of the other side of the knife with the classic clam shell guard.(the lighting is a little dark in this picture)

This is a close up of the pin on this side.

 

[Kyle Royer]

I changed the camera lens in this picture and got a super close up shot of the pin with my brothers Macro lens.

Here's another close shot.

Now I'll epoxy the handle together. I will not epoxy the spacer or guards because it is a take down and you couldn't change the guards out if I did.

I will make the damascus frog for the sheath from this.

Here I've shaped the frog with files. It's ready for sanding.

Now I've sanded it to 600 grit.

Here I have started the clam shell theme with needle files.

I have sanded it to 1200 grit and buffed it a little. It's ready for etching.

Now I have etched the frog. I will cut off the bottom part on the piece and get rid of it because it was only there so I could handle it wile working. I will drill the frog and thread it for a small screw.

Here is my little leather working area.

 

[Kevin Jones]

I love it Kyle.
The gold pin provides a nice and subtle touch yet acts as a finger index for the center of the handle if grabbed in a hurry.
I'm crazy about the ring guard, however the bowie certainly doesn't suffer with the classic clamshell guard.

You out-did yourself my friend.

 

[Kyle Royer]

This will be a pattern I'll follow when cutting the leather.

Now I've cut out over-sized pieces of leather and will stain them next.

I stained the leather black and can start cutting everything closer to shape.

I made a 20 thousandths thick washer for the screw that holds the damascus frog on and assembled it in this picture.

Here's a top view of the frog. As you can see I have also pebbled the area around the guard.

That's all the progression photos for tonight.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Kyle Royer]

Here is a picture of the finished knife I had my brother Caleb take. I will also have Mr. Cooper (SharpByCoop) work his magic with this knife.


I would like to thank Caleb for this picture. I think he did a great job.

 

[Marcel54]

It's great to see them side by side...makes the comparison real easy.

Both versions of the knife are great and I like what you did with the ring guard but to be honest I like the classic clamshell guard even better. That is it just fits my taste better.

Marcel

 

[Jon Brand]

wowwww

 

[Kyle Royer]

I love it Kyle.
The gold pin provides a nice and subtle touch yet acts as a finger index for the center of the handle if grabbed in a hurry.
I'm crazy about the ring guard, however the bowie certainly doesn't suffer with the classic clamshell guard.

You out-did yourself my friend.

I'm glad you like it!:thumbup:

This knife has given me a GREAT appreciation for Clam Shell Bowies and the work that goes into making the clam shells.

 

[robert l]

Really fantastic work. But I have a question - are those clam shells on the end of handle only glued with epoxy to the liners?

 

[Kyle Royer]

Really fantastic work. But I have a question - are those clam shells on the end of handle only glued with epoxy to the liners?

No, they have four internal pins that have been swedged ever so slightly. When I epoxied the bolsters together I pressed them on tight with the vice.

EDITED TO ADD PICTURE: Here is a picture of when I made the holes on the inside of the rear bolsters for the internal pins.

 

[ckerwin]

I think the ring guard wins out. Great WIP, young man:thumbup::thumbup: Kevin you have the best knives

 

[Shawn Ellis]

Kyle , outstanding knife!!:thumbup::thumbup:
www.shawnelliscustomknives.com

 

[BRTATCK]

Kyle, excellent work and a great WIP thread. A simply beautiful knife. Just wondering what you are bringing to Little Rock ?????? You get a big thumbs up from me.

 

[stabber]

Incredible knife Kyle!! Great job:thumbup:

 

[Lycosa]

Hi Ricky! If things go according to plan... my letter to you, with payment, will be in Monday's mail.
Thanks!
Rolf

 

[Lycosa]

Oops--- Mods, this was supposed to be a PM. ^ Sorry.

 

[Doug C]

Outstanding knives, Kyle, both of them. :thumbup: :thumbup:
..and Thanks for the very well done WIP thread.

Doug