- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
- Messages
- 13,348
Greetings all,
Some weeks back I got word from Kyle that my very non-specific order for a 'large knife of some kind" was coming up. It was time to get specific. But it presented something of a problem: just about every knife that Kyle had made thus far would fit the bill very nicely indeed - how to choose? I eventually narrowed it down to three choices.
The first was an amalgam of two spectacular damscus / ivory bowies Kyle had done in the past - kind of blending the damascus pattern and blade profile of one with the guard and handle of the other.
The second was to just make me this knife:
Which still ranks among my favourites from Kyle even though he has done much more complex work.
Behind door number three, though, was an idea that had been percolating in my brain since two Little Rocks ago when Kyle had this wonderful and unique-looking integral on his table:
The knife featured a blued 5160 blade with crisp hardening line. The bluing really imparted a dramatic element to the blade, a dark liquid look, soft sheen and a blue / grey / black colour shift as between the steel of the fully hardened cutting edge and the softer spine.
The idea was simply this: Wouldn't that basic theme look way cool rendered as a bowie?
Well, I presented all three ideas to Kyle for his input, and received a detail analysis and quote on each option, but it was clear to me that Kyle was most captivated by the third option, and I firmly believe that all else being equal, maker enthusiasm should be the decisive factor.
Next step was to figure out what to make. As we all know, "bowie" doesn't necessarily lend any more specificity than "large knife".
At this point, sketches really help get maker and customer on the same page. Various blade shapes were discussed, along with guard and and handle options. It kind of reminded of the forum "design game" that ultimately led to the original Bladeforums Benefit Bowie - except that there were only two people involved:
We finally settled upon the knife rendered in the center of the sketch below, aiming for a blade in the 10 to 10 1/2" range with an African Blackwood handle of 5 1/4":
Without further suspense, I'll take you right to the completed knife:
Caleb did a nice job on what had to be a challenging shoot. The mirror-like shimmer of the blued blade must have created some photographic headaches. You can see what I mean from the pic Kyle had quickly snapped upon completion:
As to the knife itself, well, I could hardly be more pleased. It is exactly - I mean EXACTLY what I had envisioned at the outset, and rendered with the excruciating flawlessness that has come to define Kyle's work.
I'll also credit Kyle with giving the piece a most appropriate name, chosen because this traditional bowie shape reminded him of a passing shadow.
Paul Long did a lovely sheath to complete the package, but I am having trouble finding what the heck I did with it. I'll add it in later.
Thanks for looking.
Roger
Some weeks back I got word from Kyle that my very non-specific order for a 'large knife of some kind" was coming up. It was time to get specific. But it presented something of a problem: just about every knife that Kyle had made thus far would fit the bill very nicely indeed - how to choose? I eventually narrowed it down to three choices.
The first was an amalgam of two spectacular damscus / ivory bowies Kyle had done in the past - kind of blending the damascus pattern and blade profile of one with the guard and handle of the other.
The second was to just make me this knife:
Which still ranks among my favourites from Kyle even though he has done much more complex work.
Behind door number three, though, was an idea that had been percolating in my brain since two Little Rocks ago when Kyle had this wonderful and unique-looking integral on his table:
The knife featured a blued 5160 blade with crisp hardening line. The bluing really imparted a dramatic element to the blade, a dark liquid look, soft sheen and a blue / grey / black colour shift as between the steel of the fully hardened cutting edge and the softer spine.
The idea was simply this: Wouldn't that basic theme look way cool rendered as a bowie?
Well, I presented all three ideas to Kyle for his input, and received a detail analysis and quote on each option, but it was clear to me that Kyle was most captivated by the third option, and I firmly believe that all else being equal, maker enthusiasm should be the decisive factor.
Next step was to figure out what to make. As we all know, "bowie" doesn't necessarily lend any more specificity than "large knife".
At this point, sketches really help get maker and customer on the same page. Various blade shapes were discussed, along with guard and and handle options. It kind of reminded of the forum "design game" that ultimately led to the original Bladeforums Benefit Bowie - except that there were only two people involved:
We finally settled upon the knife rendered in the center of the sketch below, aiming for a blade in the 10 to 10 1/2" range with an African Blackwood handle of 5 1/4":
Without further suspense, I'll take you right to the completed knife:
Caleb did a nice job on what had to be a challenging shoot. The mirror-like shimmer of the blued blade must have created some photographic headaches. You can see what I mean from the pic Kyle had quickly snapped upon completion:
As to the knife itself, well, I could hardly be more pleased. It is exactly - I mean EXACTLY what I had envisioned at the outset, and rendered with the excruciating flawlessness that has come to define Kyle's work.
I'll also credit Kyle with giving the piece a most appropriate name, chosen because this traditional bowie shape reminded him of a passing shadow.
Paul Long did a lovely sheath to complete the package, but I am having trouble finding what the heck I did with it. I'll add it in later.
Thanks for looking.
Roger
Last edited:
:thumbup: Great looking package, different in a cool way.
