Short sword or just big knife

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Here's one I've been working on for at least the last couple weeks. Originally when I forged this blade I was thinking the steel was W-2. I thought that because that's what I had written on it. The steel for this blade started out as a good sized barrel shaped bearing. A couple years ago I took more of those bearings and some Hansen W-2 and had them forged out into more user friendly sizes. I should have marked the steel right after forging but didn't. I figured I could identify which was which by the spark. Was I ever wrong. Finally after the second try at a failed heat treat I was positive the steel wasn't W-2. The 3rd and final try I treated it as 52100 and it finally worked. I also used clay on the blade and did get a nice hamon although its not all that easy to spot in the pictures. The blade is 15 3/4" with an overall length of around 22". The blade is just under 2" at the widest. Its got wagon wheel fittings and a western elk crown handle. I'm going to hold off on epoxying it for a few more weeks. My son is getting married in July and I'm going to ask him if he wants to use it to cut the cake at the wedding.

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Mercy Ray, you are the master of Big Bowies. :thumbup: Great flow and a beautiful piece, should get plenty of attention when he cuts the cake into. :D

Bill
 
Cut the cake? That thing'll cut the table in half. :eek: Really nice piece Ray. :thumbup:

Roger
 
I am not a big fan of crown elk, but who could not absolutely LOVE this blade?? It is absolutely magnificent. And the crown elk (what I thought I didn't care for) really sets it off. It's always great to do a complete 180 in one's perception. Great one, there!
 
I don't care what it's called- I call it TOTALLY AWESOME!
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
betzner said:
I am not a big fan of crown elk, but who could not absolutely LOVE this blade?? It is absolutely magnificent. And the crown elk (what I thought I didn't care for) really sets it off. It's always great to do a complete 180 in one's perception. Great one, there!
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Your still pretty picky. :D As you have probably already noticed I like using crowns. But this one is the most perfect one I have ever seen or used! It was a perfect fit for this blade.
 
Ray,
I've got a couple of freinds who are over 6'5"... for them, it'd be a big knife! :D
For me, it'd be a big short-sword!!! :eek: :eek:
And I would hope that'll be a BIG cake your son uses it on!!!

Someday, you'll need to make one like that with a more traditional naval cutlass-style handle and really give the pirates on here something to smile about!!! :D :thumbup:
 
joeshredd said:
Ray,
I've got a couple of freinds who are over 6'5"... for them, it'd be a big knife! :D
For me, it'd be a big short-sword!!! :eek: :eek:
And I would hope that'll be a BIG cake your son uses it on!!!

Someday, you'll need to make one like that with a more traditional naval cutlass-style handle and really give the pirates on here something to smile about!!! :D :thumbup:
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Arrrrrrrrrrr :D
 
Ray, that is stunning, nothing less than stunning. It would be the masterpiece of any collection of traditional pieces. I absolutely love it, off the charts. I wish I could better articulate my feelings on this piece...

Congrats on your sons wedding - hope he found a great one ( like his momma :) )
 
Big Boy,

You just keep making them bigger and bigger. At this rate, you are gonna have to expand your shop.

Lookin' good Bud.

Robert
 
I love all of your work and this is no exception. I would love to watch you work that steel sometime. Very very nice.

SDS
 
Super looking knife! Short sword or long bowie...either way, it's a winner. It should open some eyes at your son's wedding. :eek:

- Joe
 
Ray congradulations on your sons wedding that will be a fun day. What a great idea to use one of your creations to cut the cake. Remember to get some great photos....
Congradulate your son for me and have a Great wedding !
Beautiful Bowie......
 
Ray that is a great looking knife and will be an outstanding performer at the wedding. Our nephew asked Charlie and I to make him a knife to cut the wedding cake when he got married. It was a great idea and introduced many people to the world of custom knives. I almost felt bad about the amount of attention the knife was getting. Then Charlie made one for his daughter a couple of years later and it was awesome. Never miss a chance to expose new people to custom knives and this will be a great way to do it. Not one negative comment from anyone about a nine inch Bowie with an ivory handle at a wedding. Both of the knives we have made for cake knives are destined to be passed down through the family to be used in future weddings in the generations to come.
 
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