Show Me Your....Clamshells!!!

[r connally]

I started collecting with a "I'm a big bowie man" approach. Then those wonderful folders out there caught my attention and I expanded my horizons.

Recently, Kevin Jones started a ring/clamshell knife thread and clamshell guards hit my radar screen big time. Kevin Jones, you're killin' me! In a good way, of course


I went back to my roots with the recent "Show Me Your....Sub Hilts" thread. The contributions are outstanding and huge thanks to everyone who weighed in. I apologise that I can't start this thread with a pic because I don't own a clamshell bowie. However, I've become clam obsessed!

Hoping this thread is as great as the sub hilt one. It will really help me decide what to look for as I hunt for/order one of my collection. Soooo...Ladies and gentlemen...show me your clamshells!!!

 

[Marcel54]

Okay, here we go. The first one I own is the Bowie I won in this years March of Dimes charity raffle.

The second one is not a real clamshell but this Jerome Anders Bowie do has one

The third is one of Rodrigo's first JS knives and isn't in my collection anymore.

The last one is a great example by Steve Dunn.

Marcel

 

[r connally]

Thanks for the pics Marcel! Great pieces. The March of Dimes Charity knife is particulary nice, great detail.

This isn't taking off like the sub hilt thread. It's time to call in the heavy hitters. Coop and DDD, need some help on this one!

 

[JeremyM]

Here's a Jimmy Chin clamshell I was lucky enough to acquire a few years back.

 

[Chuck Ward]

Here are a couple more of Jimmy Chin's clamshells.

These are two of Jimmy's M.S. test knives.

Chuck

 

[Kevin Jones]

 

[Kevin Jones]

 

[Bruce Bump]

Wait a minute, I do have one.

 

[John M Cohea]

Mine is no where near the stunning examples so far, but it is a clam shell, as well as my first attempt at one

 

[the possum]

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but figure it can't hurt to mention while we're on the topic of shell guards.

I see a lot of modern makers that add a decorative "shell" motif to their guards, as in this thread. Which is all well & good. I had always assumed they were initially done for reasons other than decoration though. And so I guess I'm bringing it up because I'd love to see some modern guys forging the shell pattern in.

By adding ridges and flutes to a thinner piece of metal this way, you make it much more rigid for its weight. This is the same reason we have fluted high gothic armor, and modern corrugated sheet metal siding (for buildings). Not to make their weapons look like sea shells, at least initially.

Here's an antique messer with a shell guard rather than a nagel:

Armor of roughly the same period (high grade reproduction):

Later saber where the shell guard is clearly forged in:

 

[JParanee]

There are truly some beautiful knives shown here

Good idea for a thread Rob

 

[Kevin Jones]

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but figure it can't hurt to mention while we're on the topic of shell guards.

I see a lot of modern makers that add a decorative "shell" motif to their guards, as in this thread. Which is all well & good. I had always assumed they were initially done for reasons other than decoration though. And so I guess I'm bringing it up because I'd love to see some modern guys forging the shell pattern in.

By adding ridges and flutes to a thinner piece of metal this way, you make it much more rigid for its weight. This is the same reason we have fluted high gothic armor, and modern corrugated sheet metal siding (for buildings). Not to make their weapons look like sea shells, at least initially.

Very good point. I also believe the beautiful clamshell motif was originally implemented much for function as well as embellishment.
I have heard of many uses for these, such as a blade stop, a hanger, hand protection, splash guards and others.

 

[r connally]

Nice examples being posted, thanks everyone. Chuck, my oversight for not hollerin' your name when I asked for the "heavy hitters" to weigh in. My apologies and appreciate your posts!

Joe P., big bowie man, hope you are well! Bruce, the more I see your work, the more I realize I need some Bump in my collection.

And...besides great pics I got education from The Possum. Love learning new things and the pics/illustrations. Kevin, as always, cool stuff. Thanks guys.

Really interesting designs. Perhaps a bit off the beaten path and somewhat underappreciated by collectors? Keep em' coming!

 

[Kohai999]

Cool anyway....from Dave Ellis:



Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[ddd]

A Red Sea clam shell designed by Mother Nature....
Inspirational perfection, isn't it?

All the best,
David Darom (ddd)

From my book: "Handbook of the Seashores of Israel" (1992)

 

[Kevin Jones]

Hum?
Wonder if Kyle could heat treat my clamshells to match the color of David's? :foot:

 

[Bruce Bump]

Hum?
Wonder if Kyle could heat treat my clamshells to match the color of David's? :foot:

Try as we might but we cant out-do Mother Nature.

 

[David Stifle]

The Jimmy Chen clam guard is one of the best I've ever seen. What material does he use, NS, 416, etc.

Dave

 

[JeremyM]

Not sure about the two that Chuck Ward posted - the one I posted though is a 416 stainless guard.