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"Snapshot WIP"-10 1/4 Inch Walrus/Damascus Dogbone Bowie for Jim Treacy
- Thread starter John White
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,142
Further Snapshots-The Home Stretch!
With all the parts cut and fitted, the knife gets dis-assembled yet again for work on each handle part. First, to file-groove the collars.
Using a .032 slitting saw on a mandrel mounted in my drill-press, I'll hand slide the collars on a steel block. Turning the collars over will let me rough-cut all four grooves an equal distance in on the two collars.
The grooves are then hand-cleaned and evened with a knife-edge needle file.
Next comes the file-work on those Sterling Silver frame liners. More needle-files, and a strong Opti-visor. Filing the spacers back to back lets me keep the file-work even on both.
Now the handle parts are detailed...
We'll need some of those super looking domed silver pins. Using a punch and dapping block, I'll punch and dome 18 little silver caps.
and then solder 1/16th inch diameter pins to 9 of them.
and drill holes in the rest. Each pin gets "pickled " in a solution which cleans the soldering mess, and then is hand polished.How's this look?
The hardest part is getting each pin sitting exactly in the middle of the side facets on the handle. Bending the pin at the exact place, and to the exact angle is made much easier by making up a steel block the same angle as the facet, with a pin-hole drilled at the proper place.
Then, a sharp whack with a wooden mallet bends the pin for an exact fit.
I only had to make and install these pins THREE TIMES to get it right. No sweat!
With all the parts cut and fitted, the knife gets dis-assembled yet again for work on each handle part. First, to file-groove the collars.
Using a .032 slitting saw on a mandrel mounted in my drill-press, I'll hand slide the collars on a steel block. Turning the collars over will let me rough-cut all four grooves an equal distance in on the two collars.
The grooves are then hand-cleaned and evened with a knife-edge needle file.
Next comes the file-work on those Sterling Silver frame liners. More needle-files, and a strong Opti-visor. Filing the spacers back to back lets me keep the file-work even on both.
Now the handle parts are detailed...
We'll need some of those super looking domed silver pins. Using a punch and dapping block, I'll punch and dome 18 little silver caps.
and then solder 1/16th inch diameter pins to 9 of them.
and drill holes in the rest. Each pin gets "pickled " in a solution which cleans the soldering mess, and then is hand polished.How's this look?
The hardest part is getting each pin sitting exactly in the middle of the side facets on the handle. Bending the pin at the exact place, and to the exact angle is made much easier by making up a steel block the same angle as the facet, with a pin-hole drilled at the proper place.
Then, a sharp whack with a wooden mallet bends the pin for an exact fit.
I only had to make and install these pins THREE TIMES to get it right. No sweat!
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2007
- Messages
- 2,142
One last thing, take a small piece of twist damascus, match the "stars," and solder two pins on the back to make an escutchion....and WE'RE DONE.
Hope ya'll had at least a little fun seeing some details of the construction of this one. I enjoyed it all, except the first two times I installed those pins!
Here's the real treat. Photos of the finished product..
The ones I sent to Jim first.
Then Coop's magnificent shot...
and finally,the one Chuck Ward took at the Arkansas Show, where Jim graciously allowed me to exhibit this one on my table..
Thanks everyone, and special thanks to one of my great patrons, Jim Treacy.
Hope ya'll had at least a little fun seeing some details of the construction of this one. I enjoyed it all, except the first two times I installed those pins!
Here's the real treat. Photos of the finished product..
The ones I sent to Jim first.
Then Coop's magnificent shot...
and finally,the one Chuck Ward took at the Arkansas Show, where Jim graciously allowed me to exhibit this one on my table..
Thanks everyone, and special thanks to one of my great patrons, Jim Treacy.
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2007
- Messages
- 1,352
That is a wonderful piece of work!
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2002
- Messages
- 1,115
Very Nice John.
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2004
- Messages
- 4,030
Amazing work!
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2001
- Messages
- 1,394
John,
You sent me many of these images as you were making the knife. There are many more in this thread that I had not seen. It was a real pleasure to watch you work on this knife. It was a very complicated process. I know that this was your first dogbone, but it looks as if you had been making dogbone bowies for years. The fit and finish on this knife is amazing, as in all of your knives.
Your photos were very good. The super images that Jim Cooper and Chuck Ward did show off the knife in an amazing way. Here is an additional detail that Coop was nice enough to send to me when he shot the knife:
As good as those great photos are, they can not show what the knife looks like in person. The blade has a chatoyance that is amazing. It shimmers in the light when moved.
It can be seen somewhat in the photos, but the way that you lined up all of the stars in the damascus twist along the edges of the blade and guard, shows how much thought that you put in before you actually started making this beauty.
One of the reasons that I sent it back to you was so you could show it at the Arkansas Show. I was unable to attend, but I wanted my friends to see what a great knife that you had made. They all loved it. I brought it down to the Smokey Mountain Hammer-in last week and it continued to be praised by everone who saw it, many of them are very well known Mastersmiths.
This is my first John White knife, but it won't be my last. Anyone who can acquire a knife from John will be more than pleased by what he gets.
Thanks again,
Jim
You sent me many of these images as you were making the knife. There are many more in this thread that I had not seen. It was a real pleasure to watch you work on this knife. It was a very complicated process. I know that this was your first dogbone, but it looks as if you had been making dogbone bowies for years. The fit and finish on this knife is amazing, as in all of your knives.
Your photos were very good. The super images that Jim Cooper and Chuck Ward did show off the knife in an amazing way. Here is an additional detail that Coop was nice enough to send to me when he shot the knife:
As good as those great photos are, they can not show what the knife looks like in person. The blade has a chatoyance that is amazing. It shimmers in the light when moved.
It can be seen somewhat in the photos, but the way that you lined up all of the stars in the damascus twist along the edges of the blade and guard, shows how much thought that you put in before you actually started making this beauty.
One of the reasons that I sent it back to you was so you could show it at the Arkansas Show. I was unable to attend, but I wanted my friends to see what a great knife that you had made. They all loved it. I brought it down to the Smokey Mountain Hammer-in last week and it continued to be praised by everone who saw it, many of them are very well known Mastersmiths.
This is my first John White knife, but it won't be my last. Anyone who can acquire a knife from John will be more than pleased by what he gets.
Thanks again,
Jim
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2002
- Messages
- 12,297
Wow! Super Nice Piece John!
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2001
- Messages
- 12,347
This W.I.P really made a difference in my impressions. Knives come my way with such regularity and at such high levels, that it's often a commodity that I don't (and can't) spend too much time poring over.
Of course I enjoyed the knife and the apparent work. But I simply didn't 'understand' the amount of work. Now I do.
A hearty congrats to Jim Treacy, and a solid round of applause to MASTERSMITH John White. :thumbup:
Coop
Of course I enjoyed the knife and the apparent work. But I simply didn't 'understand' the amount of work. Now I do.
A hearty congrats to Jim Treacy, and a solid round of applause to MASTERSMITH John White. :thumbup:
Coop
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 1,564
The crispness of your work and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2005
- Messages
- 3,972
Just a tremendous bowie! Thanks for another great WIP thread, John. :thumbup: And, congratulations to you and Jim.
- Joe
- Joe