Stripped a TOPS Bowie

Riz!

Riz!

Joined
May 5, 2014
Messages
4,135
TOPS Prather War Bowie

Stripped it



Sanded it...





You can see that there are some sort of grind marks that run from tip to handle. I sanded and sanded and it just wouldnt go away.

Then a bath in boiling vinegar



TOPS knives are differentially heat treated and it shows when doing the patina in vinegar. The first 1/3-1/2 of an inch of blade from the edge, darkened faster and deeper than the spine side of the knife.





You can actually see the hamon in the above picture.



Interestingly enough, those grind lines from the sanding stage tookma different color patina then the rest of the blade. That makes me think there may be a difference in the hardness along that line.
 
Last edited:
I am impressed by the hamon and the look of the blade stripped. Nice to know what I have under the coating. Very cool knife, too. The Prather War Bowie is underrated in my opinion. If one can get past the name, it's a solid knife. That bad boy deserves some kydex.

Thanks for sharing!
 
Yeah I really like the War Bowie. It is actually a really good design that can be used as an outdoors/survival knife and because it is flat ground it actually cuts pretty well for a 1/4 thick knife. I wish they would offer it with their black river wash finish. Interestingly enough the blade was sandblasted under the coating. I forgot to get a pic of it before I sanded the knife. Also I resharpened it with a mirror polished convex edge. 1095 always impresses me. It gets crazy sharp really fast.
 
Re sanded through finer and finer grit. Then re etched with hot vinegar. Looks way better.

 
I'm digging the extra patina on it. :thumbup: Man, the two are like night and day between your mods and the factory.

Black river wash is cool, but I think you've basically done that without the goofy etching.What sandpaper grits did you use to get it to this point?

Maybe something like g10 for modded scales next? Nice kydex on it, by the way.

Great work!
 
Last edited:
What is funny is that this project started because I contacted TOPS about ordering a PWB with the black river wash and they said they couldn't do it. Well I figured that I would see what I could do on my own. I think it is even better because I did it myself and as you pointed out, its a sterile blade with no dumb etching and logos. The difference is that I have heard TOPS applies a clear cerakote over the black river wash to prevent it from scratching and rusting.


The first time, i used just 80 grit and hand sanded it. The second time I used 80, 120, 220 and then 320. For 80, 120 and 220 I used a black and decker "mouse" detail sander. Its a little hand held sander that uses peices of sandpaper shaped like a clothes iron. It makes very small circles that are no bigger than 1/8 inch in diameter. By the time I got up to 220'grit the blade looked stonewashed. Then I used the 400 grit wet or dry and handed sanded in one direction only. I just sanded the swedge and the primary grind from handle to tip with the 320. After the vinegar etch I buffed with extra fine steel wool. Then re bathed in hot vinegar and rebuffed 3 more times. I stopped when the patina and the hamon looked the way I wanted.

Next I am thinking of doing either desert Ironwood, curly maple, bocote, mesquite or flamed hickory handles. I can not decide if I want to use mosaic pins or just the stock screws. After that, I will make a leather sheath for it. I want it to look like a a bowie that a an old west Lawman would have carried
 
Last edited:
Oh and I resharpened it with my 1x30 belt sander with sharpening belts, then finished with a 1x30 leather stropping belt and then a final buffing on a 6 inch buffing wheel. That bad boy has a mirror polished convex edge that will treetop shave hair.
 
XxFULLPOWERxX said:
I should send you mine to do. :adoration:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliments guys.

It was pretty damn easy! You should give it a try. Once I do the handles, I will post more pics. Problem is that I cant decide what kind of wood to use.
 
Riz2530 said:
Thanks for the compliments guys.

It was pretty damn easy! You should give it a try. Once I do the handles, I will post more pics. Problem is that I cant decide what kind of wood to use.
Click to expand...

If I may, Cocobolo and Osage Orange might be good choices. Desert Ironwood and hickory are good picks, as well but maybe a little bland? My opinion, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top