The 72 Hour Bowie (Forging with Farr, Part 2)

Thanks very much to all for your comments.

Thom - if I ever do start a list, you're first in line. :thumbup:

Riad - you crack me up man - looking forward to meeting you at Blade.

Lorien - thanks - glad you got the article and hope you find it interesting. A lot of the design concepts discussed there are reflected in the handle on this piece. See if you can spot them.

Peter - we had left the cabin well behind by the time we completed this piece, so no vine chopping. However, we will be getting back together for a chopping session some time after Blade and this one will get its turn for sure.

Kevin - haven't decided on bringing it to Blade yet - travelling across national borders with large sword-like objects can be a little interesting at times.

Dan and Matt - thanks again.

nikoknife - Dan doesn't have his name cast into his anvil, but he does have it on his hammers, which is also cool:

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Can't believe I forgot to mention the icing on the cake. While we waited for the epoxy for the pin and lanyard to set, we put together this nice simple little stand - crafted from the same walnu and ebony as the handle itself, but using bits that weren't otherwise suitable for handle material:

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Roger
 
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Roger!

N.B. I am placing an order today, for your JS Test version of that knife!

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P
 
Around 11:30 AM, Monday, I received a phone call from my friend Roger asking if I'd be home for awhile. Of course, I'm home all the time so checked to see if he needed some lunch and he said he'd be over about noon.

I'm figuring some more knives to look at and lots of good knife chat and photo taking.

Sure enough, Roger comes in with a bag large enough for an Army Ranger to carry his kit in and we sat down to chat and look at knives.

I won't get into a couple of the knives here as Roger will be posting images in a separate thread but after looking at a couple, we did discuss a bit about CKCA and other knife things Roger is involved with.

Next comes out a really nice large knife. Now, consider that I knew Roger was going down to spend time with Dan over this past weekend but I did not originally put things together when I first picked up the knife and looked at it.

Wow!! this biggie is really light for such a "mojo" Kewl!! Now because of the handle finish, blade finish, feel etc, I'm thinking -- "oh, Roger, got another Nick Wheeler blade". Hmm, no where is there a name of the maker on the knife.

Lights on!!! Wow!! Hey, man this is one terrfic knife that you did. Over this past weekend??? Yes!!! Wow!!

The handle fits perfectly. Yeah, there are a few things still to be done but let me tell you that I have seen a lot of knives and many a maker with many years of experience would not create such a fine piece of cutlery as was done by Roger. yeah, it is a collaboration but it is one terrific knife. It just feels perfect in the hand and is so amazingly light it is quite astonishing.

Once fully finished with sheath and the stand it will be a centre piece to Roger's fine Bowie collection. This is one fabulous camp knife and all involved are certainly to be congratulated and thanks again to Roger for bringing it over and chatting about the knife and the others he also showed. Those ones everyone will also enjoy when he posts the info about them.

Great report and photos Roger and from what responses you have read, all of us have thoroughly enjoyed this thread.
 
wow...
that was incedibly good!
i have been blessed by people like you who show the progress of their knives, and how they are made. it shows me how i am doing it wrong. *grins* i have never seen any body else work, except in pictures (or dvds.. thanks matt!) so these are wonderful!
and the knife is gorgious to boot!
thanks so much for sharing!
(and how the heck did you "just get together" with dan farr?!
thanks!
~chris
 
First off, a hats-off to Master Dan Farr for orchestrating this plan. A student is only as good as his teacher.

Matt and Roger, I salute your work. Wow, does this thread contain some enjoyable processes and descriptions. I've been lurking, yet salivating all along.

I suspect I will get a chance to handle this sometime soon. Yes! :thumbup:

Thank YOU!

Coop
 
By the way, I spent a weekend in Dan's shop a few years ago too, and I learned an awful lot, but after seeing this thread and Roger's prior efforts as well I realize that both Roger and Matt have much more natural talent for this that I probably ever will. Truly impressive what these guys were able to do here. And while Dan is a terrific teacher, generous with his time and just full of knifemaking knowledge, he gets only half the credit. He wouldn't be able to boast results like that with just any student... :)
 
Impressive looking knife and great teamwork to produce such a great looking piece. I think I am just as impressed with the effort that was put in to taking and posting the progress shots with explanations. Nice! :thumbup::cool:
 
Wow! Guys, that came out awsome!!! :D I'm glad Matt didn't grind that one into dust.;)
Mace
 
nice stuff guys, I'm impressed!! Matt has been talking about this for a while. glad to see it happen and so well! That is one of the better WIP pics I've seen good job Roger and thanks for sharing.
Paul
 
Amazing photos and text, Roger. What a collaboration. This thread has given me even more respect for the art of forged knife making.
 
Now that I'm a pinch more conscious (that weekend took a lot out of me!), I think I can post here and sound pretty coherent...

It was great working with Roger. There wasn't a single moment in the entire event where he said 'no mas', and his enthusiasm fueled my own. We both agreed that we would forego working on anything else to get this knife done. When Roger sent me the photo of the Fisk Rojo, and thought that he'd like to base our collaboration on some of it's design cues, I cringed a little bit, knowing what a bear it is just to keep something that size flat -- even when you're just grinding it! When Roger transferred his thoughts to paper, it seemed even more daunting (it also grew another two inches beyond the original discussion -hmmm, think I might have been set up?;)). Then the fire was lit, and the hammer just seemed to keep falling right, and wouldn't ya know it, but it was rough-forged and looking good! That was the last moment of resistance, for me. I knew it was going to happen. I'll speak for myself, but I'm pretty sure Roger felt the same. There wasn't an instance where that conviction wavered.
For someone that's only spent a few hours previously with the tools and materials involved in knifemaking, you'd never know it. Rog just did it! It was inspiring to be drawn into a project like this one, and to be able to work with someone that shared the same drive made the whole time feel almost surreal - we just kept going! Thanks for letting me a part of this, Roger... this was a once in a lifetime experience (-until the next time, right?).

At this point I'd like to mention Mr. Farr. There has been mention of Dan's selflessness, and his willingness to share his expertise with others. None of these discussions do the man justice. I'm not sure I've seen this level of optimism, encouragement, support or stoicism ever before. Not only were Roger and I invited into Dan's shop and home, but he tolerated us as we ceaselessly pestered him with questions and demands for assistance - all the while with Dan suffering from sleep deprivation, and the worst allergies I've witnessed in ages (not to mention nutrient deficiencies:p:D)! I'll never be able to repay Dan for the three days he donated to us (this close to the Blade Show, no less!). It will not stop me from trying, however - we'll see what I manage to come up with...;)

I am in the debt of both of these men, and I am honored to call both of them my friends.

Thanks, Dan and Roger!
 
Thanks Matt - and very well said re. Dan.

I always felt we'd get it done - though I wasn't always convinced it would happen within the three days we had. Like when the overfilled propane tank froze up and we had to wait 'til the following morning to get a replacement. :eek:

Like you, though, seeing the rough forged blade and taking it in hand was a defining moment. I felt we had something way better than just okay in front of us. I am grateful to you and Dan for putting the focus on getting this piece done. It will be an honor to have my name in the company of yours and Dan's on this knife.

Roger
 
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