The Cowbell Build Thread

Redmeadow Knives said:
Welcome Nate, @jmgruber beat me to it, I sell through a Newsletter that you're more than welcome to Join. Get me your email and I'll add it to the list if you're interested. Thanks for the kind words.

I'm with you Craig and really partial to .10" for an edc type of use. I'm considering making this to be more of a field knife with a taller blade height and thicker spine. I think 5/32 will give a nice geometry, 3/16 can be lunky.

I have a hard time making a daily carry blade with longer than a 5 inch blade, I can't wrap my head around carrying a 9 plus inch knife on a daily basis. As I worked to design a larger knife than a Cowbell it's purpose went more towards heavy work than a daily task knife. I may have to make an XL Cowbell and add some handle and an inch or so of blade at some point. Though as I type that I wonder will it really do more than a Cowbell or just be cumbersome on the belt?

Guess I'm too much of a Fountainhead type to ever be a succesful knifemaker lol.
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I hear you, what can a larger cowbell will do that cannot already be done by the regular size cowbell? Regular cutting chores that does not involve batoning but can chop sticks or branches for kindling to start a fire. Very interesting factors to think about, so do you think a cowbell with a 4 to 4.5 inch blade is better than the regular size? Maybe for kitchen and fire prep meaning kindling? Or 5 to 6 inches? I have always liked knives from Ed Martin’s( Martin Tactical Knives ), but he used to have some frontier knives years ago ( still has some design influences in some current designs ), I had him make me a drop point ball end knife in 3/16 with a 6 inch blade, which I should have stayed with 1/8 or 5/32, that may help give an idea of my tastes in a medium camp knife ( 5 to 6 inches blade ). I do think 4 to 5 inches is a good all around size, in 5/32. So just food for thought and I know you have more experience what works in a knife this size. Appreciate you letting me share some ideas.

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cbach8tw said:
I hear you, what can a larger cowbell will do that cannot already be done by the regular size cowbell? Regular cutting chores that does not involve batoning but can chop sticks or branches for kindling to start a fire. Very interesting factors to think about, so do you think a cowbell with a 4 to 4.5 inch blade is better than the regular size? Maybe for kitchen and fire prep meaning kindling? Or 5 to 6 inches? I have always liked knives from Ed Martin’s( Martin Tactical Knives ), but he used to have some frontier knives years ago ( still has some design influences in some current designs ), I had him make me a drop point ball end knife in 3/16 with a 6 inch blade, which I should have stayed with 1/8 or 5/32, that may help give an idea of my tastes in a medium camp knife ( 5 to 6 inches blade ). I do think 4 to 5 inches is a good all around size, in 5/32. So just food for thought and I know you have more experience what works in a knife this size. Appreciate you letting me share some ideas.

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I agree, a larger blade would be more useful and expand capabilities for sure. We'd need it longer and taller in both the blade and handle. I just mean at that point it would no longer be a Cowbell and would be it's own animal. I really like the proportions of the Cowbell and for daily carry I think it's a great fit between a slipjoint and a lunky blade on your hip. For camp use it falls short no doubt. That calls for a 4-6" inch blade with enough heft to handle small tasks around the campfire.

That's what I've been working on, something that'll cover larger tasks. A camp/field knife that's nimble enough but also hefty enough for all around camp work. Personally, a Cowbell, a shorter machete and a hatchet would be ideal for me but a compromise between all three would be great.

I enjoy hearing everyones thoughts on thungs like this. If anyone wants to start a thread about field/camp knife ideas go for it. A good discussion is always useful.
 
Redmeadow Knives said:
I agree, a larger blade would be more useful and expand capabilities for sure. We'd need it longer and taller in both the blade and handle. I just mean at that point it would no longer be a Cowbell and would be it's own animal. I really like the proportions of the Cowbell and for daily carry I think it's a great fit between a slipjoint and a lunky blade on your hip. For camp use it falls short no doubt. That calls for a 4-6" inch blade with enough heft to handle small tasks around the campfire.

That's what I've been working on, something that'll cover larger tasks. A camp/field knife that's nimble enough but also hefty enough for all around camp work. Personally, a Cowbell, a shorter machete and a hatchet would be ideal for me but a compromise between all three would be great.

I enjoy hearing everyones thoughts on thungs like this. If anyone wants to start a thread about field/camp knife ideas go for it. A good discussion is always useful.
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I think you are right, a camp knife would have to be its own animal. Now we can have fun coming up with a new cattle themed name!!!! Once you figure out the details of the knife, we could have a baby naming contest!! If the blade is big, we can call it the “Longhorn.” 😄. Buck called it’s 117 the Brahma. The Lil’ dogie, the flat iron, mustang or Stallion, the old nag or nags Head….? …I bet Dave Ferry could give us some good options for names, maybe not a cattle name but maybe a ranch name? I think I’m getting carried away…maybe I am placing the cart before the horse…pun intended. Others may include the Flyin J, the Wagon ( or Waggin ) wheel, broken arrow . I need to stop and I need help.🤠 It is a terrible thing to be bored and snowed in!!! What are some common names or themes in Montana?
 
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I got a smaller Hudson Bay from Caleb Cox that has a good shape and size, a 6 inch blade, not big but hefty enough for camp chores breaking down game. I also include a pic of Martin Tactical knife that is reminiscent of John Wayne’s knife in The Searchers.


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Some other of my knives, not to copy but for lines and shapes for inspiration. The second pic is is a smaller 4.5 to 5 inch blade, the others about a 5 in blade.IMG_0864.jpegIMG_0288.jpegIMG_0134.jpegIMG_0133.jpeg
 
cbach8tw said:
I think you are right, a camp knife would have to be its own animal. Now we can have fun coming up with a new cattle themed name!!!! Once you figure out the details of the knife, we could have a baby naming contest!! If the blade is big, we can call it the “Longhorn.” 😄. Buck called it’s 117 the Brahma. The Lil’ dogie, the flat iron, mustang or Stallion, the old nag or nags Head….? …I bet Dave Ferry could give us some good options for names, maybe not a cattle name but maybe a ranch name? I think I’m getting carried away…maybe I am placing the cart before the horse…pun intended. Others may include the Flyin J, the Wagon ( or Waggin ) wheel, broken arrow . I need to stop and I need help.🤠 It is a terrible thing to be bored and snowed in!!! What are some common names or themes in Montana?
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A name game would be fun and you guys know how much I love a Westerns theme. Montana ranches is a lot of swear words, #%@&$!! is a funny name for a knife 🤣
 
Redmeadow Knives said:
A name game would be fun and you guys know how much I love a Westerns theme. Montana ranches is a lot of swear words, #%@&$!! is a funny name for a knife 🤣
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I like “get out of bed you lazy bum!” Or shorter would be the Lazy Bum Ranch.😀
 
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Haven't posted many build pictures in here recently. This'll give you and idea of the distal taper in the blades and some of prep I do for handles. A shallow groove in the center of the scales gives the epoxy some thickness under the scales instead of squeezing everything out and leaving a thin layer. Skeletonizing in the tang lets the epoxy connect through to opposong sides. Tangs get roughed out past the front pin to give the epoxy something to grip onto. 12" Pinstock and tubing gets a rough ground finish before I cut them into pieces, too difficult to grind tiny pins once they're cut, that helps the epoxy grip the pin. Cowbell etch, ricassos and scale fronts are completed. Redmeadow etch on the spine is done after the handles are on and shaped.
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Redmeadow Knives said:
Haven't posted many build pictures in here recently. This'll give you and idea of the distal taper in the blades and some of prep I do for handles. A shallow groove in the center of the scales gives the epoxy some thickness under the scales instead of squeezing everything out and leaving a thin layer. Skeletonizing in the tang lets the epoxy connect through to opposong sides. Tangs get roughed out past the front pin to give the epoxy something to grip onto. 12" Pinstock and tubing gets a rough ground finish before I cut them into pieces, too difficult to grind tiny pins once they're cut, that helps the epoxy grip the pin. Cowbell etch, ricassos and scale fronts are completed. Redmeadow etch on the spine is done after the handles are on and shaped.
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Good info!
 
I've got to say, now after ringing a cowbell in my very own hands.... It's a very fine knife. I have made sheaths for knives from just about anyone ya could think of from very famous MS and Hall of Famers to never heard of ya guys. I do require that the knife be sent in for the sheath work so I see A LOT of knives from out there, John....you're rocking it!.

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Horsewright said:
I've got to say, now after ringing a cowbell in my very own hands.... It's a very fine knife. I have made sheaths for knives from just about anyone ya could think of from very famous MS and Hall of Famers to never heard of ya guys. I do require that the knife be sent in for the sheath work so I see A LOT of knives from out there, John....you're rocking it!.

nzsgK5c.jpg


Jq7jePP.jpg


r8aLTlP.jpg
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What a beautiful sheath! That turned out really nice! Thanks for the kind words, I really appreciate that.
 
Just a heads up the Dibs will be shipped this week and I'll have a couple of straight sales in the Newsletter.

Here's another quick video of an Opal Zulu. I'm either talking a mile a minute or maybe I hit 2X on the speed 🤣


I tried to respond to your comment Mack but it's not letting me reply on Youtube, I'll try to figure that out what's going on there.
 
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