The "Green Canyon" bowie...

Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
8,287
Maybe camp/wilderness knife is a better word for it as it’s not quite as big as most bowies.

This knife is made to be a camp/wilderness knife and this one was not for an order or show from the beginning. I made this one for me to keep.

I don’t usually name my knives but this one was inspired by a particular place. It’s named for Green Canyon lake and the small Green Canyon creek that flows from it. It’s one of our favorite local camping spots. The lake sits high in the Anaconda Range of the Rockies. It’s very remote, and very difficult to find. There are no roads or trails into it, not even an old foot trail. So it doesn’t get many visitors at all. That is evident by the nearly two foot long cutthroat trout that live in the lake.

It was on one of our many weekend visits there last summer that I decided to make this knife. I wanted a little bit bigger knife than what I usually carry for these kinds of trips but still small enough to still want to pack it in. And I wanted something that was very tough and would hold a good edge.

Let me add a bit about the sheath. This was my first attempt at making a sheath with a frog and a button stud. I think it turned out pretty good and everything fits nice though Paul Long I am not. :) The sheath itself actually has a loop stitched on the back so you could carry it on your belt without the frog. I borrowed the idea for the loop from one of my revolver holsters that has three slots in it. You use the left and middle slot for right side (strong side) carry or use the left and right slots for left side (weak side) cross draw, or use the loop to lash to your gear if you want. It’s pretty versatile for carry.


So here it is.

Forged from 1080+ steel (which I think should be named something else as it’s quite a bit superior to 1080, IMO)
Just a shade under 12” overall, 6 ¾” tip to guard, 6 1/8” sharp
.210” at the ricasso with a really nice full distal taper
Rounded spine and ricasso edge
False edge, not sharp
Bronze guard and spacer
Coin-edged and blued steel collar
African Blackwood handle with carved and textured panel
Blued steel finial nut (made using John White’s machining methods in the “Old Glory” thread, Thanks John! :) )

Excuse the lint and a couple oil smudges.

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I threw in this pic of the lake where the idea of this knife was born

GrCyn8.jpg
 
John,

That's a really beautiful and useful looking knife, with a great flow of lines. The close shot of the guard/ricasso area reveals superb detailing.

You've got a winner there, and a fine companion for a trip back to the lake.

John
 
I really like it, Almost too prurty to use. I would probably safe queen that beauty!

Excellent work!

Jeff
 
I really like the whole knife, but I particularly like the detail of the coined/reeded collar.
 
That is so nice. Love that darker blade etch with the blackwood handle. The coin-edge detail is a very nice touch. Sweet.

Roger
 
Everyone has commented on how nice the knife is.....and it really is!

I paid attention to the detail of the sheath, the Multi carry options and the meticulous stamping on the front. That particular Southwest stamp you selected is very hard to get right as you used it, but you got the alignment perfect. Good Job!

Paul
 
Really like this package! Great lines are everywhere. Materials are wonderful together and I dig that etch.
 
Thanks for the comments guys.

And thanks Paul for the comments on the leather. Sheaths are something that I struggle with to get them looking nice. But like with the knives, I do the best I can do on them. But I have a long way to go with leather-and knives too. :)
 
That is very nice John I really like the work you did on the side of the handle. The dark blade and bronze guard is a nice touch as well I find that I like a nice warm dark knife like this one.
 
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