Thoughts and impressions if the new Micro/IBBB/Bawanna Bowie Good and bad.

A few years back I made a post about HI and called it the amazing blade, every once in a while I repost it for some of the newer folks around here, here is what I wrote:

I am somewhat new to this forum an have posted a few threads about the khuks I have purchased from H.I.. Before I purchased one, I spent countless hours reading here deep into the archives to present, just trying to get a perspective on these blades and the people who buy them.

I finally jumped in, when my khuk's arrived, I was in awe. I have done my research on these and know some of the history of them and the men who make them. Knowing what they are made from, and how the material is selected.

As Uncle Bill said, the blade picks its owner. Each blade tells a story, the sweat and toil that's put into each one. As I look over the blades, I am reminded that these are crafted one at a time, not a cookie cutter blade made in a factory that stamps out hundreds of blades a day, and all are perfect.

A Kami can make the same type of blade many times, but each one has a slight difference, never the same. It could be a harder hammer blow to one side making a fuller lower on that side than the other, or a habaki that shows where a pair of pliers held it tightly while fitting it to that blade, blood grooves that are not perfect on both sides, handle rings that have slight differences.

What does that mean to me?? Well it shows that a man crafted this with his bare hands and feet, on a anvil sometimes smaller than an old sledgehammer head. These differences give each blade a soul and an ability to tell a story.

"There are many Khuks, but this one is mine". How true is that.

It makes me feel good, knowing that I make a difference in the quality of life these fine men who craft these wonderful pieces of art have. So if you are reading this and are on the fence about purchasing one, jump of my friend and get one, you will not regret it, and if you are an elder to the forum thank you for reading. Regards Frank.

I am reminded of this every time I purchase one. And with these new Bowies it is so true. As Ndog said from a thought, to the Kami then to our own craftsmen here we truly have a one of a kind rig to be proud of.
 
pretty sure one of my posts dissapeared anyway i said, i love the little bowies , and im gonna probably try to get one as my next HI blade, just hope enough of them are made for me to get one..
may have to get bawanna and pugs to pimp it for me :)
 
I'm your man for my part, Pugs will have to speak for hisself. Auntie indicated that more are in the works as time allows and figured mid to late April for another batch. The waiting is tough but they are sure worth, just a gem of a little knife.
 
First day of wear for my pimped micro! First thing I notice from the checkering is it doesnt shock you when the cold handle touches your skin. Just feels good there. Probably same thing when it 110 outside as well. No one has seen it yet. Guess ill have to whup it out and bust open a pallet:D Very comfortable so far Pugs! Ive been sitting most of the day tho. I can see how it would be perfect for Bawanna! Ill take out for a walk shortly!
 
First day of wear for my pimped micro! First thing I notice from the checkering is it doesnt shock you when the cold handle touches your skin. Just feels good there. Probably same thing when it 110 outside as well. No one has seen it yet. Guess ill have to whup it out and bust open a pallet:D Very comfortable so far Pugs! Ive been sitting most of the day tho. I can see how it would be perfect for Bawanna! Ill take out for a walk shortly!

Im glad you like it man, Did you wear it all day? if so was it ok??
 
I sent my Micro Bowie to Bawanna's Grip Emporium (no joke, Google it and check out the gallery), and got some skip-line checkering along with the full spa treatment. I am totally thrilled with the makeover:

This first photo shows how 3-D the checkering can look:

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It looks great and feels great, too (almost like it fits into my fingerprints instead of smearing against them). Thanks again to Bawanna!
 
You take good pictures Mr Tall. Nice to keep this thread alive too. I still dig my little micro very much. Worn it everyday since I got it.

Glad you like how your's turned out.
 
That looks bad to the bone man, Great job Bawanna. They do have a different feeling once checkered.
 
Accused of snoozing while MY Chainpuri slipped away today, it's ok I was still poor anyhow but it weren't true. I was whittling.

Evidence photos during a 5 minute sun break.

I wanted to make my Micro and my Mini match. Kind of wish I'd skip lined my own but with my one track mind I was focusing on the diamond and didn't consider the skip line. So I made em match.


Anyone notice whats wrong with this picture?




I must have used a little stain or the wood was just a bit darker on the micro. I think most likely the latter. I don't generally like stain much, kind of like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get.

 
I've been playing around for a while now with one of these Bawanna sent me. It reminds me of a heavy snub-nosed revolver. I'd felt a similar spirit before. Some time back, in the ancient Tibetan land of Kham, in a primitive smithy not unlike BirGorkha, I picked up a small knife of the sort often carried by men of the region.

Here's a side-by-side.

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If the Tibetan knife is a titanium frame 38 special, the BB is a steel frame 44 mag.
 
That looks a bit similar to those two? that Auntie put up for a DOD a few months back. If anything your picture looks more heavy duty compared to what she had. I recall she kept one for herself, they were very ornate but light duty.
Yours appears to be much more tool user worthy.

I should have checkered that horn before I sent it but I didn't want to take that liberty. Left the call for you to make.
 
Anyone notice whats wrong with this picture?

I know exactly whats wrong with the picture!!!
I like the little snail in the other pic as well. You Bowies are looking mighty fine there, that checkering just puts them in another class. But that bigen looks nekid, and I bet those plastic britches aint helping in the cold.
 
We have a winner, that didn't take long. Obviously Pugs knows nekkid when he see's it. I got the makings of a feeble plan incorporating your much sought after Baldric system. Gotta work it some more in my head, it might not make it off the launch pad.
 
Well you definitely werent snoozin! That looks awesome! Diamond looks nice with full checker around it! My micro was darker also which I like but now seeing your lighter mini with the grain showing through..I like em both! I see whats wrong with that pic! It needs matching fancy pants!...oh you said that already...duhhhh.whos snoozin now?
 
Today I decided to take a closer look at my friends work:D Enjoy!

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This is an amazing work of art in itself. I always wondered how our Khuks were engraved and imagined the tools they used to do it. Apears they used a cresent moon shaped chisel so they can go around the bends and as the bend changes they reversed it and continued. This is part of the first character under the "U" of "UB". to make a line they just hammered it deeper and or dragged it along as they tapped it on it way. Pretty cool eh!

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Here is the "B" done the same way.

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and the tip of the sword of shiva. Looks like they do have several tools but most of the work can be done with only a few. This is only forensic speculation because I really dont know how they do it.

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Anyone venture to guess what this is? Its Bawanas' fine checkering job on the handle! Kind of messes with your eyes a bit eh?

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And some checkering over the pins!

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I think im going to have to tell yall what this is. Yep its beaver tail at 40X magnification!

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Done by one of our favorite leather benders:thumbup:

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and just for fun a couple of stitches through some beav.
Thought yall might enjoy a micro look at a micro. Next week scanning electron micrographs:D
 
Wow! Just wow! Looks like you picked a good spot on the checkering, I don't see no horrible boo boo's. That over the pins one baffles me, I guess your right my eyes are totally messed with.
 
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