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

Bawanna said:
I've tried a couple brands of cutters and hands down Dem Bart is my favorite. Incidently they are only about a half hour away from my house. I don't care much for the Gunline ones, for me they just don't cut as well.
I bought their master starter set I think they called it and they are right you'll want a few more.
I got a complete second set from a guy who wanted to give it a try and then found he didn't have the patience for it and I use them all.
If you buy a used set and they are worn out, you just replace the cutter heads as needed. The handles are probably the big item. Then you can do what you want.

I started out with 18LPI stuff since this is what Winchester and many of the factories use for rifle checkering. I later stepped up to 20LPI and I like it a little better. Softer wood/material does better with more course checkering. Gotta have really good wood to go much finer than 20LPI. Ebony checkers real fine.

I think Dem Bart cutters fit on Gun Line handles, I have a few.

Brownell's is a where I buy most. I've been to Dem Bart a few times, he's also an FFL so I sometimes get guns transferred there but he's usually out of the cutters I want, filling orders.....you guessed it for Brownell's.

I'll help ya anyway I can.
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Thank you Bawanna, that is really kind of you.
Now Ill be hunting for some used once :)
Do you know if checkering horn looks any good or is even possible?
 
Lovely work, Pugs. I need a few supplies from Tandy to make a sheath for mine...it course it's not going to look anywhere near that nice;)
 
Very nice Pugs! Like the wet molded design. Looks like it would be more stable on the belt. Great job as usual!
 
Steely_Gunz said:
Lovely work, Pugs. I need a few supplies from Tandy to make a sheath for mine...it course it's not going to look anywhere near that nice;)
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Thank you Steely, and im sure yours will be just as nice.

ndoghouse said:
Very nice Pugs! Like the wet molded design. Looks like it would be more stable on the belt. Great job as usual!
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Thanks Ndog, it will be very sturdy on the belt for sure.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Thank you Bawanna, that is really kind of you.
Now Ill be hunting for some used once :)
Do you know if checkering horn looks any good or is even possible?[/QUOT

Horn checkers beautifully. It's hard and very consistent. With checkering the harder the material the better. Ebony, Coco bolo, most of the Rosewoods and good walnut all checker good.

I'd suggest just a flat piece of decent scrap wood to play on. It takes awhile to get the lines parallel and consistent. It's amazing how thing can get astray even with a double cutter.

Add in a radius or curved surface and the challenge increases immensely. The Bowie handle is pretty flat so not too difficult.
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Bawanna said:
...Horn checkers beautifully...
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I'll say. Here's Bawanna's Pen Knife with checkering in progress:

DSCN3874_zps5d08e609.jpg
 
wow that does look great , you guys have converted me to checkering, I am piling up knives to give bawanna to pay for the work :D
 
Mr. Tall you sir are a magician. I would not recommend a round handle like that for your first checkering experience. That was challenging.
I'm no doubt a bit biased but I love that picture and I truly love that knife too. I better hold it for a spell tonight and show it some love. The baby bowie has been getting all the attention lately. After checkering I wrapped it in para cord since the handle was a bit small but I think I'm gonna pull that off too. Looks better with the horn.
I'm wearing my bawanna bowie everyday and couldn't be happier with it.
 
Gehazi said:
wow that does look great , you guys have converted me to checkering, I am piling up knives to give bawanna to pay for the work :D
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When I started out I did mostly rifles, mostly my own of course. Then folks started wanting their rifles checkered and the worries began. They bring grandpa's 416 Whistlepoop Magnum for checkering and I'm like don't screw this one up.
Then I wanted some grips for a pistol I had that nobody made, I eventually made my own and that kicked off the grip thing. Less stressful, more work but if I screw up, they go in the fireplace and I can start over.

I guess in summary, don't nobody send nothing that can't be replaced if I screw up.
I'm probably borderline in violation here too, I'm not listed as a craftsman, vendor, maker, leather bender. I'm just a derelict with a passion for things that go bang and sharp pointy things.

If the mods rain on me here I'll plead insanity, I wasn't even here today, somebody hacked my crystal ball. I was away shoveling snow in Minnisota (they got snow there right). I need witness's here. Please!
 
Gehazi said:
lol im not trying to swamp you man, just compliment you !
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I understand and that wasn't what I was trying to say. Mostly I don't want to mess up somebodies treasures. I've been lucky, messed up one or two of my own but never anybody else's YET.
 
Bawanna said:
Jens Schuetz said:
Thank you Bawanna, that is really kind of you.
Now Ill be hunting for some used once :)
Do you know if checkering horn looks any good or is even possible?
Click to expand...

Horn checkers beautifully. It's hard and very consistent. With checkering the harder the material the better. Ebony, Coco bolo, most of the Rosewoods and good walnut all checker good.

I'd suggest just a flat piece of decent scrap wood to play on. It takes awhile to get the lines parallel and consistent. It's amazing how thing can get astray even with a double cutter.

Add in a radius or curved surface and the challenge increases immensely. The Bowie handle is pretty flat so not too difficult.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, scrap for sure at first. No way I risk one HI Kukri, before I'm not reasonably confident and even then I will be nervous. Glad that horn works so well. Looks really good on Steve Tall's picture.
Thank you!
:)
 
Well here is a quick and dirty photo of my Baby:) I gave the blade a quick scrub down and a short muriatic acid bath to gray it up a bit and take away some of the shine

FNX-9 and IBBB.jpg
Here it is with my FNX-9 I'm carrying today for scale.

I have used this knife for everything from cutting up chicken to trimming my daughter's straw at Dairy Queen to opening boxes to boring out the ends of corn cobs so that they fit easier on the squirrel feeder. I LOVE this knife!
 
Nice picture, goes well with the FN too. Still pretty, just a little less gloss after the muriatic acid.

Wearing mine around a few of the officers around here are starting to drool a bit. One sgt who usually don't get excited about much of anything I believe is becoming obsessed. I think he may have already sent a message to auntie for the next batch.
 
Steve Tall said:
I'll say. Here's Bawanna's Pen Knife with checkering in progress:

DSCN3874_zps5d08e609.jpg
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This picture inspired me to tear off the cord wrap I covered that beautiful horn with. I'm ashamed of myself for ever doing it in the first place. The handle doesn't seem as small as it did and with the baby bowie doing daily duty I can easily live with it. I do love the little pen knife.
It was a bit of a chore to clean off the epoxy I used to secure the para cord with but I'm pretty much done. I'll take some new pics when I get a chance. I neglected to respect the blade and I'm sure it's feeling much better now that it's back to it's natural state.
 
Gosh it's quiet around here!

Steely inspired me to take a photo of my waist combo so here ya be.
Also the finished product on the bawanna bowie handle. All cleaned up and oiled.
I've worn it every single day since I got it and it works just perfect for me. I'm incredibly happy with it.

Cat even decided to be photogenic or something, just happened to be there, I don't try to move it, might claw my arms off.
Might even get a little excitement out of Poppy.





 
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