Using titanium furniture on bowies?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
I'm working on a bowie and can't decide what to use or what style of guard or pommel to make for it and I got to thinking. Yes, I have been known to think on occasion. :)
I haven't noticed many folks putting ti furniture on fixed blades, especially bowies. Is there a reason for this? Is it hoakie looking? Do folks just not like it and would rather have more traditional materials on their bowies?
I was thinking maybe a nice layered guard with some file worked 416 between heat colored ti for the guard and the pommel and maybe even throw in a spacer too.
Another question, my blade is L6, gee, bet that was a surprise, :D, and I was thinking about darkening it up some or coloring or blackening it, what ever it's called. I've never done a knife like this before and was wondering how you guys do this? I know you can take lemon juice and wipe in on a carbon steel blade and it'll turn it black but is the finish durable and will it come out even?
Thanks for anything you can throw in the pot!!!
Michael
 
Mike,
To darken some of my blades, I've used the same 3:1 ferric chloride etch that I use on my cable damascus and pattern welded blades. For more of an antique finish I use yellow mustard, like Wayne Goddard described in Blade several months ago. Some makers use vinegar, I believe, but haven't tried it myself.

Did you get my reply about your 440c?

Todd
 
Some makers use vinegar, I believe, but haven't tried it myself
Click to expand...
Actually yes you have - it's the vinegar in the mustard that does the etching. The pasty nature of the mustard keeps the vinegar against the blade.

There are several steel darkening processes including FC - one of the best and most durable of the darker methods is rust bluing - Brownell's sells a kit, but the basic process is like browning a muzzlelaoder - rust the steel and card in between each coat. When the brown is nice and even boil in water - the boiling will stop the rusting and it also turns the brown to a deep blue/black that is very tough.
here's an example-
003.jpg
 
Wild Rose
I worked for Don Eads at Muzzleloader Builder's Supply for several months some years ago and am quite familiar with rust browning a barrel or furniture for a muzzleloader, but I've never thought of doing it to a knife. What a mental giant I've proven myself to be... :) :rolleyes: Have you browned any blades and have pictures of them? I'd love to see how it looks.

Thanks,
Todd
 
Hey L6, I think you ought to give Ti a try on your Bowie. May be a first, or at least that I've heard of. If you don't I will ! Go for it!
 
And the handle material should be dinosaur :) New meets old.
What's going on Michael? Your just too happy :)
 
Hey Mark!!
Just one of the good days! :)
I'm using a chunk of aussie red mallee burl for the handle on this one.
I'm still gonna try to do the relief carving in the blade of the one I use that dinosaur bone on. I thought about it on this one but I didn't leave enough flat space above the grind.
Thanks for the tips guys!!
I have some ferric chloride so I'll give that a try.
Take care!!
Michael
 
Michael, this is off subject, but, where do you get your L6? I'm wanting to use some with both 1095 and O1. Not really sure yet where is a good place to buy the stuff. Since you're the resident L6 expert, I figure you'd know all about it :)
 
I buy my L6 from Admiral RH!
I know, ooohhhhhh Admiral, yuuckkkoooo!!
They've done right by me and I've been dealing with them for several years.
They're the only ones I know of that sell L6 in big stock. I get 8 foot bars of it in 2" wide 3/16" thick. It's actually a little thicker than 3/16" but that's what they sell it as. The stuff comes annealed and grinds easier than anything I've ever worked. I gave some to my neighbor, he's a smithy, and he likes the way it forges. I don't think they offer it any thinner though. I was thinking earlier that if I ever got around to smithing that I'd like to make damascus with L6 and 01 or 1095. I'd still make big blades with L6 though. It's just super tough steel!
 
Mike,
I've used it on fixed blades. You can do some pretty nice things with it.
 

Attachments

  • Coral-Dagger-for-web.jpg
    Coral-Dagger-for-web.jpg
    30.4 KB · Views: 37
Chuck that shotgun made my pants rise! :cool:

I feel that ti guards are great on anything. It just a pain to work unless you have a mill. I think thats why most people dont make furniture with it. It would be a nice light and quick bowie!
 
Thanks for the L6 info, L6! I think I'll go ahead and order some from them and give it a try. Now, back to the real thread!
 
I'm gonna go with ti on this one, thanks guys!!
I'm going to put a piece of 416 between two pieces of ti and try to do a coin edge on the 416. I also want to put a small tit or spike on the butt end with a ring through it like a lot of you smithies do. Or maybe just the tit that the leather catches. I forget what you call it. Just want to try some new things.
Thanks for the posts guys!!!
Michael
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top