W1 and Rawhide Bowie

[K A WILLEY]

This is the first knife I have posted here, the blade is forged W1, the handle is braided rawhide that I made and cut , nickel silver and sterling fittings and nickel silver studded walrus ivory spacer, and no clay.

 

[Lorien]

Wow, is that unique! Neat handle- beautiful hamon! A little weird, but I like it!:thumbup:

 

[Erik Fritz]

Kevin, outstanding knife and nice rawhide work. I have been hearing good things about your work from Larry F. for awhile now. Next time you are up in eastern montana you gotta give me a call so we can get together.

 

[Cronnacht]

GOOD LORD! The braiding had to have taken you more time than anything else. What are you using to keep the rawhide supple while you braid it?

Wow!

 

[ryan9977]

i like it...very cool blade and even cooler handle...i like stuff that's different!:thumbup:......ryan

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I like a lot of what I see, but I don't like the shape of the handle and pommel. I appreciate all the work that went into them, but I find the shape unappealing.

The Spanish notch is a little too ornate for me as well.

Please don't take this as me bashing your creation. I'm sure it is a fine knife. It's just not my cup of tea. I would love to see others of your knives, because there is definitely stuff I see in this one that leads me to believe that I just might like some/much of the work you do. Do you have a website, or a place that folks could see more of your work?

 

[K A WILLEY]

Eric, next time I get up that way I will get ahold of you

Cronnacht, it sound gross but I use my siliva to give the string enough moisture to make my knots.

Keith, no offense taken my intent with the shape of the handle was to fit ones hand it was kind of a prototype on this one I made it over a wooden mandrel that was round the next one i'm going to make it oval to make it slimmer and sleaker the first one never turns out exactly like you want, I make my knives the way I want and some people like them and others dont but that doesn't stop me from making knives I enjoy, I like to make things a little different than others. I don't have a website yet, I've only had a camera and computer for about a year and haven't got alot of pictures but here is afew pictures of another knife with a braided rawhide handle and rawhide sheath.

 

[Erik Fritz]

Kevin, post some pics of the tack i have been hearing about............mostly interested in bridles, romells and hobbles.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

With a bit more conventionl styling I think you may be on to something.

Attractive and unique.

 

[Kevin Jones]

What a demonstration of skill in the braided rawhide.
I would rather see a more proportionate handle/pummel.
Like the spannish notch as it fits IMO.

 

[Bruce Bump]

The braiding is pure art IMO. Nice work. I too think proportion is important but I like what I see. Wow.

 

[K A WILLEY]

Thanks for all the comments This is the first bowie of this type I've made and while makeing it I've have learned alot of things I am going to do different on the next one I like to hear what others think of what I'm doing I learn alot that way so thanks for the imput, the next one will be alot better

Eric, here are some pics of some braided projects and a damascus bit and pair of spurs I made. the first picture is a collaberation I did with Larry Fuegen I did the rawhide and he did the metal,I think together we had over 1000 hours in it. if you go to photobucket.com and go to rawhider_photos I have some other braided stuff and metal work in my photos if you want to look through them.

a headstall

a bosal and quirt

a 96 foot reata

 

[Kevin Jones]

WoW! What a treat.
The 96 foot reata must have taken some time too.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[mitchshrader]

I sent you a private message, but it boils down to admiration and amazement. If you ever want to SELL a reata, you can have a 5 year waiting list in a week..

 

[K A WILLEY]

Kevin, if I'm really crankin on a 4 strand I can do 6 foot an hour not including making the hide and cutting the string.

Thanks, Mitch I sent you an email

 

[Tai Goo]

Very interesting work! I like it!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Wow, you do some fantastic work.

 

[peterinct]

WOW...The knives are not my style, but your leather braiding skills are incredible!

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Peter

 

[Lorien]

you could make a killing with the s&m crowd:thumbup:

 

[Will Leavitt]

Looking at that braid work makes my hands cramp..... GREAT work!!!