W1 and wrought Bowie

Cody Hofsommer

Cody Hofsommer

Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
913
This is a blade I started last spring, but just finished now. I have been busy building my shop and filling the wood stove, ,but I have local winter festival tomorrow and this is one that I'm goin to be bringing. It's W1 with some of Karls wrought, dyed and stabilized curly maple. The blade is ~11". Please
Feel free to critique. I mean it! I didn't polish it out cause I thought it would look nice with the guard/handle combo. I wish the guard was a little longer.
6D663C9B-4318-4639-9953-D883105F1EC1-3727-0000052C8F2598A5_zps59a8d206.jpg
 
Nice looking bowie. The guard was the first thing I thought of which you pointed out. Learn for next time. The over etched look is a personal choice that I do not prefer but some of my customers do. It would have been nice to see what was under the heavy etch. It is hard to tell in the picture but there appears to be something going on at the bevel choil intersection. Maybe uneven finish or maybe a shadow. These observances are just that. Nothing really "wrong" just things that stick out to me. Like I said before, good looking bowie.

I like the shape of the handle, looks really comfortable. Good job.
 
I'd like to have seen a longer guard as well but it's very nice just the same.
 
Both blade and handle profiles are very nice and the handle looks ergonomically pleasing as well.
Good proportions and well executed hamon. I agree, the overall design would benefit from a little larger guard. I prefer a little more refined look
as opposed to the deep etch. Photo is not very good, so hard to tell much else. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Thanks guys, I had convinced myself to make a new one, but then I wanted to have a big knife done for this festival, and lack of time convinced me to use it. Probably a poor choice. Your right Chuck, there is a little bobble at the plunge :( this one is a user!
 
I like the knife. It would make a fantastic carry and use piece. I like the etch (but then again, I like knives that patina and get darker).

One thing I would change, and it is only a personal choice/taste mater, the color of the handle.


I don't like wood dyed unatural colors. I don't know why, but a green, blue, or red dyed wood is a deal killer for me. I like Browns, oranges, etc etc as long as they look like a more earthy tone.

(weird, I know. But it took me a long time to appreciate naturally colored Mastodon/mammoth ivory etc because the greens and blues seemed too "unnatural" even though ti was completely natural. )
 
Last edited:
Bigfattyt said:
I like the knife. It would make a fantastic carry and use piece. I like the etch (but then again, I like knives that patina and get darker).

One thing I would change, and it is only a personal choice/taste mater, the color of the handle.
I don't like wood dyed unatural colors. I don't know why, but a green, blue, or red dyed wood is a deal killer for me. I like Browns, oranges, etc etc as long as they look like a more earthy tone.

(weird, I know. But it took me a long time to appreciate naturally colored Mastodon/mammoth ivory etc because the greens and blues seemed too "unnatural" even though ti was completely natural. )
Click to expand...

I don't care for dyed/un-natural handle colors either with the exception of nicely dyed amber stag. I didn't comment on the handle color in my initial critique because the color is difficult to see in the photo. As I've stated before, your maker's mark is VERY well done IMO.
 
Beautiful knife Cody! I really like the hamon on this one, and I'm sure it's a pleasure to hold!!
 
I don't know if it's a perspective thing, but I think the guard would look better angled forward a bit, maybe half the angle of the plunge. Nice profile on the blade btw.
 
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