WIP #2 Big Bowie Advice and Opinions Welcome

[Mr. Bad Example]

Well, with my first blade pretty much done, and not TOO many major defects, of course I now want jump back in way over my head and try a Bowie.

Here is the progress thus far:

Stock is 1084 .25 x 1.5
Blade is 12" and OA will be about 17.75"

I'm thinking the clip will go back at least one third of the blade and will be sharp, the remainder of the spine will be full width. I'm going to try to keep the blade flat ground with a slightly convex edge if I can. Handle will be, I'm thinking, coffin shaped slabs.

This is my muse, FWIW:

Any opinions, tips, advice, etc. on making a large blade are welcome. I'll be using mostly my files I think, as the little 1x30 grinder just doesn't seem up to the task.

 

[indian george]

What type of guard???? The way you have the handle you would have to go with bolsters.

 

[montana guy]

How are you heat treating it? I did my own HT in the forge and ended up having to undo it all and do it over cause it warped. I got it done right the second time. Longer the blade more it seems to want to warp in my limited experience.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

What type of guard???? The way you have the handle you would have to go with bolsters.

I plan a conventional guard, IG. In the above pic I have just started profiling the handle with the angle grinder--it will eventually go back straight so the guard will fit.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

How are you heat treating it? I did my own HT in the forge and ended up having to undo it all and do it over cause it warped. I got it done right the second time. Longer the blade more it seems to want to warp in my limited experience.

Haven't gotten that far yet--I do know I'll make sure to leave the edge thicker than I did on my first little blade (that I hope to get HT'd very soon).

Any other tips with future HT in mind?

 

[Fletch Helical]

You finished the first one already? And why haven't I seen the finished pics yet?

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

You finished the first one already? And why haven't I seen the finished pics yet?

Well, by "finished", I mean finished as far as I can before HT (which I hope to have done soon). I was having withdrawals and I've wanted to make a big Bowie for a long time, so....

 

[indian george]

The one in the pic is probably a stick tang and not a full tang like yours.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

The one in the pic is probably a stick tang and not a full tang like yours.

The Bagwell Bowie is more for blade shape inspiration, although I really do like the stag handle as well. I'm thinking more along the lines of a full tang coffin shape for mine.

They are hard to see in the picture, but I have lines drawn to grind the tang down to where a guard would slide over it. Bagwell's devil's horn guard/blade catcher is pretty gnarly, but I don't think I have the skills to bend one up like that.

 

[indian george]

The Bagwell Bowie is more for blade shape inspiration, although I really do like the stag handle as well. I'm thinking more along the lines of a full tang coffin shape for mine.

They are hard to see in the picture, but I have lines drawn to grind the tang down to where a guard would slide over it. Bagwell's devil's horn guard/blade catcher is pretty gnarly, but I don't think I have the skills to bend one up like that.

If you are doing a coffin handle, you will have to leave enough material after the ricasso to mount the guard. The end of the tang is wide on the coffin handle. Making a coffin handle, you should go with a framed handle.

 

[Mr. Bad Example]

If you are doing a coffin handle, you will have to leave enough material after the ricasso to mount the guard. The end of the tang is wide on the coffin handle. Making a coffin handle, you should go with a framed handle.

I did briefly consider that, but I deemed it outside of my limited skill level (perhaps I should reconsider).

I suppose one could always do a coffin-shaped hidden tang as an alternative.

I'll give it some more thought. Thanks for the suggestions!

Michael