View Full Version : Forging a bowie
Hi guys.
I am postimg some photos in the gallery which shows a project I am currently working on.
I am forging a bowie to shape....there will be no grinding of bevels on this one....In actual fact the only elctricity I will probably use will be to drill a hole through the handle material and for slotting the guard.
The final finish will be a forge finish which has been filed...trying to make a feature of the texture of file marks and forge/hammer marks.
I will forge the tang ..maybe something a bit fancy?....then heat shrink it to fit (no solder).
I havent decided on the handle material yet....a good piece of stag would be nice bit I dont think I have anything suitable.........If I fit a wooden handle then I will shape it with rasps and finish with a file...keep the scratches in keeping with the blade?
It will have a screw down steel pommel to secure the handle on and I may add some spacers top and bottom......Basicaly I will see how it goes and decide along the way (the best way :wink: ).
Its currently being tempered, then frozen , then tempered again, so tomorrow I cant work on the blade but maybe I can sort out something for the handle.
Kevin. :biggthump
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/data/500/4handle_choices.jpg?9421
These are some handle possibilties I am thinking of.
from left to right....
purple heart, ostrich bone, fossilized oosik, lignum vitae.
IF I used wood, then I dont want a polished finish..it will be shaped by a rasp then filed (not sanded).
The ostrich bone feels good in the hand..but is so hollow I will have to fill it with epoxy (not a big problem)...its a nice color though.
The oosik is nice but maybe a bit small?
The lignum finishes well when buffed, but I dont want a buff finish...
Any suggestions?
Kevin.
In actual fact the only elctricity I will probably use will be to drill a hole through the handle material and for slottimng the guard.
what a cop out.. you should be using one of those hand powered drills from second form woodworking class.. :p
anyway.. great knife.. i like the little upswept point.. i would vote for the ostrich bone handle but only if you are going to do a guard :)
cheers
ugug
If I use the ostrich bone then that would mean I dont have to do any drilling as it is hollow :) ....
There will definately be a guard on this knife :wink: ....its gonna be a generic bowie style and astheticaly I think it needs it (the blade is a fraction under 7" from tip to guard) and will be 11/2" oal......
The guard will be forged something along the lines of this..(one of my earlier knives)
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/data/501/4forged_bowie_knife_with_elk_and_pewter_handle.jpg
:biggthump
Finaly finished.
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/data/500/4127_27291.jpg?2364
Decided on buffalo horn for the handle. I did a rough checkering on the handle and pommel.
I forged the guard from some cable.
The blade was differentialy hardened and I was suprised when the hamon esily showed even though its just a file finish!!
Go to the gallery if you want a closer look.
This is the final knife I have made for my show this weekend...havent got time to get a sheath made though.
Thanks.
Kevin. :D
looks real good.. best not let Colin see it.. although .. i hear he is now into girlie folding type knives :D
Taking the subject further from another thread......
In your opinion is this knife 'hand made?...yes or no.....base your answer on the below:
The blade was forged to shape using a gas forge, hammer, then filed.
The guard was forged from steel cable and shaped with a hammer. I used a drill to start the slot then filed it out by hand...I used a grinder to even the shape out and to get the scale off.
The handle was a cylindrical piece of buffalo horn..........I used an electric drill to drill a hole through it then filed the hole to fit.
The leather spacers were pre cut and epoxied to the handle....I shaped the spacers into the handle shape with a grinder. The pommel was a piece of cable I had forged, but I used a grinder to shape it to fit the handle.
I had to shave a bit off the side of the tang with a grinder to help the handle fit better.
AM I
1. A Bladesmith
2. A Knifemaker
3. A Cutler
4. A Machine
5 A :censored:
:D
MushiSushi
02-10-03, 02:58 PM
I refuse to answer the question on the grounds that it might incriminate me :p:D;)
erhmm
you are 1 and 2 and most def. a 5 :D
and can i ask what difference does it make.. :confused:
ugug
MushiSushi
02-10-03, 06:00 PM
All of the Above :D
erhmm
and can i ask what difference does it make.. :confused:
ugug
Yes.
Colin KC
02-10-03, 07:58 PM
's handmade, &, if you'd've made it for a customer specific request, it would have been a handmade custom:D
'course it's a little too short;) but a great knife nonetheless:bigthumb:wink:
MushiSushi
02-10-03, 08:01 PM
it's not shorter than a baby benny :p
Posted by coutel - 2nd-October-2003 at 18:02
Quote:Originally Posted by automated ugug
erhmm
and can i ask what difference does it make..
ugug
Yes.
:smashfrea :D
'course it's a little too short but a great knife nonetheless:bigthumb
and it doesn't have a thumbstud that messes up the manicure :rolmao:
Coutel,
I love the echo of Randall No.1 in the blade. A terrific knife I'd be proud to own.
mirage
Coutel,
I love the echo of Randall No.1 in the blade. A terrific knife I'd be proud to own.
mirage
Thank you :)
Kevin.
Hi guys....
I have just returned from the Florida Knife Makers (Custom :wink: ) knife show in Tampa.
There were something like 50 or so exhibitors (not a Big show by some standards)..........I had a REALLY good day.......Something like 84 or so knives were sold at the show ...and I sold 5 of them :D
This Bowie was one of them....had a huge amount of interest in it...sold it for $150 without any sheath.
I met a guy from the UK (called Steven) who flew to Florida especialy for the show.....he had never heard of this web site but he knows about us know :wink: :wink: ...hopefuly we will hear from him in the near future.
Kevin.. :biggthump
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.0 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.