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first Bowie WIP

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mark.177

mark.177

Maker
Apr 21, 2014
722
152
Cornwall UK
first off this is a copy of an Alan Mitchell Bowie, i asked him for permission a few weeks back to use one of his beautiful blade profiles for a one off knife for my own use.
having never made a Bowie knife i took it as a personal challenge and its turning out already to be a labor of love! this is a smaller version than Alans having just a 7" blade as i wanted something i could use as my main knife. its made from 6mm o1 but already with the high grind its feeling light. im hoping to do a stacked leather grip... another first so feel free to chip in with advise:)
anyways after roughing out the blade profile and doing the bevels yesterday i started on the brass guard..... six and a half hours of profanities with worn out files later it fits!
i decided to grind the bevels first on this one leaving the edge around 1mm thick as was pretty sure i'd mess it up... its been hard!


 
thanks, the wind dropped today so got the forge out to heat treat the blade. first step was to de stress the blade by slowly bringing it up to 650c and letting it sit for a few minutes before cooling in still air. once cool it went back into the forge to pre heat at 700c for a little while before slowly bringing the temprature up to 815c where it soaked for half an hour. the quench was rapidly and with great rehearsal! done in pre warmed rapeseed oil... the blade thankfully did not warp or crack and is now in the oven tempering for two hours at 260-270c.... it is quite stressful!. edge testing next which again leaves me anxious! its got to be spot on!





the blade post quench...

 
The last few knives you have done are some of the best I have seen imo , so am looking forward to see this one finished , I just wish I had some funds just now , hopefully soon ,,
 
thanks, i started sanding the blade today after a morning of sharpening cutting and chopping. getting dark now so stopped at 400 grit


 
little bit of a hic up as needed to redo the brass guard, fit just wasnt good enough... just finished the second temper, slightly lower temperature of 235c for 2 hours. i waited to do the second temper until the blade was finished, cleaned, lightly oiled and held in place on the oven tray with a small vice as to not touch anything... i dont know how long the finish will last but for now its looking real pretty!


 
thanks. i just finished shaping the handle... not overly pleased with it but then its my first attempt at a stacked leather handle. my main concern was the rivet holding the pommel, when i tried to peen it over it just didnt really want to squash out much and the more i hit it the harder it became! i thought id shape it anyway and the remove the pommel and put a thread on and do it that way instead.... i couldnt get it off! even with gental persuasion with a small hammer and screwdriver! so guess its on there good?

i used danish oil to finish the leather and its looking a bit wet still. im hoping as i apply more coats and it dries it'll look better?... anyways heres the finished knife, just need to put the edge back on it.






 
Danish oil is nice stuff to use on both leather and wood, but in my experience it needs a bit of ageing before it looks it's best; sometimes on wood I've given it the lightest going over with 0000 wire wool to get the "gleam"
off it, but I think it's a nice finish. It's certainly durable.

Big bowies and the like are not my bag, but that sure is a very nice tool; you wouldn't go unremarked when pulling that out to use in company, great design and workmanship :)
 
I've been following this for a little while now it's taken me until now decide I really like this.I'm not normally a big knife person but think it would make a really nice addition to any collection. I don't think I could use it as the blade colour is amazing
 
Mate that looks sweet. The temper colours are supurb.

Ive done alot of stacked leather handles and ive found that after youve finished sanding get a strip of leather say 1inch by 12 inches and give it s good burnish. If you get enough friction up it brings it up lovely.
 
That is a beauty, and that temper colour is fantastic (I have a Zippo that would match it perfectly making me look the coolest man on the mountain if I had both :)).

I've shied away from Bowies in recent years but your modern take has swayed me back again. Superb.
 
kristophish said:
Mate that looks sweet. The temper colours are supurb.

Ive done alot of stacked leather handles and ive found that after youve finished sanding get a strip of leather say 1inch by 12 inches and give it s good burnish. If you get enough friction up it brings it up lovely.
Click to expand...

thanks mate tried it and works really well.

the more i look at it though the more im thinking i should re do the pommel? using a thicker piece of brass to mirror the guard...
 
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