This knife is inspired by the old cowboys that I've seen in the old photographes at times. They sometimes have the straight smallish bowies they carry in the front of their waist. Easy to get to and draw if their rope gets tangled. I love the simplicity.
This is just a blade right now. It's 7 1/2 inches of my damascus. The clip is razor sharp. I'll get it done as time permits.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7178/6974354391_97d95bc780_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7179/6974354513_1c030dda01_z.jpg)
That's nice Lin, can't wait to see it finshed
WOW!!!....that is Wicked!!!
Yeah Lin I really really like the balanced shapes of all your blade styles
The mark of a true artisan/ artist/craftsman
I'm really happy you are so giving of advice and technique on this forum- its priceless!
Terry, is that some of that teenage lingo? Thanks.
Did you see the clown in the pattern? and the bat? and the arrowhead? I think I see Cat in the Hat.
Thank you Ray. I am trying to repay the things I get here on TG. I hope it helps.
I think I see my neighbor in there!
(I truly love laddered Ws. I don't know how it gets any better.)
Looks great Lin, I do see the clown and the bat! I really like the flow of that blad profile! Lin, I can't seem to get the clip on my current project sharp enough. It's hard to tell in the photo, my clip geomatry looks similar to yours.
Steve
-------
Potomac Forge
Holler at me Steve. I bet we can figure it out.
Love that Damascus, Lin! Still excited about the much smaller blade you will be making for me.
Allan
I really like that one Lin, of course cowboys used pretty practical gear.
Can't wait to see how you finish it.
Thanks guys.
Very nice!! you should call it "the joker" with all those smileing,frowning and angry clown faces. :thumbsup:
Great pattern....very very nice.
Dunno I think I see my ex wife in the real swirly part..LOL
AMAZING!!!!
pics ! pics ! pics !
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6982417001_8f12ab5497_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/6982661673_af4a9528ab_z.jpg)
Looking great Lin. Great profile and beautiful Damascus.
What will the fittings and handle material be?
Chris
Wow! very nice...can't wait to see it finished
Lin,
Your knives are so much a work of art I'd have a hard time getting them bloody!
Thank you gentlemen.
Todd, you probably already know but it is completely heat treated and will be up to use when it gets an owner. I've seen some expensive knives that were users. I get a lot of pleasure from that. Thank you.
Chris, I plan on it having a cross guard, possibly damascus, with ball ends. Also matching ferrule and stag handle. Rather straight forward but that's the way the old cowboy bowies were built. I was thinking the sheath needs to be a little special so I may wait on the photography till that's done. I've been so busy I have not touched it in a couple weeks. But I will. Thanks.
Lin, the teenage lingo is: that is SICK!
And it is!
Beautiful, as usual.
I've started back on this knife again and here are a couple pics of the guard in progress.
The guard is a ball guard in the fashion of the old cowboy belt knives often seen in the old photographes. Some had plate guards but the ball guards were also done. I probably made this one the hard way. I have sometime soldered the balls onto the ends of a guard but this one was totally filed and sanded to shape. I started with 1/4 inch plate, got the slot in it and started playing around with the shape.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7100/7289831998_5d11748836_c.jpg)
Then I started shaping the ball ends with a file. At this point I did not know if this was going to work at all. So, I just kept taking away material that was in the way. Edge view.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7089/7289770480_f64b152f1a_c.jpg)
After some filing.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7289771024_f6f21bdafe_c.jpg)
After most of the afternoon sanding and trying to keep it all even and straight.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7289753882_eaf9b4dfb1_c.jpg)
My oh my....
Looks great Lin. The oval in front of the guard is A outstanding little detail that I hadn't envisioned. That's what separates wanna be's like my from guys like you.
Chris
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Another beauty, amazing.....
Thanks guys.
I've had a few hints (not from TG)that perhaps I messed up the slot in the guard prompting me to make the addition of the little oval. That is possible, I suppose, but I dont make my decisions (usually :D ) based on such things. I thought the openness of the guard's front needed something.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7308442130_19875cba59_c.jpg)
I just thought it would have looked less "finished" without the dress up
Beautiful Lin
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7311747908_973f20aaab_c.jpg)
Lin,
Not your fanciest knife ever, but maybe my favorite to look at. I keep thinking: "I can't live without that one." And I think that about almost every knife of yours I see!
Allan
I love this one. The combination of finish types on the ball end guard are so fitting for the knife. It gives just the right amount of refinement with the coined 416ss fittings. Well done on the images by Chuck they show the knife to be what it is great.
Chris
This is one of the nicest knifes I've seen!!
Lin, could you explain how you produce the "folded W's"? I understand simple ladder, twist, raindrop, but this is obviously patterned, rewelded, repatterned...help! I'm going crazy trying to picture the process.
Thanks
Ron
Ron, I'm having issues with my phone pictures. I will try to add pics but I may have lost some of them.