I thought you might want to see what I did yesterday. I have been wanting to make a "D" guard Bowie for some time and had one on the drawing pad a few weeks. The weather was bad but I could get into the shop so I gave it a try. Some may not know that you can forge 416 stainless and that is what I was going to make my fitting from. This is how it started.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/12307467034_cc7c1b0ccb_c.jpg)
That is 1 1/4 round X 2 inches.
When I got mostly done it looks like this. This also includes some grinding on the surface, but the forging looked basically like this:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/12313326714_9163ac61a1_z.jpg)
After it cooled I laid it on the drawing to compare the curves. Pretty close.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2848/12311660863_5775676e49_z.jpg)
The fittings are still oxidized and need a day or two of work but I can "see" it happening now.
It all goes on this blade. 12 inches laddered W
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/12196870705_c1cb07b930_z.jpg)
I really like where this one is going Lin!
That is going to be one spectacular Bowie. Your "pretty close" would be most people's "REAL close.
Since 416 is a non-hardening stainless, is there any thermo cycling necessary to relieve stress, or is it good to go when it cools?
Thanks.
Yes Ron, I thermo cycle. This is prone to air harden and it will split while forging if you don't work it in the orange zone. I split the first attempt at the ball guard and did better on the second.
Another thing. When I heated the lugs with a torch and went straight to finishing, there was a "hardening line" right where the heat went to. So now I fully normalize after I knock the forge scale off.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/12325069193_5dd1a11446_z.jpg)
The guard started off as 1 1/4 round X 1 inch long. It's more than enough but I want the mass while forging.
I can believe the amount of work in this guard. :scared:
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/12348431833_ecd80f4063_c.jpg)
WOW! You are an artist Lin. Can't wait to get to LR and pick your brain...
Amazing! :thumbsup:
Like you told me one time ,
don't look at the amount of time it took,
just look at how beautiful & perfect it is!
Thanks Kevin and Doug! I really appreciate it. Here is something to look at. Pardon the speck of dust.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7434/12349200425_25dc092bc3_z.jpg)
Lin, I really enjoying seeing all of your unique ways of doing fittings and the fresh designs you keep coming up with.
It is refreshing to see such innovation.
Keep up the fine work, some day I hope to add one of your fine blades to my meager collection!
:clapper:
Thank you Ben. Here is a shot of most of the parts. I forgot to put the spacer assembly in the pic. Everything behind the guard is still rough. I am progressively finishing each part as I go toward the rear. I'm referring to my drawing often.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/12352880613_c2e4b227e1_c.jpg)
Wowzerz! :eek: That piece is (and is going to be) gorgeous! You really are a master, Lin. Kudos! :thumbsup:
Holy Moly Lin! Your work is unbelievable!
I really like the whole idea and how it is coming together. There is an amazing thing going on here in seeing the progression of the fittings and guard and how they all have to correlate with all the parts to make the whole. Thanks again for showing a little of your process.
Chris
It is a privilege to have watched the progression of your style over the years. Your design aesthetic in past few bowies has been stunning!
Thank you gentlemen. This knife has to go together in a logical sequence not only to work mechanically but so I can understand how to get the job done. For instance, you'll notice in the last picture that the swivel attachment is not permanently fastened. It's because the swivel would be too wide to fit into the guard slot. So I fit the guard and will also fit the spacer and fasten them to the knife after which I will pin the swivel and drill the handle to let he swivel nut pass through them.
I can use a different arrangement of nuts and screw, true, but I find this works for me. I will end up soldering a ball to the machine screw and only cut it to length when I am ready for final fit up.
One word..... Incredable!
Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS, AP
Here is the spacer assembly started but pretty rough.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/12385597324_6d6a1e24d6_c.jpg)
You amaze me... There is sooo much going on at a bunch of levels in your knives, especially this one. I can't wait to see this progress, particularly the fitting of the d-guard.
:campfire:
Jeremy
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/12388459965_6ffe5c607f_c.jpg)
The rope is filed in. I wanted the rope to be rough polished similar to the ball ends. Now for the ivory.
That's awesome. I see you've found something you like in that back sloped choil and minimal ricasso. Looked great with the ball end s guard a while back and seems to be going your way with this one as well. Years from now, smiths will be building custom Damascus bowies with s guards, ivory, and 'Rhea' choils.
Matt
Thanks. Here is the ivory after shaping and finishing and slid onto the blade.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/12411349234_dddc9ca532_c.jpg)
Lin, I REALLY like these last few bowies you've posted. I've got a few pics saved of some favorites of yours over the last couple years, but this one is climbing pretty high. This one is just fantastic-all of the parts are so well thought out, as usual. I sincerely wish I was around to see this in person.
Jeremy
Thank you Jeremy.
I really am trying to up the difficulty factor on this one although some might not think it. One thing I try to do when I can is to establish a near oval cross section for the handle. Not a square with the corners rounded. More of an egg shape. I start the shape from the back of the guard all the way out. It's much easier to go ahead and get into the habit.
Drawing the knife is where the well thought out part comes in. It is a tough knife to make and get the lines right, but I heard a friend of mine say "don't think how difficult, think how beautiful". That means it takes longer but it's worth it. In the process I figure out ways, or even new ways, to get it done.
Holy wow.
I can imagine the cross section of the handle you're describing. I'll bet it's not only comfortable in the hand, but also easier to index when reached for. That being said, I'm also betting keeping the correct shape, evenly flowing from guard to butt, is more than a significant challenge.... It's like I've done just enough work on making knives to have only a small sense of how difficult a knife like this must be. Thanks for braving the difficulty so we can all take part in the beauty part ;) .
Jeremy
This project is turning out so nice. I love it. I am very happy to see the ivory turning out so nicely. The polished fittings work so well with it that I think another handle material wouldn't be as beautiful. Some pieces call for wood or stag or whatever but this one could never be the same without the ivory.
I can't wait to see this at the Little Rock Show. It's going to be the Belle of the Ball so to speak.
Chris
I got another thin file worked spacer made and waiting for the butt cap-D loop. I also got a start on the fit of the loop. I have a little more fitting before I can finish the surface. It pays to wait to get the terminations fit before filing and sanding all that. It has been a challenge but I can start taking short cuts now. I probably cant work on it tomorrow much but I may be snowed in Tuesday and will finish it if all goes well.
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/12446446564_1b31b14a2f_b.jpg)
That one will surely get a lot of attention in Atlanta. That is what you call a Sunday Best Bowie!!!!!!!!
Best Bowie award in Arkansas right there. And there's bound to be lots of em and some really nice ones at the show. But that there's the one. Fantastic job, Lin.
Jeremy
Looking forward to getting a closer look at that one in a couple weeks Lin. Fabulous work of art!
Wow! That is one amazing knife! And thank you for sharing the process.
Joel
Thanks Guys. I must say, I had some scary moments when making it. When I drew the picture, I actually had not figured out how to attach the bottom lug to the guard. At first I was planning to solder it, and that certainly is a possibility. But that would require a lot of serious risk, not to mention the clean up of a part that was already finished. So I decided to permanently attach the guard and prepare a hole in the ball to receive the lug. Of course that means it would be tricky fitting it that close and not relying on solder to fill cracks and for it to be solid.
I tried filing the fit but could not access the inside curves which were tiny to begin with. So yesterday morning at 2:30 an idea came to me. I went to the shop, yes at 2:30, and made a mock up of the ball on the end of a round rod and drilled the same hole in it and heated the lug and tapped the end to shape using the mock up to form fit it to the ball. That made the difference.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2850/12442141884_94b3d14eef_c.jpg)
The picture shows the thin spacer backwards but it is switch correctly on the knife.
Here's another thing that was even a bigger danger. The butt cap had to be on the right cant, the right twist, and the lug had to be the right length for all of it to work. I left a little gap (the thickness of a business card) for the guards to absorb and spring it tight so there is no slack or movement. It is solid.
I was wondering how you went about the fit of the D portion into the ball of the guard-great idea. I can only imagine the tolerances you were dealing with. A change in one angle would suddenly make 3 other things line up differently.... My brain starts hurting just thinking about it all. Knives like this I think are a big reason this hobby has kept my interest so well. There is a never ending list of possibilities a guy can try to challenge himself with. I'm probably equally fascinated by this one with both the beauty of it as well as the complexity it took to create. Someone will be incredibly fortunate to own this.
Jeremy
Wow, Outstanding in the Mostest!
Steve
----------
Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS, AP
Stunning!
That's truly beautiful. Trying to imagine the patience and precision that fit up took makes me literally break out in a nervous sweat. I can't imagine the pressure of getting that right after the hours that had already gone into the rest. Of cours, I'd never have made it this far since I would still be trying to work up the courage to put a file to that piece of ivory.
Matt
Lin that knife is simply outstanding. You should come to the Badger Knife Club show in Janesville, Wisconsin March 28-30th, would like to meet you.
Rick
Thanks.
I was fiddling around with my cell phone to try to get the shimmer on the blade.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/12510645133_1c8c7062d9_b.jpg)
I sure wish I could see that one in person. I've run out of adjectives... :) .
Jeremy
Just a little update. Lin won the Best Bowie at the Arkansas show with this knife last night..
Congratulations Lin!
Chris
Quote posted February 10, 2014 11:09 PM
Best Bowie award in Arkansas right there. And there's bound to be lots of em and some really nice ones at the show. But that there's the one. Fantastic job, Lin.
Jeremy
With powers of prediction like that, I should buy a powerball ticket ;) . Congratulations, Lin. The award is well deserved :thumbsup:
Jeremy
Thanks. It was very rewarding to get the award after being judged by my peers.
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Congratulations Lin. You sure put your time in and earned it.
Congrats Lin, A true testament to their Good Taste in Knives and Fine Southern Gentlemen.
Congrats Lin. :thumbsup:
Darcy
Congrats. Knife is a beaut.
CTT
It was a real pleasure to get to handle this knife this last weekend. An amazing piece of Knifesmithing artistry. Congrats again on the award Lin and thanks for putting up with me and all my questions this weekend.
Thanks everyone.
Doug, Surely you know that it was my pleasure. Kay and I really enjoyed our dinner with You Karen, and Jon Christensen (Jon got Best Bird and Trout award!). I am enjoying seeing your work in hand again. You brought some nice knives to the show. I wish Karen had had some quivers with her. I completely forgot to ask her about one.
Congrats Lin enjoyed watching this one come to be.
later Buzz
Thank you sir.
FYI, the knife is now in the hands of a sheath maker and we'll see how he does. I am to make the sheath stud to match the balls and send it to him. I'll do that real soon. But, picture this: Black Shark skin! I cant wait to see it. It will also be re photographed with the sheath.
Congrad's Lin
I been away awhile :thumbsup:
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/12916812744_828c1aba45_c.jpg)
Congratulations Lin.
That's real nice.
Thank you Chuck.
I just finished this sheath stud that will be on the new sheath. I'll end up posting a picture of the knife sheath package as soon as it gets done. Blacks shark skin. :scared:
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3395/13044688875_132a9a9dd1_c.jpg)
Congrats Lin, sure a well deserved award. The knife is just stunning and I can't wait to see the sheath that finishes the whole package.
Lin that is one helluva knife...and piece of art!! Great job!! Wish I could have made it to Little Rock again this year to see it in person!!
Congrats on the award...couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!!!
Keep'em coming!!
Thank you Pat and Robin. I have not seen the sheath yet. I think it is finished so maybe we'll see it soon.
Don't know how I missed the stud for the sheath you made-very cool and will tie it all together nicely. Really looking forward to the finished package :campfire:
Jeremy
Congrats Lin! A very fine knife indeed, yes sir very fine :clapper:
Caleb Royer photographed the knife and sheath and I think he done great. I wish I could post a bigger picture.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/14012327824_166c0d89ea_z.jpg)
Wow. One stunning piece of work. Congrats on the award and thanks for the WIP. Some techniques Here that I will be remembering for future use.
Way cool!
Congrats on the (well deserved) award!
Todd