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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Lin Rhea on July 27, 2015, 10:41:00 AM

Title: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on July 27, 2015, 10:41:00 AM

Its time for me to start another big knife. I have several projects going but I think this one will be good for a WIP. It has been so hot here that I am having to work sparingly at the forge. So, this will be slow to begin with. Here is the stage that I am with it.
       (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/454/19404068883_38990dd0f9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/vyEVDM)

The 10 inch blade is rough ground but not heat treated. I forgot what steel it is since I failed to write it on the forged blade (forged it months ago). So I will treat it as mystery steel even though I think I know what it is. I wont use steel that is not good for knives but I cant be 100% sure which of my steels it is without testing from the very start. No problem in this case. I'll know when I see how it acts.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Track on July 27, 2015, 11:11:00 AM

Looking forward to the finished knife.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: ymountainman on July 27, 2015, 08:07:00 PM

Hey Lin your big knives are Scary! Im looking forward to see it too!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: kbaknife on July 27, 2015, 08:25:00 PM

Is it a pattern welded blade?

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on July 27, 2015, 09:12:00 PM

Thanks.
I don't think so Karl. Ain't that pitiful? Not even sure about that.    :confused:  
I'll see the pattern if there is one when I heat it. Makes knife making more exciting.

The handle is stacked Kiln dried Cherry. That I'm sure of.    :)

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Sarge11 on July 28, 2015, 12:07:00 AM

Love that style.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: bjansen on July 29, 2015, 05:18:00 PM

Looking forward to seeing that stacked cherry and would really like to learn more about that pommel connection method.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on July 30, 2015, 08:10:00 AM

Here's something to look at Brad. A simple coupling nut notched on the end to slip over the blade tang and drilled for a pin.

You can configure this arrangement any way you like as long as it works with your assemblage of the guard and other parts.
    (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/14808080603_4fbcf3c71f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oyxhsx)
 
I'll be posting more pictures as I go along on this knife.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Ric O'Shay on July 30, 2015, 09:05:00 AM

I love your Bowies Lin. Looking forward to seeing how this mystery knife turns out. Show us more, Mr. Holmes......   :D

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: just_a_hunter on July 30, 2015, 01:29:00 PM

Always fun to see your awesome work.

Todd

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: bjansen on August 01, 2015, 08:56:00 PM

Thanks Lin for sharing that. Looks like that would be the ticket and I will be trying it soon

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 01, 2015, 10:00:00 PM

Thanks guys.

I hardened the blade today. I often clay the spine on a large Bowie in a broken pattern even on a deep hardening steel like 5160. Since I didn't know exactly what the steel was, I patterned the clay with care just in case it turned out to be 1095 or W2. It must be because the hamon turned out pretty nice. I have to complete the draw cycle tomorrow and should have some pictures soon.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 02, 2015, 09:25:00 PM

When I heat treated the blade I figured out it is W2 steel.
   (https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/19622342723_7544bc0677_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/vTXCRR)
    (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/280/20235026992_0266b9bb46_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wQ6NxJ)

This is how I know where to trim the tang to fit the drawing getting the pin hole right and the tang narrowed down in the right places.
    (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/528/19622332493_3f1601021f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/vTXzPt)

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: just_a_hunter on August 02, 2015, 11:22:00 PM

The amount of talent you have sir, is very refreshing to those of us you share it with. It never gets old seeing you sculpt a knife.

Todd

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 03, 2015, 08:52:00 AM

Thanks Todd.

In the above pictures, The clip is just roughly ground in. I have a lot of filing and smoothing of the lines to do. Also, I have to roll a cutting edge on the blade and test it for proper hardness and geometry.

For the geometry I cut rope and paper, etc. to see how the blade flows through the medium. This is no test of the heat treat but of the edge geometry.

For the heat treat test, I hack into some hard substance like bodark, antler etc. to make sure it will hold up to long use.

Karl pointed out the principle in another thread. Geometry determines how well it will cut, heat treat determines how long it will cut. One is no good without the other.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: just_a_hunter on August 03, 2015, 10:32:00 AM

Lin,

Do you actually hardness test on a rockwell scale after you do the real world tests?

Todd

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 03, 2015, 02:02:00 PM

Todd, No I usually do not. I test with files and with cutting.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 03, 2015, 08:35:00 PM

I did some chopping on some rich pine.   (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/386/20245567726_3eba7486ec_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wR2PWw)
and some antler. It took some abuse and stayed sharp. No damage.
    (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/554/20083816018_5d835fed9f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wAJNMY)

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Thadbow on August 04, 2015, 07:38:00 PM

Very nice Lin!  I will say though,  if I had a blade started in the corner and I forgot what steel it was.... it would take me a long time to work up the nerve to attempt to harden it..... especially if it was that nice!
I am curious though, How did you determine w2?
Great Job as always!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 04, 2015, 08:49:00 PM

Good question Thad.

When I forged this blade, The only steel I had that would be large enough for this blade and at the same time show a hamon was W2. It was large and it showed a hamon.

I wont use very much mystery steel but we have talked about this subject. There is a way to arrive at a good knife using mystery steel, assuming that steel is suitable. I was not worried since I had the steel narrowed down to two. Either 5160 or W2. So I clayed the spine knowing it would tell the story.

It's no problem to harden it. Now that I knew what the steel was I could draw it back accordingly.

I often use a fast oil, even for 5160 at times like this.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Ray Hammond on August 05, 2015, 07:41:00 AM

Great info Lin! Thanks for sharing

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Thadbow on August 05, 2015, 06:42:00 PM

Thank you for the explanation Lin,  what a great way to narrow it down!
I can't wait to see this one all finished up with that stacked handle!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: ymountainman on August 18, 2015, 09:51:00 PM

I been checking this everyday, the anticipation is hard on me!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 19, 2015, 09:08:00 AM

Thanks guys.

Cliff, I had to work on some other projects and set it down for a bit. I'll get back on it soon.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on August 23, 2015, 08:37:00 PM

OK, I'm getting back on it. The blade is sanded to 220 but not quite finished yet.
   (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5713/20206530384_6187ca49af_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/wMzKuU)
    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5642/20802847516_092d19668e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xGh2NL)
    (https://farm1.staticflickr.com/659/20642393549_39b1969c9b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/xs6Er4)

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: ymountainman on August 23, 2015, 09:22:00 PM

Ok im better Thanks Lin!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on October 11, 2015, 10:10:00 AM

Well, I got this one finished about 4:30 this morning. Woke up early and finished it off,then I went back to sleep.

I lost this blade for about a week. Found it behind the seat of my truck.

    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5828/21470077963_3dc2951878_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/yHeLaZ)

    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/22078712532_e04d0d6e81_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/zD2b2s)

    (https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5796/21903326308_e9d76c8b5d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/znwgP3)

I finished this one out to suit me. I even scratched "Lin" in the blade.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: mj seratt on October 11, 2015, 01:50:00 PM

I've been watching for this one.  I showed my wife the blade when you first posted about this knife.We both think it is beautiful, as is everything you turn out.

Murray

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on October 11, 2015, 05:14:00 PM

Thank you sir. I'm sorry it took me so long. I've been pretty busy working on other stuff.   :campfire:

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Sarge11 on October 11, 2015, 05:27:00 PM

It is wrong to be envious, so I'm wrong. OUTSTANDING!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: gudspelr on October 12, 2015, 07:42:00 PM

That's beautiful, Lin. If I'm guessing right, is the handle material slices of wood, each piece turned to expose different grain? What wood is it? And one other dumb question...how did you keep it all together and get that angled finish on the butt end to accommodate the change of angle for the butt cap? I realized since I've never used a butt cap, I don't think I've ever mentally "trouble shot" that process.

Thanks for sharing these projects with us.

Jeremy

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: ymountainman on October 12, 2015, 08:41:00 PM

Okay I can turn my computer off, Been waiting to see this one for a month or two. I knew it was worth it. Thanks for posting Mr.Lin!   :clapper:

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on October 12, 2015, 08:55:00 PM

Thanks Cliff! Sorry it took so long.   :)  

Jeremy, I inserted a few wedge shaped pieces to curve it. It's tricky keeping it all in place during the glue up.

It's Cherry wood. I think it'll darken over time.

Thanks

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: KSCATTRAPR on October 12, 2015, 10:22:00 PM

Like always, everything about this knife is awesome! Very creative handle as well, I love the look of it.

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: 2Knives on October 13, 2015, 09:56:00 PM

So nice!!!!!

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Lin Rhea on October 14, 2015, 08:25:00 AM

Thank you sirs!   :campfire:

Title: Re: A handful o Bowie (finished)
Post by: Danny Rowan on October 14, 2015, 04:33:00 PM

Now That's a Knife as Dundee would say.