Bighorn Camp Bowie

[Scott Roush]

I don't usually do rote copies of people's blade profiles, but ever since I saw Jason Knight's Sooke Mountain Chopper it has haunted me.  His has a micarta handle, so I was able to put my own elements into it.  I picked up some sheep scales at the Ohio hammer-in with this knife project in mind.  It is about 13" total length and my first actual attempt at a swedged point.  The wrought iron is from my slaggy heap I dragged out of the woods and there is copper, red spacers, raw hide thong with copper keeper.  The blade is Aldo's 1084. I'm very excited as John Cohea has agreed to do the sheath for this. If you haven't seen his work, google him. Amazing.

One puzzling thing... I clayed this blade and there isn't even a trace of a pattern. It is the first blade I've used clay on since building my new forced air forge AND I'm now using Houghton quench K. So which is it? Both or neither I suppose. The blade hardened just fine....

 

 

[oldpaths]

That thing looks awesome!!! great job!

[Ragnarok Forge]

You might have needed to etch it to bring out the hamon.  Also if temps were off a bit or if the steel is not a high hamon type it won't show.  Better minds than mine may have clearer answers for you.

[SCRAP]

Great job !  That is a fine looking knife .

[Scott Roush]

Thanks folks... Yeah... it was etched and I've gotten very nice patterns with this steel before.  And I can always see the line as soon as I hit it with 220.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the clay was coming off and I didn't realize it.

[skullworks]

Stunning work as usual!!!!!!!!

[Steve Nuckels]

I like it Scott, The handle thickness looks very comfortable.

I plan on buying John Cohea's DVD.

Steve
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Potomac Forge

[Scott Roush]

I re-photographed this thing.  I think this shows the knife better for some reason....

 

[Kevin Evans]

There's a lot to like about this knife!!!!  

[Scott Roush]

Thanks Kevin...

by the way... I think I've gotten to the bottom of why this blade didn't show any hardening line from the clay.  After my visit to Karl's, I went home and built a big vertical forced air forge and I'm now getting such even heats that Aldo's deeper hardening 1084 (has higher alloy content than other 1084s) just ain't showing it. In my old, venturi forge, I was able to concentrate critical heats along the edge.  This will be a good excuse to just go to using W2 from now on when I want a hamon.

[JMR]

Great looking knife! I'll take all of the ones that the hamon doesn't show up on until you figure out the problem.    

[Margly]

Wow!
This is a great looking knife    


Margly