Forging 416 stainless (pro photo pg 2 & 5)

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks. Here is the ivory after shaping and finishing and slid onto the blade.
   

[gudspelr]

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

[Lin Rhea]

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.

[FerretWYO]

Holy wow.

[gudspelr]

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

[akaboomer]

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

[Lin Rhea]

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.

[Lin Rhea]

[Fallguy]

That one will surely get a lot of attention in Atlanta. That is what you call a Sunday Best Bowie!!!!!!!!

[gudspelr]

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

[Doug Campbell]

Looking forward to getting a closer look at that one in a couple weeks Lin. Fabulous work of art!

[Alexander13]

Wow! That is one amazing knife! And thank you for sharing the process.
Joel

[Lin Rhea]

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.
   

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.

[gudspelr]

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

[Steve Nuckels]

Wow, Outstanding in the Mostest!

Steve
----------
Potomac Forge
Member, W.F. Moran Jr. Museum & Foundation
ABS, AP

[JMR]

Stunning!

[tomsm44]

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

[Bazooka Joe]

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

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks.
I was fiddling around with my cell phone to try to get the shimmer on the blade.
   

[gudspelr]

I sure wish I could see that one in person. I've run out of adjectives...   .


Jeremy