Evan

Your distal taper can run from the tip back to the plunge line. From what you are describing, I suspect you have this taper in your blades, but are more asking how close the flat grinds of the blade should get to the spine. The answer is a matter of design for a given maker. I try to take the grind right up to the spine so the plunge line goes up toward the spine and flows in a gentle curve up an forward to the spine. This taper will reduce the weight of the blade and give it a good balance. The key is to have a smooth flowing line when you look down the spine.

Thanks for putting in you location on your member info. In about a month there is a Knife Show in Little Rock AR (see link below). It would be well worth the 4 hour drive to see some Bowies first hand as there will be plenty there.

If you go to the show, remember that the makers are there to sell knives, so respect their business and introduce yourself as a maker and ask if you look at their work. Some times makers appear to be potential customers and a maker spends 30 minutes trying to make a sale and passing up other potential customers that come by their table only to find that the person looking at the knife has no intentions to buy it, but rather is trying to figure out how to make one like it. As you can imagine, this can be a little frustrating for the maker. I will be at the show, so feel free to stop by my table.

Little Rock Knife Show

Brian

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Evan

Your distal taper can run from the tip back to the plunge line. From what you are describing, I suspect you have this taper in your blades, but are more asking how close the flat grinds of the blade should get to the spine. The answer is a matter of design for a given maker. I try to take the grind right up to the spine so the plunge line goes up toward the spine and flows in a gentle curve up an forward to the spine. This taper will reduce the weight of the blade and give it a good balance. The key is to have a smooth flowing line when you look down the spine.

Thanks for putting in you location on your member info. In about a month there is a Knife Show in Little Rock AR (see link below). It would be well worth the 4 hour drive to see some Bowies first hand as there will be plenty there.

If you go to the show, remember that the makers are there to sell knives, so respect their business and introduce yourself as a maker and ask if you look at their work. Some times makers appear to be potential customers and a maker spends 30 minutes trying to make a sale and passing up other potential customers that come by their table only to find that the person looking at the knife has no intentions to buy it, but rather is trying to figure out how to make one like it. As you can imagine, this can be a little frustrating for the maker. I will be at the show, so feel free to stop by my table.

Little Rock Knife Show

Brian

Thank you for the advice Brian! I believe I grasp what you are saying; so the grinding line can actually run off of the top of the spine just not at the plunge cut which would help give that slight distal taper? I'm just wondering because I learned how to flat grind with Harvey Dean's DVD when I was younger, but never really grasped if the flat grind lines can run over the top of the spine forward of the plunge cuts. Also I couldn't tell if bowies were slightly tapered along the length of the blade or only at the curved tip. Thank you so much for the info about the knife show in Arkansas! I looked and saw many names of makers I would like to meet, and I would definitely like to stop by at your table. I really liked reading your article, and your Journeyman knife of the year was very impressive, great job!

Quick question about the blade show. I wouldn't try to take up too much of your time or anyone else's, but would it be a bad idea to bring ground blades without handles (or maybe with depending upon how things go) for you to look at and critique my work? I also just wanna talk to makers and get acquainted with the ABS as much as possible. Even if it is a no, I am gonna be there and make sure to see the beauty and grace of the many knives from top makers such as yourself.

Evan

Hello Evan. On most of my bowies there is a distal taper from the plunge to the point, unless there is a reason for not doing it, like a chopping knife where you want more weight forward. But for the most part, yes there is a taper, sometimes slight, but there. I would say rather the flat grind going right up to the spine rather than running over it, and like Brian, I prefer the plunge line to have a gentle radius into the spine.

Evan we look forward to meeting you at Little Rock. Like Brian says, bowie heaven, so many fine knives in one room. I would suggest maybe bring one or two blades and I would be glad to look at them. The best times for this either a slow time like Sunday morning, or in the evening in the hotel lobby/bar. A suggestion, I would plan to come to the Friday night reception if you can, as it is a good time for viewing knives and introductions.

Look forward to seeing you.

Brion

Evan

Thank you for the kind words.

I think you got what I was saying. In the below pictures, everything above the dark line is flat (for the most part depending on my forging, but for sure at the Ricasso)and below the line is where I am grinding my bevels and distal taper. This is pretty much what a typical blade looks like as I grind it. The top blade is starting out with a fair amount of flat area around the ricasso and spine. As I continue to grind (middle), the flat area below the spine gets smaller and works back toward the ricasso. Bottom picture is what the finished blade looks like.

It is ok to bring some blades and will take a look at them and give you what advise I can. I would suggest you follow Brion's advise and try to attend the Gala on Friday night. Sunday Morning when it is slower is likely the best time to look at your blades.

Brian

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Hello Evan. On most of my bowies there is a distal taper from the plunge to the point, unless there is a reason for not doing it, like a chopping knife where you want more weight forward. But for the most part, yes there is a taper, sometimes slight, but there. I would say rather the flat grind going right up to the spine rather than running over it, and like Brian, I prefer the plunge line to have a gentle radius into the spine.

Evan we look forward to meeting you at Little Rock. Like Brian says, bowie heaven, so many fine knives in one room. I would suggest maybe bring one or two blades and I would be glad to look at them. The best times for this either a slow time like Sunday morning, or in the evening in the hotel lobby/bar. A suggestion, I would plan to come to the Friday night reception if you can, as it is a good time for viewing knives and introductions.

Look forward to seeing you.

Brion

Thank you Brion, and I look forward to seeing you also. I wish I could go Friday, but it looks like I might have school and classes here at college unless they would be luckily cancelled. So I may unfortunately only be able to attend over the weekend, but will try for the Friday reception if I can. So will you and most of the bladesmiths be staying at the Double Tree Hotel, and you are meaning a good time would also be Sunday evening correct? I really appreciate your help with looking over my blades, it means a lot!

Evan

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Evan

Thank you for the kind words.

I think you got what I was saying. In the below pictures, everything above the dark line is flat (for the most part depending on my forging, but for sure at the Ricasso)and below the line is where I am grinding my bevels and distal taper. This is pretty much what a typical blade looks like as I grind it. The top blade is starting out with a fair amount of flat area around the ricasso and spine. As I continue to grind (middle), the flat area below the spine gets smaller and works back toward the ricasso. Bottom picture is what the finished blade looks like.

It is ok to bring some blades and will take a look at them and give you what advise I can. I would suggest you follow Brion's advise and try to attend the Gala on Friday night. Sunday Morning when it is slower is likely the best time to look at your blades.

Brian

Your very welcome Brian, and I thank you for the very well drawn and presented diagram. The pictures and steps you indicate really help painting the picture on grinding, and help me tremendously. I look forward to meeting you at the blade show, and I really appreciate the help that you have provided me.

Evan

Evan,

Looks like Brian and Brion have given you some good information on the distal taper.

Most of the bladesmiths will be at the Doubletree. On Friday and Saturday evenings, you will always find a bunch of them in the hotel lobby. Just find a maker that you recognize, walk up and introduce yourself. Don't be shy. If you walk up on a conversation between a couple of makers, don't be discouraged if they don't acknowledge your presence until they are done talking. Knifemakers can't focus on more than one thing at a time. LOL!!! Just about everyone leaves right after the show is over, so not too many will be around Sunday evening.

I would also be happy to have a look at your work.

Evan, If you get to the hotel a day or so in advance of the show, walk three blocks East and one block South to the Historic Arkansas Museum. Come in and see the Bowie Knife Gallery. If you like, ask for me and I'll show you.

Evan

If you have the time you should take Lin Rhea up on his generous offer to show you around the Historic Arkansas Museum's Bowie Knife Gallery. This would be a great place to learn more about Bowie Knives. This is the link to the Bowie Knife Gattery, click: My link

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Evan,

Looks like Brian and Brion have given you some good information on the distal taper.

Most of the bladesmiths will be at the Doubletree. On Friday and Saturday evenings, you will always find a bunch of them in the hotel lobby. Just find a maker that you recognize, walk up and introduce yourself. Don't be shy. If you walk up on a conversation between a couple of makers, don't be discouraged if they don't acknowledge your presence until they are done talking. Knifemakers can't focus on more than one thing at a time. LOL!!! Just about everyone leaves right after the show is over, so not too many will be around Sunday evening.

I would also be happy to have a look at your work.

Okay that helps me out knowing that, thank you Steve for the info and offer to look at my work. I'm not much good at multitasking either so I understand that department! haha I look forward to meeting you at the blade show also.

Evan

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Evan, If you get to the hotel a day or so in advance of the show, walk three blocks East and one block South to the Historic Arkansas Museum. Come in and see the Bowie Knife Gallery. If you like, ask for me and I'll show you.

Thank you for that generous offer Lin, and I really do appreciate the offer! I most likely have classes here at school and can't cut out of them because I already plan on cutting a little class time going to Haywood College. I really wish I could come to the show on Friday and come to Arkansas early. Is the museum open over the weekend?? I will also look forward to meeting you and seeing your work!

Evan

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Evan

If you have the time you should take Lin Rhea up on his generous offer to show you around the Historic Arkansas Museum's Bowie Knife Gallery. This would be a great place to learn more about Bowie Knives. This is the link to the Bowie Knife Gattery, click: My link

Thank you for the link! That looks like a fantastic museum and I hope I have the opportunity to go take a look at the Bowie Knife Gallery.

Evan

Evan, Yes the museum is open on the weekend, Saturday all day and Sunday in the afternoon. Let me know if I can help.

Distal taper plays a large part in weight distribution of a knife. Some longer bladed knives are still well balanced because of the incorporation of good distal taper while others are front heavy because of the lack of distal taper.

Distal taper also contributes to the blade's flexibility by distributing the flex over more of the blade's length, thus not imparting more flex in a given area than the steel and heat treat can permit.

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Evan, Yes the museum is open on the weekend, Saturday all day and Sunday in the afternoon. Let me know if I can help.

Distal taper plays a large part in weight distribution of a knife. Some longer bladed knives are still well balanced because of the incorporation of good distal taper while others are front heavy because of the lack of distal taper.

Distal taper also contributes to the blade's flexibility by distributing the flex over more of the blade's length, thus not imparting more flex in a given area than the steel and heat treat can permit.

Thank you again for the help and information! So far it actually looks like I may get to come down Friday after all, not sure if it'll be early morning or late evening because my dad hasn't decided when we'll go? My instructor actually cancelled class for that Friday. I'm starting to understand that how the blade is ground and forged is left up to the maker, you guys have really helped with giving me the idea behind what to look for in grinding my blade. Distal tapers are what I am after for sure though, but one problem I'm having with 1 or two blades here recently is the top of the spine looks good near the ricasso. Then it kinda forms a dip with the tip being thicker, and so the spine caves in somewhat. So i'm guessing I'm taking out to much material along the top and maybe not grinding enough off the tip, something I'll watch for. It is strange because I haven't had this problem before?? When forging I have read that it is good to taper around 1/3 of the blade, but if you have a distal taper running the whole length would it be better to taper the whole blade instead? I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

Evan