This is a small gent's carry bowie or hideout fighter. It's slim and light and relatively short. Easy to carry. It's fairly stout but has sharp distal taper ending in a nice sharp point.
Specs:
Forged from my own 1084 and 15n20 damascus
9 1/2" overall, 4 3/4" blade, .200" thick at the ricasso
Clip is just shy of sharp
Fittings are German Silver
All the edges of the guard have been rounded so there's no sharp edges
Rare and beautiful Camatillo Rosewood handle that is NOT a broom handle <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />. It has more contour than I can show with these pics.
German silver finial.
I have mixed feelings about the finial and might make something else for it. I thought if this was a 'fighter' the pointed finial might be a good skull crusher.
Feel free to post all comments and opinions. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Very nice knife Mr. Doyle, I love the damascus blade! Is it a takedown?
This is just my opinion, but I also agree that the finial might look better if it was a different shape. However, I'm sure it would make a formidable weapon as it is. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> Again, just my opinion. I'm no expert so might not count for much. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//biggrin.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />
Good job overall, I like it!
Wesley
John,
Nice clean work there!
I don't have a big problem with the pointy finial. You could install a butt cap plate underneath it. Putting a plate on a curved surface is a bit challenging, but can be done. Maybe all you need is a "washer" piece under the finial. Don't cover the entire end of the handle.
Adding a butt cap to the handle now, will make the handle look longer; maybe too much longer. I would only use a thin plate/washer. Or perhaps, the butt cap could be inlet into the handle to make it flush with the end of the handle. You've done a very nice job of decorating the end of the handle with filework. Hate to see that messed up, or changed.
Thanks for the comments guys.
Wesley- it is a takedown at this point but not sure it will stay that way.
Steve- thanks for the comments and ideas. Making some kind of a butt cap is something that's been on my mind for a while. I didn't want to tackle it on this finished knife so I made another finial this to see how I like it. It's a better fit for the knife, I think.
Here's a couple quick shots of the new one. Do you guys like this one better? It does seat a little farther in the handle. I don't have it screwed down tight.
I like the knife in both ways, the skullbreaker makes it more "agressif".
How did you make the last finial? Decoration with a file?
And what is a takedown?
It also looks like the point of the blade is not forged. Is it because of the pattern in the damascus?
A lot of questions...but it's the 1st year of forging for me <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />
|quoted:
I like the knife in both ways, the skullbreaker makes it more "agressif".
How did you make the last finial? Decoration with a file?
And what is a takedown?
It also looks like the point of the blade is not forged. Is it because of the pattern in the damascus?
A lot of questions...but it's the 1st year of forging for me <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />
Hi Christophe. Thanks for the comments.
The last finial was indeed made with a file.
Takedown means that using a small tool, in this case a small drill bit, you can remove the finial and take the whole knife apart.
The blade was forged. This used to be a larger blade but the customer snapped about 1 1/2 inches off the tip so the blade was reground and thinned down to make a smaller blade. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
Hi John,
Tanx for the reply, it helps a lot to know why and how things are made!
A friend showed me a damascus billet once and he said that forging the tip and bevels would destroy the pattern.
Grtz,
Chris
John:
Nice work - I find that the profile is balanced and visually pleasing. Did you try to match the pattern flow with the wood flow - it looks it to me.....nice. The "proud" mating between the handle and the ferrule is well done. For me, I prefer the second ferrule - I prefer skull crushers on my daggers.
"Energy and persistence overcome all obstacles." Ben Franklin
Thanks TK. I absolutely did my best to match the grain in the wood with the pattern in the steel........good eye. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />
I too like the second finial better for this knife. Seems to me that we're in the overwhelming majority in that.
Thanks for the comments guys.
