I just finished my ABS Board member knife to be donated to the auction in Atlanta and I wanted to send a video along to Dan Cassidy for our ABS YouTube channel to give the knife and auction some attention. My concern is that while I can sit there and talk about the knife and describe in nauseating detail, I would much rather do a presentation that focuses on what people are really interested in hearing. So I got the idea to bring it to the participants of this forum and ask what it is that you would like to know about the knife. What would you be most interested in hearing about this knife, it design, construction, creation or my thoughts about it? The idea is to sort of video this like an interview with you folks getting to be a Barbara Walters with the maker.
The knife- It is a bowie, which I initially thought would be boring or clichéd, so I decided to do things that were atypical of my work. It has a 1095 blade, which is different for me to use on a bowie. It is differentially hardened in a traditional Japanese pattern with a high polish to match. It has O-2/203 damascus fittings and a fossil walrus handle.
I do not have any photos of it yet but I also sort of thought it would be better to reveal the actual knife in the video rather than anticlimactically spoil it now.
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
Why did you decide to go atypical of your normal work?
Did you use O-2/203 for high contrast? Is this mix something you normally use for fittings as opposed to a high carbon recipe?
Barbara
Karl B. Andersen
Journeyman Smith
What were your heat treatment methods and why?
What performance considerations went into your chosen blade geometry for this bowie?
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
|quoted:
What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
Kevin
Careful what you ask for!!!
On the serious side, Karl and Derrick have some good suggestions.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
|quoted:
...What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
What do you mean, an African or European swallow?
(Was there any other possible reply?) <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />
"One test is worth 1000 'expert' opinions" Riehle Testing Machines Co.
What was your order of operations for assembling and finishing out the handle and fittings. What type of handle construction did you choose and for what reason?
Kevin,
I would like to hear how much of the knife was pre-designed and how much of it did you design "on the fly". I have a tendency to start with a basic general concept and design as I go but I know that others try to exactly duplicate a pre-conception.
Thanks,
Gary
Questions I would ask you:
1. Why did you decide to step out of your comfort zone with this knife? Was it to push yourself, or to push the idea of what a Bowie is? (you said you thought it "would be boring or clichéd")
2. What was the most difficult part of the knife to make? Was it in the design, or in part of the fabrication?
3. Does this knife have special meaning to you other than being an ABS BOD knife? Does it have some significance on a personal artistic level? Did it represent some sort of personal test?
4. This new learning fascinates me Sir Kevin. Explain again how ram's bladders made be employed to prevent earthquakes.
5. Is Kevin Cashen the blade smith entering a new period? (as in Picasso's Blue Period) Is he migrating away from the quillon dagger?
BTW, I be more than willing to travel to your place for a weekend and play the part of Barbara for the interview. Just in case you needed a volunteer!
Joshua States
www.dosgatosforge.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg
https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71
Also on Instagram and Facebook as J.States Bladesmith
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.â€
The American Bladesmith Society presents the 2016 ABS Board of Directors Knife of the Year by Master Smith Kevin R. Cashen for the 2016 ABS Knife Auction. In this informative and entertaining video Kevin describes his processes making this extraordinary Bowie knife. The knife will be available on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 10AM in Room# 103 at the ABS Knife Auction during the 2016 Blade Show in Atlanta, GA.
To view the video, Click: 2016 ABS Board of Directors Knife of the Year
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
This was great! Thanks Kevin.
Joshua States
www.dosgatosforge.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJMFMqnbLYqv965xd64vYg
https://www.facebook.com/dos.gatos.71
Also on Instagram and Facebook as J.States Bladesmith
“So I'm lightin' out for the territory, ahead of the scared and the weak and the mean spirited, because Aunt Sally is fixin’ to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've been there before.â€
