Filework done to the tang (the slot up front is for a silver overlay).

The silver soldered to the back of the blade and handle scales roughed out:

The roughed out scales with silver wrap on front (along with one of my inlet chisels):

Scales ready to attach:

Scales showing both the domed silver pins & tubing that was originally used to attach the scales. (The silver pins used to attach the domed pin heads didn't offer the strength need to attach the scales so tubing was used.) The domed heads for the pins were turned on my lathe.

I am going to offer the finished knife to The Arkansas Historic Museum for display (if they should so choose) until next year's Arkansas Knifemaker's Show with $1000 of the sale price going to the museum for all of their help in reproducing an accurate cope of the original.

Steve Dunn has graciously consented to doing the engraving of the escutcheons. Once done I will send it to Chuck Ward for some better photography.

I've had a lot of enjoyment in making this one. I hope that you enjoy it.

Gary

This is great Gary. Nice forging on the blade. I have tried making a Black style bowie and am still working on it, a lot of things to learn. I am looking forward to this. Thank you.

Brion

Great work Gary!! Thanks for posting!

Gary, You are an inspiration. You have really grown as a knife maker in the last few years. You have guts and determination my friend. I see from the progress photos that you have considered the right things in dealing with the problem areas on the #1. Great work. I look forward to holding it in my hand. Your photos have really brightened my day.

I thank you so much for all of your kind words. The three of you are a lot of my inspiration in knife making and it means a lot.

Thank you,

Gary

Gary

Thank you for taking the time to tackle this complex project and post it as a Work in Progress. We will all learn a lot from your work.

Thanks, Dan. I appreciate your support.

In keeping with a WIP, here's today's progress. I finished installing the domed silver pins and gave the walnut scales a couple of sealer coats of finish.

Now that I have the walnut sealed, I'll do a final sand of the scales tomorrow as well as sanding the various silver pieces to 600 grit. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> Lot's of hand work with this one.

Then after another 6-8 coats of finish, I should be ready for the escutcheons once they are engraved.

Hope that you are enjoying the progress.

Gary

Thanks for keeping us posted Gary. I'm enjoying watching this knife come together!

Thanks, Steve. There won't be much more to show until I get the escutcheons back but will try to update then. Once done I'll have Chuck take some better photos.

Gary

I have the knife fully assembled. Now it's down to the finish work. The blade has a 400 grit finish and the silver 600. I still need to do a little clean up on the handle. It has 12 coats of a wipe-on poly that I went over with 0000 steel wool but need to touch it up a little here & there.

Once fully completed, I'll have Chuck take some better photos.

The overall knife is very close to the dimensions of the original. Let me know what you think.

Gary

It looks a lot like the original Gary. I think you did fine job. I hope to see it up close before long.

Thanks, Lin. That means a lot. It was good to talk to you today. Hope to see you soon.

Gary

Very cool Gary! She sure looks the part!

I'm impressed with how you have jumped into building antique recreations. I've found that working to build a knife close to what someone else has made can really teach you a lot!