I've started a Bowie that I thought might be fun to share. This will be a Sheffield type spear point Bowie with a handle of curly koa and a blade of a laddered "W" pattern.
Here's what I have done so far:
The handle material:
With 416 spacers & inletted escutcheons:
The 21 x 16 "W" pattern Damascus billet laddered:
Normalizing a 10" spear point:
I'll try to keep you updated as I progress on this one.
Gary
Thanks Gary. This should be fun to watch.
BTW guys, I just want to say that I really appreciate the time folks are taking on these WIP's.
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€
I got the blade profiled & rough ground today. I had originally thought of a 10" blade but since most of the originals had an 8" blade, that's what I went with. Luckily this Damascus was a pattern that wasn't hurt by shortening the blade.
I should get the guard started tomorrow and will take you through how I make a ball tip guard.
Gary
The ball tipped guard:
I used to make these out of flat bar stock but I've found that it is easier and more expedient to turn the ball tips on a lathe out of a piece of 1/2" diameter 416 (leaving 2" between them so that I could eventually grind the flats on a 2x72 grinder) and then forging the middle:
Heating in the forge after attaching a rebar handle:
Rough forged & ready for grinding to shape & slotting for tang:
Gary
Great to see your wip. Gary!
Scott
Great WIP Mr Mulkey, thank you for the time and effort to share.
Finished blade & guard:
Getting started on the clam shell pommel. This is a long way from done but may give you an idea of the progression. The filework so far was done with a 6" triangle file. I'll probably follow up with several different mini files to complete the clam shell. This was made from some 416 rod (1 1/2" diameter) and rough ground to shape as that was all that I had that was large enough to make it. After center boring and tapping for the threaded tang, I drilled out as much as possible with a 1/2" bit to help reduce weight.
Hope that you're enjoying the progression of this one.
Gary
Here's the finished knife. Hope you enjoyed trip.
Gary
Beautiful knife Mr. Mulkey.
