Bowie project...............

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gmusic
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by gmusic »

Thank you Mel! That's the look I was going for when I decided to build it this way, Lonesome Dove......



Lyle, good catch! I haven't decided where to put the makers mark yet. Probably on the non-existent choil somewhere..........maybe on the guard.
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orvet
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by orvet »

You nailed it Gary!! ::tu::
Once again your clean lines make it look as smooth as silk!
Great job! ::drool::
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Quick Steel
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by Quick Steel »

gmusic: Ditto on all the previous compliments. I have a fair size collection of Bowies including some customs. Since this is your first I can't wait to see #2!

I especially like your treatment of the guard and the blade is.....elegant. ::ds::
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gmusic
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by gmusic »

Thank you Dale! I appreciate the comments.....


Thanks QS! Comments are always welcome and they don't have to be positive. I have changed more than a thing or two from constructive critiques. Like the color of this sheath!
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muskrat man
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by muskrat man »

Love it ::tu::
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gmusic
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by gmusic »

Thank you Kaleb!
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Dinadan
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by Dinadan »

This has been a great thread, Gary. I would love to see a photo of a blade prepared for tempering ... I am assuming you have the back part of the blade coated in clay or something similar since it has a hamon line. What do you use for tempering? We used to keep a five gallon bucket of used motor oil to temper stuff. I noted the barrel of coal in your photo, but no quenching medium.
Mel
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gmusic
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by gmusic »

Hello Mel,

I forge the blade and then normalize it, grind it to rough shape and then normalize again. Then I start the heat treat cycles.
I use coke, coal is to dirty. Sometimes I'll use my gas forge but I have heard you can burn carbon out of the steel with gas if you're not real careful. And how does one tell when you have reached that point where your doing damage? Could be a wives tale, who knows.
I deferentially quench three times in 150 degree oil over a 72 hour period then temper back twice in my Paragon oven. Each quench is progressively higher up on the blade or deeper into the oil……..however you want to look at it. You can see the different “zones” and the grain or Wootz structure in the close up. Check this out about Wootz.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wootz_steel
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by SteelMyHeart85420 »

I was quite content being a non-fan of Bowie knives....you're gonna mess that up for me now, ain't ya? LOL, she turned out real pretty. I like the shop pics, too
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Dinadan
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by Dinadan »

Thanks for the additional info, Gary. You are sure right about coal being dirty. Sounds like that sequential quenching could be a tricky process: if I understand what you are doing correctly, one oops moment would undo a lot of effort. Very nice work area and equipment!
Mel
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gmusic
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Re: Bowie project...............

Post by gmusic »

Thank you Steel! Everyone should own one "Bowie" style knife. Three or four if you like them!

Your welcome Mel. Glad to share..
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