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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Scott Roush on October 08, 2010, 11:37:00 AM

Title: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Scott Roush on October 08, 2010, 11:37:00 AM

I don't usually do rote copies of people's blade profiles, but ever since I saw Jason Knight's Sooke Mountain Chopper it has haunted me.  His has a micarta handle, so I was able to put my own elements into it.  I picked up some sheep scales at the Ohio hammer-in with this knife project in mind.  It is about 13" total length and my first actual attempt at a swedged point.  The wrought iron is from my slaggy heap I dragged out of the woods and there is copper, red spacers, raw hide thong with copper keeper.  The blade is Aldo's 1084. I'm very excited as John Cohea has agreed to do the sheath for this. If you haven't seen his work, google him. Amazing.

One puzzling thing... I clayed this blade and there isn't even a trace of a pattern. It is the first blade I've used clay on since building my new forced air forge AND I'm now using Houghton quench K. So which is it? Both or neither I suppose. The blade hardened just fine....

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/bighornchopper_web.jpg)

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/bighorn_filework.jpg)

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: oldpaths on October 08, 2010, 12:28:00 PM

That thing looks awesome!!! great job!

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Ragnarok Forge on October 08, 2010, 01:49:00 PM

You might have needed to etch it to bring out the hamon.  Also if temps were off a bit or if the steel is not a high hamon type it won't show.  Better minds than mine may have clearer answers for you.

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: SCRAP on October 08, 2010, 01:49:00 PM

Great job !  That is a fine looking knife .

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Scott Roush on October 08, 2010, 02:31:00 PM

Thanks folks... Yeah... it was etched and I've gotten very nice patterns with this steel before.  And I can always see the line as soon as I hit it with 220.

The only thing I can think of is that maybe the clay was coming off and I didn't realize it.

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: skullworks on October 08, 2010, 04:12:00 PM

Stunning work as usual!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Steve Nuckels on October 08, 2010, 09:06:00 PM

I like it Scott, The handle thickness looks very comfortable.

I plan on buying John Cohea's DVD.

Steve
-------
Potomac Forge

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Scott Roush on October 13, 2010, 07:36:00 AM

I re-photographed this thing.  I think this shows the knife better for some reason....

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/bighornbweb.jpg)

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Kevin Evans on October 13, 2010, 09:15:00 PM

There's a lot to like about this knife!!!!  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Scott Roush on October 13, 2010, 09:26:00 PM

Thanks Kevin...

by the way... I think I've gotten to the bottom of why this blade didn't show any hardening line from the clay.  After my visit to Karl's, I went home and built a big vertical forced air forge and I'm now getting such even heats that Aldo's deeper hardening 1084 (has higher alloy content than other 1084s) just ain't showing it. In my old, venturi forge, I was able to concentrate critical heats along the edge.  This will be a good excuse to just go to using W2 from now on when I want a hamon.

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: JMR on October 23, 2010, 10:13:00 PM

Great looking knife! I'll take all of the ones that the hamon doesn't show up on until you figure out the problem.    :biglaugh:

Title: Re: Bighorn Camp Bowie
Post by: Margly on October 25, 2010, 05:05:00 AM

Wow!
This is a great looking knife  :thumbsup:  


Margly