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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: Scott Roush on October 25, 2010, 04:02:00 PM

Title: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Scott Roush on October 25, 2010, 04:02:00 PM

I finally finished this sucker. It was forged from a 15n20/1084 billet I mentioned in another thread. It came out to 15 3/4" total length. I put on a Civil War style S-guard and file-worked ferrule forged from shipwreck wrought iron.  The handle is morticed kauri wood. Kauri is an extinct wood salvaged from bogs in New Zealand and was buried 150,000 yrs ago. There is a place near to where I live that buys this stuff in huge quantities and makes high end furniture from it. I also tried something different with copper...  I took a couple different gauges of small pieces and randomly placed them around the handle. I wish I had more sizes... would have been a nicer effect.

The san mai is interesting as I accidentally left little pieces of the 15n20 behind near the edge looking like islands on a coastline.  Just wish I could get more contrast between the steels!  It was etched in ferric chloride numerous times with polishing and bleach washes between.  You can also see where it almost started to delam towards the plunge.

This thing was fun to make and the Moran style handle feels great.  I would've liked to have gotten the center of balance lower but I need a pommel for that I guess.

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/_SAR0073.jpg)

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/_SAR0074-1.jpg)

 (http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj61/The_Roushs/_SAR0067-2.jpg)

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: jpsowers on October 25, 2010, 06:56:00 PM

Beautiful

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: skullworks on October 25, 2010, 07:22:00 PM

Wowzer!!!!!

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: sticshooter on October 25, 2010, 07:30:00 PM

AWESOME! IMO you found your style.<><

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Steve Nuckels on October 25, 2010, 07:55:00 PM

Scott, I agree with Frank!!  

That is my kind of knife my friend, I like all that!  I'm a sucker for wrought iron and forge scale!

How long do you etch your wrought?

I made a rough bowie at the ABS school with a similar blade profile.

Very nice

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Toecutter on October 25, 2010, 09:28:00 PM

Beautiful!!!

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Trinity Outfitters on October 25, 2010, 09:58:00 PM

That is a man's knife there--awesome!

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: amar911 on October 25, 2010, 10:06:00 PM

You have created something very special! I also agree with Frank.

Allan

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Scott Roush on October 25, 2010, 10:13:00 PM

thanks everybody. Thanks Frank.

Steve... That wrought was so slaggy I just applied it with a que tip for a couple of 1 minute soaks.  Other wrought I have left in for several hours to etch.

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: elk ninja on October 26, 2010, 10:29:00 AM

I am not a big fan of Bowies or "pigstickers" (don't even really like that term), but that one is....


WOW.

Title: Re: big san mai bowie completed
Post by: Cody D Works on October 26, 2010, 07:52:00 PM

*DROOL*..... That is one pretty knife....