MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > The Newbies Arena

The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-31-2015, 04:34 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
The Bowie KITH

After much discussion in the Chat Room it has been decided that the next KITH will be for a Bowie knife. That should make the newbies happy since they all try to make a big knife first and it should be a challenge to those with a little experience since they know that big knives aren't as easy as it looks. This KITH starts now and will run until Halloween to make sure everyone has all the time they need without rushing. For those who have never done a KITH before, participation means making a knife according to the theme of the KITH (which means Knife In The Hat) and then all the participants judge all the knives submitted and based on the ratings the knives will be swapped among the participants. You make a knife, you get a knife.

The RULES:

There is no 'official' definition of exactly what a bowie knife is and this KITH will play fast and loose with the design. In this KITH, a Bowie knife must have:

1. A false edge (this is the edge at the top side of the blade at the tip). This is not sharp but almost.

2. A double lugged guard. Guard above the spine and below the edge, any shape, any style.

3. Any type of grind you like on the blade

4. Any style of handle that you can fit a double guard on

5. A sheath

6. Most bowies are large knives but for this KITH any length of blade is acceptable so if you want to make something practical go for a 6" blade or even less if you want.


That's it - you can be as large or as small as you like, as fancy or plain as you choose as long as you have a false edge and a double lugged guard. Below you can see some pictures of different styles of classic bowie design to use as examples. The first is called The Iron Mistress from the 1952 movie of the same name. The knife in the picture is one of the actual knives made for the movie. That is important because when most people think of a Bowie knife that is exactly the knife they are thinking of. However. Jim Bowie never saw a knife like that one - James Beckman created that knife for the movie and ever since then that is how most people imagine the knife carried by Jim Bowie looked but...'fraid not. Nevertheless, its a good one to copy as Gil Hibben did in his updated version of the same knife (also pictured).

Bowies are fighting knives, they aren't intended for dressing a deer or paring your finger nails. Over the years many improvements have been made to large fighting knives but none more popular than Bill Bagwell's Hell's Belle bowie (11" blade). The one in the picture is a commercially made version of Bagwell's design by Ontario .

Finally, just to show you there's nothing to fear here, the last knife is a 6" (I think) knife made by our own James McClendon. He didn't intend for it to be a bowie but it has all the ear marks required for this KITH.

If you're interested just post a response here and get to buildin' a bowie. If you are brand spanking new at this and intend to do your own heat treating then see the Sticky at the top of the forum called KITH Preparation Class - Heat Treating. If you can drop into the Sunday Chat Room you can get all the help you might need to get this done.

Have fun!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg ontario bagwell.jpg (10.9 KB, 79 views)
File Type: jpg jm bowie.JPG (63.6 KB, 92 views)


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!







Last edited by Ray Rogers; 11-13-2016 at 06:24 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-31-2015, 08:22 PM
ricky_arthur's Avatar
ricky_arthur ricky_arthur is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 524
Oh man, I may try to squeeze into this before I leave in may. I will probably need to send it to you Ray as I will be gone for 4 months. I think a Hells Belle out of Don Hansens W2 is in order.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-31-2015, 08:27 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
That would work, Ricky. I'm thinking a Belle out of O1 for mine ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-31-2015, 08:31 PM
PoolQs PoolQs is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 359
I am definitely in !!!! Never made a BIG knife except for my chefs knives.
Looking forward to another new challenge !!!
Mr Talley ... don't think my 1x30 is going to make it this time ....
need to come and play in your shop for this one.
Planning stage has been started !!!
Troy
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-31-2015, 08:50 PM
ricky_arthur's Avatar
ricky_arthur ricky_arthur is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 524
Oh it's ON!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-31-2015, 09:22 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
Well, Troy, the guide lines say the bowie doesn't have to be big so you could build an itsy bitsy bowie to fit your small grinder . Unless, that is, that might make you feel like a gurrrlllll....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-31-2015, 10:09 PM
RedstickJP RedstickJP is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 124
i may not have finished my first knife yet, but I am intrigued for sure. I have 11 Knives/sheathes to finish before I can start a knife for this though...gonna do my absolute best to get in on the fun.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-01-2015, 09:16 AM
PoolQs PoolQs is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Indiana
Posts: 359
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Rogers View Post
Well, Troy, the guide lines say the bowie doesn't have to be big so you could build an itsy bitsy bowie to fit your small grinder . Unless, that is, that might make you feel like a gurrrlllll....
I'm about ready to take off my underoos and step up to some boxers
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-01-2015, 09:24 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
QUOTE: I'm about ready to take off my underoos and step up to some boxers

In that case, I envy you because I'm at the other end of the scale where life is more likely to involve Depends than Underoos ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-01-2015, 05:19 PM
pcpc201 pcpc201 is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: South Alabama
Posts: 146
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Rogers View Post
QUOTE: I'm about ready to take off my underoos and step up to some boxers

In that case, I envy you because I'm at the other end of the scale where life is more likely to involve Depends than Underoos ....
Me too Ray...
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-01-2015, 07:06 PM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Decatur, IL
Posts: 2,612
Ok, I've got to get back into the swing of things so I'm in. Even if it's a bowie.

Doug


__________________
If you're not making mistakes then you're not trying hard enough
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 04-01-2015, 07:20 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
QUOTE: Even if it's a bowie.

Well, there's bowies and then there's bowies. This knife must have a false edge and a double guard - that's it. Everything else is up for grabs so no need to feel hemmed in. Let your imagination run wild and free ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 04-01-2015, 07:32 PM
fuzzy's Avatar
fuzzy fuzzy is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: central florida
Posts: 101
I'm in
Think i'll start at a 14 blade maybe it will finish at 8
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 04-01-2015, 07:52 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
QUOTE: Think i'll start at a 14 blade maybe it will finish at 8

THAT'S the spirit!!


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-01-2015, 08:00 PM
jmccustomknives jmccustomknives is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 554
I'll see what I can come up with. Bowie is my fav.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bee, big knife, blade, bowie, bowie knife, brand, choose, design, easy, edge, fighting, grind, guard, handle, iron, kit, knife, knives, made, make, making, movie, paring, post, sharp


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anyone for a new kith? cbr900son Custom Projects 16 03-15-2011 07:03 PM
New kith!!! cbr900son The Newbies Arena 0 03-12-2011 08:46 PM
KITH done Mungo Park The Newbies Arena 7 11-16-2006 09:43 PM
kith? chaos_customs The Outpost 1 11-14-2005 12:41 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:39 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved