Design questions for the KITH

K

Kev

Well-Known Member
What is the general consensus on “recurve Bowie’s”? I’ve looked extensively online and most of what I’ve found is very Kukuri like, but there are a couple of designs I really like.
I’m just spitballing trying to come up with some new ideas. I try my very best to use a KITH to expand my skill set and try something new. Maybe on this one I just keep it clean and go the traditional route. Decisions, decisions!!
 
Mine has a slight re-curve to it. Personally I like a some what subtle recurve blade. I'd make mine more pronounced accept I don't believe at this point I could pull it off. I'll be lucky if I get the slight recurve in this one correct.
69457
 
I have made a few karambits, which could be viewed as a “recurve shape”. The only way I could find to produce a flat grind on the inside (recurved) edge was to grind it on the very edge or corner of the platen. If someone knows a better way please share. Doug Marcadia has made them fairly popular so I know I will be asked to make another. For KITH do what you want to do, recutve it if you wish to try that skill. Personally, other than for looks, I don’t see a use for a recurve but it does have a CDI factor I cannot deny. Good luck
 
opaul said:
Doesn't a recurve blade require a slack belt set up giving the blade a convex edge?
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Hmmm...good question. Now that you mention it and I think about it you're probably right. When I attempted a recurve blade once before I just used a flat grind and the curve was just on the edge. As it was, I lost the recurve as I finished it up. I'll have to think about that
 
Chris Railey said:
I have made a few karambits, which could be viewed as a “recurve shape”. The only way I could find to produce a flat grind on the inside (recurved) edge was to grind it on the very edge or corner of the platen. If someone knows a better way please share. Doug Marcadia has made them fairly popular so I know I will be asked to make another. For KITH do what you want to do, recutve it if you wish to try that skill. Personally, other than for looks, I don’t see a use for a recurve but it does have a CDI factor I cannot deny. Good luck
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Sorrells has a video on this I believe.
 
I’ve read and seen several different methods for making a recurve, and I’ve researched the different platens and things. I feel confident I can pull it off.

I’m mostly interested in how people feel about the function and aesthetics of a recurve on an actual Bowie knife. Does it help the functionality? Hinder it? Do they look good? Goofy?
 
Chris Railey said:
I have made a few karambits, which could be viewed as a “recurve shape”. The only way I could find to produce a flat grind on the inside (recurved) edge was to grind it on the very edge or corner of the platen. If someone knows a better way please share. Doug Marcadia has made them fairly popular so I know I will be asked to make another. For KITH do what you want to do, recutve it if you wish to try that skill. Personally, other than for looks, I don’t see a use for a recurve but it does have a CDI factor I cannot deny. Good luck
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I know I am in a decided minority , but I found it relatively easy to grind ( file ) the recurve shape with a half round , coarse cut bastard file. By changing the pressure on the file and the angle of attack , it was pretty fast and easy to shape.
 
My two cents and others may feel differently but a recurve blade is hard to sharpen. But then agree I might be going at it the wrong eayy.
 
I have done recurves before, and it wasn’t bad. Sharpening isn’t too hard either, at least the way I do it.
I just can’t decide if I could pull off a Bowie and maintain a classic type look.

69461
 
Kev said:
I’ve read and seen several different methods for making a recurve, and I’ve researched the different platens and things. I feel confident I can pull it off.

I’m mostly interested in how people feel about the function and aesthetics of a recurve on an actual Bowie knife. Does it help the functionality? Hinder it? Do they look good? Goofy?
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The recurve is designed for slashing cuts, "pulling" the target into the belly (for lack of a better word). So functionally, it works on a Bowie, which is basically a fighting knife. I also like the aesthetics, at least on the more subtle varieties. Too much and you end up with more of a kukri shape.
 
opaul said:
My two cents and others may feel differently but a recurve blade is hard to sharpen. But then agree I might be going at it the wrong eayy.
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Not sure on right or wrong way - but I in my case I think it's a wide stone with sharp corners that makes it difficult. I've been thinking about buying a round sharpening rod for field carry.https://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/na315.htm
Right now I use an old stone with the corners wore off. It looks like the platen seen in the link Sean Jones posted. I also have a Lasnky sharpening system with stones that are only 1/2" wide. Those corners don't catch on the recurve knives I have. And I also have a river rock I use for an Ecko Forge carbon steel kitchen knife I found in the drawer. But that knife probably doesn't have a high hardness. In all those cases it's the curvature of the stone that helps sharpen my knives with a recurve. Is that kind of what you meant by hard to sharpen? I know you might be thinking something else since you might be using a belt grinder to sharpen.
 
Kev said:
I’ve read and seen several different methods for making a recurve, and I’ve researched the different platens and things. I feel confident I can pull it off.

I’m mostly interested in how people feel about the function and aesthetics of a recurve on an actual Bowie knife. Does it help the functionality? Hinder it? Do they look good? Goofy?
Click to expand...
I think they look good if not "drastic"...everything is a "to what degree" with knifemaking methinks...lol!
 
soundmind said:
Not sure on right or wrong way - but I in my case I think it's a wide stone with sharp corners that makes it difficult. I've been thinking about buying a round sharpening rod for field carry.https://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/na315.htm
Right now I use an old stone with the corners wore off. It looks like the platen seen in the link Sean Jones posted. I also have a Lasnky sharpening system with stones that are only 1/2" wide. Those corners don't catch on the recurve knives I have. And I also have a river rock I use for an Ecko Forge carbon steel kitchen knife I found in the drawer. But that knife probably doesn't have a high hardness. In all those cases it's the curvature of the stone that helps sharpen my knives with a recurve. Is that kind of what you meant by hard to sharpen? I know you might be thinking something else since you might be using a belt grinder to sharpen.
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No you are right on. I don't have any narrow or round sharpening stones. I don't like to sharpen on the grinder.
 
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