GeneK's KITH Bowie

Gene Kimmi

Gene Kimmi

KNIFE MAKER
Yesterday, I drew up a couple designs for the KITH Bowie, one hidden tang and one full tang. I've been wanting to design and make a full tang Bowie, so that's the one I'm going to go with.



It will be 14" overall with a recurve to it. I'm going to use 1095 to make this so I can attempt a hamon. All I have for 1095 is 1/8" and 1/4", so I cut out 2 in 1/8" and one in 1/4". The 1/4" one I will Grind a distal taper and taper the tang. If I don't like how either turn out, I'll order some 3/16" and make another one.

Here's where I'm at so far. They are profiled and the faces ground clean. Next, I'll rough grind the bevels, drill handle holes and taper the tang on the 1/4" one. Then comes the claying for the hamon.

 
Very nice! I am considering a recurve on mine as well.
I love the way full tang knives look and feel, but I like the guard as well.
 
Kev said:
Very nice! I am considering a recurve on mine as well.
I love the way full tang knives look and feel, but I like the guard as well.
Click to expand...
You can't have both (full tang AND guard?)
I'm not trying to be a smart ass , I really want to know.
 
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Frame handled allows for one piece guard as oposed to pinned on bolsters and still have the full tang look
 
Were those cut out of 2" wide barstock? Like I said to OP I wrestle with handle design and the finger guard looks good. Judging by the ruler it looks like you used 2" barstock? I used 1 1/2 and I wasn't happy with my fingerguard on my last one.
 
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I love that design Gene. Just enough re-curve to give it some movement but not enough to adversely effect cutting. You da man.
 
soundmind said:
Were those cut out of 2" wide barstock? Like I said to OP I wrestle with handle design and the finger guard looks good. Judging by the ruler it looks like you used 2" barstock? I used 1 1/2 and I wasn't happy with my fingerguard on my last one.
Click to expand...

I cut these out of wider stock, but the width with the guard is 2 1/4".
 
I was able to get some work done on the 1/4" bowie today. I'm going to hold up on the 1/8" ones as I feel 1/8" may be to light for a knife this size. I have some 3/16" material on the way ,so I'll catch a couple up when it comes in.

After drilling the holes for the corby bolts, I started on tapering the tang. First, I ground a trough in the handle through the end of the tang.




Then I ground the taper in, from 1/4" at the riccaso to .060" at the butt of the handle.




From here, I rough ground the bevels. Here it is at 36 grit.




And at 120 and ready to heat treat.




Next, I'll normalize, thermal cycle and clay the blade for the hamon.
 
GeneK said:
I was able to get some work done on the 1/4" bowie today. I'm going to hold up on the 1/8" ones as I feel 1/8" may be to light for a knife this size. I have some 3/16" material on the way ,so I'll catch a couple up when it comes in.

After drilling the holes for the corby bolts, I started on tapering the tang. First, I ground a trough in the handle through the end of the tang.




Then I ground the taper in, from 1/4" at the riccaso to .060" at the butt of the handle.




From here, I rough ground the bevels. Here it is at 36 grit.




And at 120 and ready to heat treat.




Next, I'll normalize, thermal cycle and clay the blade for the hamon.
Click to expand...
Dang! That’s nice, bro!
 
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