Sheffield Bowie

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Pards
Here is another Bowie I sent directly to Shefield England for the blade.
It was most poorly finished blade I ever bought, it had low spots and machine marks on both sides.
Dusty Ed

[Rowdy Fulcher]

Howdy
That is a fine looking Bowie .

[Dusty Ed]

Thanks Rowdy
It was a mess to work with.
Dusty Ed

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[Rowdy Fulcher]

Ed
So you would say skip doing another blade from Sheffield  

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Rowdy
I don't know for sure,I have got about 10 hrs in sanding it get it flat, but I really like the shape and weight of it.
I sold it.
I have been getting these Damascus Blades they are very good and they sell like hotcakes.
There is one I've posted a picture of it on this website.


Dusty Ed  

[Books OToole]

I have been getting these Damascus Blades they are very good and they sell like hotcakes.

Dusty Ed  

What is the obsesation with Damascus?

Books

[Mogorilla]

same mysticism surrounding viking pattern welded swords.  When you were known for centuries as the best game in town, far enough back that the word magic and damascus may have been mentioned if the inquisition was not in town, the reputation becomes part of everyone's thinking.  That and like the viking swords, they are interesting to look at.

[bowiemaker]

Both Damascus and Sheffield have become rather general terms.

Many think Damascus is a superior steel. Modern day Damascus is simply layers of different metals forge welded, folded, and etched. It can be good or bad depending on what metals are used and the skill of the person who made it. There is a lot of cheap Damascus coming from India that is made from junk metal.

Many think that Sheffield was a cutlery company since blades were often stamped with the “Sheffield” mark. The mark is really a reference to the area which became the cutlery manufacturing center of the world in the 17th and 18th centuries with hundreds of cutlery manufactures located in the region.

Sheffield's location with a number of fast-flowing rivers and streams surrounded by hills containing raw materials such as coal and iron ore, and millstone grit for grindstones—made it an ideal place for water-powered industries to develop. Water wheels were often built for the milling of corn, but many were converted to the manufacture of blades.

As early as the 14th century Sheffield was noted for the production of knives. By 1600 Sheffield was the main centre of cutlery production in England outside of London.

There are over 300 master cutlers listed in Sheffields directories between 1624 and 1925. By 1910 there were over 4000 cutlery companies in Sheffield. Thousands of Sheffield Bowies Knives were imported in to the US in the 1800s.
There are still about 100 cutlery companies in Sheffield and although most are small and family- run.

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Bowiemaker
This Bowie Blade was made by J. Adams, Sheffield, England.
The Damascus Blades are not marked as to who manufactured them,  but they are well done and look great,they are also hardened
and take a very good edge.
Dusty Ed

[bowiemaker]

I am not knocking Sheffield or Damascus. I use a lot of Damascus in my knives that is made in Alabama. There is a very long history of excellent knives coming out of Sheffield. Likewise, there is a lot of very good Damascus.

Making Damascus is a labor intensive, hot and dirty job. It takes a lot of skill and experience to do it properly as well as good materials. Good Damascus tends to be rather expensive due to the amount of work that goes into it. There is also a lot of cheap Damascus available and it is cheap for reason.

I was just pointing out that Damascus and knives marked "Sheffield" can come from a wide variety of sources and the name itself does not necessarily guarantee quality.

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Bookes
I think the reason they sell so well is because they have not been available  to the average person at reasonable price.
Dusty Ed

[Dusty Ed]

Howdy Bowiemaker
I have Damascus Trapper Made by Frost Cutlery in Alabama .
Bought it in mid eighties for less than $20 the book says it worth $175.00.
Dusty Ed