Next Plainsman Project: An 1850's Bowie

[Jake MacReedy]

I recently ordered a couple more hand-forged Bowie blades from John Adams & Co. in Sheffield, England.  I have made several Sheffield Bowies using their blades over the past 8 years or so.  They are wonderful folks to work with, and will do custom work for the customer as well.  I ordered two of their 8" carbon steel Bowie blanks (the blade is actually 8 1/2"), one with their normal scale tang and the other with a narrow tang, threaded for a pommel.  Neither has the fancy firework shown on their website.  They will do all this on request, with no additional charge!  I am making the narrow tang Bowie for myself, with a boat-shape steel guard and steel pommel, with a natural stag handle.  I will post more images as I work on it.  For now, here is the blade, the guard and the raw material for the pommel.

Jake, aka Ron

[Tascosa Joe]

Ron:
Did the guard come with the knife?
Joe

[Jake MacReedy]

No, Joe.  I made it out of 3/16" thick mild steel.  I am going to use a steel ferrule with the guard, when I install it.

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[Jeremiah Jones]

Nice, but I prefer full tangs.

[Jake MacReedy]

You mean like this:

The narrow tang is 1/4" thick and 1/2" wide.  It's not going to break!

[nativeshootist]

i have one of their finished bowies, i was curious its carbon steel but is it because of polish that its not dulling?

[Jake MacReedy]

Yes, I believe so.  They do make some Bowies that are stainless, however.  Those that are, are plainly marked so on their website.

[Tsalagidave]

I look forward to seeing pictures of the finished product Jake.

-Dave

[Jake MacReedy]

Dave, as I have time to work on it, I'll post pics here as I go along.  I have the stag for the handle, and I've drilled and filed the tang channel through it so far.
Jake

[Davem]

Looks like fun.  What about the sheath?

[Jake MacReedy]

I will make a sheath for it myself.  Already have the leather and have made several sheaths for these Bowies before.

[Jake MacReedy]

Swapped out the steel guard with a scalloped one in nickel silver.  The handle is Sambar stag, with a steel ferrule and pommel.  the pommel will be rounded off.


It will be an English Hunting Knife of the Bowie Pattern from the 1840's-50's.

[Jake MacReedy]

Got the guard fitted and the iron ferrule fitted to the stag handle, and all fitted to the tang.  Now I need to drill & tap the pommel.
Blade is 8 1/2" long and the handle will be 4 3/4" long.

[nativeshootist]

looks good man, reminds me of the british officer india hunting knifes

[Jake MacReedy]

That's what it's styled after!