As the title states this is my 1st bowie attempt with a walnut handle, forged from a truck leaf spring. Still wondering what i should do with the gaurd if i should do a small brass one or gud old forged in a Z shape with nice little ball pein indentations on it. Since its not a hidden tang im not sure how to go abouts doing a gaurd but never the less im happy with the progress so far.

Next time try using an oblique or diffused light source, these pictures are glaring to the point of not being able to see any details of the blade. I can't see it well enough to have an opinion of the blade itself.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

Sorry about that, didnt realise it wasnt a very gud pic. Here you go.

Ive been looking around at bowie pics and from what i found this looks almost like a bowie and seax combo?

I like it so far. Really like the shape of the blade. Can't wait to see it finished.

Yeah, it almost looks like a seax but the original bowie doesn't look much like a modern one either. Nice profile, now I can see it.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

NOt sure what to do with the gaurd tho. Didnt really think it through before i drilled the holes, and thanx

i always wonder wot the first one looked like!

I understand the first Bowie knife looked more like a French chef's knife and a pretty standard profile for the day.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

I might weld up the holes and forge it out to a hidden tang

Will it be fine if i weld up the drill holes and cut out a tang shape?

I've seen where people weld the tang onto knives. I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say go for it. If it work great and if not a good lesson learned.

Scott

that just struck an idea, whats your thoughts on tig welding a guard onto the blade in between the handle and the blade part

Wot you do with a blade and how it works out depends on so many things,,for this think about the length of the blade and the leverage you could place on the area where you weld the guard on, A thought given above is worth thinking about....this would make a nice knife for the kitchen. No guard, some durable handle material well attached. Melons, meat etc would be no challenge.
If used by for hunting large game,,,backpacked in a sheath, it would be a nice partner for a skinner. Making chunks of meat into backpack size would be less of a chore.

Its for my dad who does pig and deer hunting.

If Its too much to do then i might just leave it with no gaurd and use some nice hard wood as the handle.

Make a guardless bowie, or use a bolster of some sort to terminate the handle. I like guardless bowie-style knives, it allows you to choke up on the knife and do a little more controlled work. The blade looks nice, I do think you should probably have had a little more belly.

What do you mean more belly?

Sorry for the delay, I mean more curve in the cutting edge. A little wider through the center. Here is a rough drawing (MS paint) to illustrate.

Oh ok i had a feeling thats what you meant. I hope it will atleast work as a deer dismantler and a chopper for the odd vine that get in the way.

It'll work fine.

im having some trouble with my new files, they seem to be magnetised and I don't know where or how to get it de-magnetised, anyone know how or where?

would this work for this big of a knife?

When you rub two bits of metal together, such as files and the blade they will sorta magnetize. I don't worry about it much. Just wipe the filings off with a rag.  As for the tang, experiments lend experience. You'll learn, just make sure that if you grind it down to be a narrow tang like that you leave a rounded shoulder and not a square one.

Is there a reason why it should be rounded