Antler-Handled Bowie

19thc
This was a recent commission for an old customer, one of my first customers as a matter of fact.
It's a reproduction of a Sheffield produced Bowie, circa 1840.
The short clip blade is 12" long and 2' wide, hand forged from spring steel. As requested by the client, the clip was left unsharpened.
The guard and pommel cap are forged from wrought iron. They were cut from an antique picket pin I picked up in Montana where my great, great grandfather and his brothers raised horses for the U. S. Cavalry.
The handle is deer antler, the sheath, cowhide.
To duplicate this knife would cost $180.
To order e-mail me.

Rifleman's Knife

19thc
I've got to admit, I kind of guesstimated on this one, but I think I got close. The customer wanted a French and Indian War, Rifleman's knife. After dilligent research and looking at what lots of other folks are selling as such, I came up with this: An overlarge, tricked out, butcher knife. I like it. The handle is Fiddleback Western Maple, the blade has been left with the tempering colors in place. There's filework on the spine (along with my date - the year in Roman Numerals MMVI) and one of those cute curlicue ricasso thingies. I should probably find out what that's called,and a brass guard and binding.
$200.
To order e-mail me.

Spanish Bowie

19thc This knife was commissioned to fit a particular sheath that the customer already possessed and is based on a very early Mexican Bowie. Blade length: 9" Overall: 13" The handle was turned from desert ironwood with a guard and pommel of wrought iron. As picture without a sheath this knife would run $225 shipped.
To order e-mail me.

Antler-Handled D-Guard

19thc

"File Knives"

Being that this knife is the first in the list of "Custom Work", I'll line out my made-to-order protocol.
If we've never done business before, I ask for 50% up front. Otherwise, the total is paid on completion.
The 50% is refundable in case a decision is changed if it's a knife that will be saleable otherwise. Anything too oddball and that won't be the case.
You would be advised in advance if your request fits this category (they rarely do).
The money for custom work is similar to the prices posted for something comparable in size and/or complexity, plus 20% or so.
Ballpark: A big Bowie (14"+ blade) $175 to $200.
19thc
These two knives were commissioned by an old customer from my E-Bay days. He wrote that he had some of his Granddad's old files he wanted made into knives. He mailed me a Black Diamond, farrier's rasp and a beautiful 14" Kearney and Foot, coarse mill file that was 5/16" thick. Both files are visible in the background of the picture. The rasp became the spear-point at top along with the handle-with that bitchin' rectangular brass ferrule-from the other file. All it needed was a cross guard.
The K&F became the Lone Star, C-guard with the antler handle.
I'd like to add that I considered it quite a priveledge to work on these knives. I like the idea of things from the past being made into something meaningful.
That being said, If anyone were interested, I'd be happy to make a knife out of Grandpa's old hay rake tine, saw blade or one of the springs from his old Studebaker.
To order e-mail me.

"Barn Find"

19thc