A Texas size Bowie

[ChuckBurrows]

This is the one I posted earlier in another thread - It's is going to a customer in Texas - the blade alone is 12 1/4" x 2 1/2" - OAL is a hair under 19".
It's in the works - things still to do are: add a 1" or so wide buffalo rawhide wrap/ferrule just above the guard edged with brass nails, carve the end cap into a Texas star with a poured pewter center circle since I need to add just a bit of weight on the back end to bring it into balance, maybe add some checkering on the grip behind the ferrule, and then age everything. The guard has three wrought iron inserts on both sides - you can sort of see them, they'll show up better after I finish it out.
These pics show the progression so far......






then comes the sheath - this is a working drawing - the sheath will be rawhide over a bark tan liner, with brass tacks (the brownish circles), and lots of beadwork - some danglies too, but they're not shown - and yes I know the tip is missing - my scanner isn't big enough!


I'll keep ya'll updated as I go along..........

[Sgt. Jake]

  Chuck    That is a TEXAS sized knife,I said this before ,you do exqusit work.   They will make each other .         Adios   Sgt. Jake

[Marshal Will Wingam]

That's really outstanding, Chuck. I can hardly wait to see the finished project.

[HorsePen Henry]

Hey Chuck,
This question is a little off the topic but....
Where did you get that miniature revolver? 
I want to see the finished project so don't fergit to post the pix before you send it to TEXAS!!!
Talk later,
Horse Pen

[ChuckBurrows]

It does make that M1860 look small don't it! They in fact though weigh about the same - just about 2 1/2 Lbs each....that is one hefty pig sticker!

I got most of the final work done on it yesterday and today - just need to sew the rawhide on the handle which I should get finished up tomorrow - just too tuckered out to take pics tonight.........

The customer is thrilled - I sent him the same pics - when I told him he better have a big horse to pack this and his 14 pound M74 Sharps buffalo gun around on he replied he had it covered - he's got an Appy and Shire cross ready to ride!

[santee]

Chuck, is that the same piece of antler in both pics? If so, how did you get it to looked aged like that in the finished product?

[ChuckBurrows]

Chuck, is that the same piece of antler in both pics? If so, how did you get it to looked aged like that in the finished product?

Yep - I use Fiebings regular leather dye. In this case it was thinned dark brown (I only buy dark and then thin to lighten for everything). Each piece of antler is different and will take the dye at different rates and the color will vary. On some piece I will use black first to get down into the crevices let sit for a few minutes and then apply brown or brwon mixed with British tan over that. Let dry and rub back with a cloth. To finish I use a homemade version of a period linseed oil and rosin based violin varnish widely used on firearms. A commercial option that is close is Tried and True Oil Varnish.

Here's some more pics......
In the hand shot.....my hand is a little larger than normal........


Only thing left to do is sew the rawhide wrap on the grip....


The butt cap carved into a Texas star with poured lead/pewter inlays to bring it into balance.....


A closeup of the back side of the guard - I fluted it on both sides to reduce weight.....


Some might "question" the somewhat rough overall finish, but that's the aesthetic I'm going for - a piece built on the frontier by a blacksmith with minimal tools rather than by a trained cutler and then used but not abused for several years....

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

                        NICE REALLY REALLY NICE



                                                      tEN wOLVES[/b]

[Sgt. Jake]

    Chuck     WOW Beautiful,it looks just like you described,used not abused, WOW !!         Adios  Sgt. Jake