Bowie with Stabilized Elm Burl

Product Description for Bowie with Stabilized Elm Burl

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 107222
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 12.40 in.
Cutting edge length: 11.70 in.
Total length: 17.70 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.68 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.26 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.22 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 18.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 26. oz.
Blade: Hand forged 1070 carbon steel with a Japanese clay zone heat treatment
Bolster: Antiqued bronze
Handle: Stabilized elm burl
Sheath: Leather custom sheath with ostrich shin leather upper
Description: Stuart Smith began making knives in 2000 after he took a class with Mastersmith Kevin Harvey. He was immediately hooked and quit his job working as a salesman by 2004. Only a few years after that, in 2009, Stuart began teaching knifemaking classes of his own. Among his many students is Neels van den Berg. Stuart has been very active over the years in the Southern African Bladesmiths Association (SABA) and the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (KGSA). Stuart became an ABS journeyman smith in June of 2019.
This impressive bowie features a massive 12-1/2 inch hand forged blade. It features a hand rubbed satin finish with a large fuller along the top of the blade. Stuart borrowed his heat treatment technique from the world of Japanese swords. The spine was coated in clay prior to quenching. This difficult technique results in a softer, more resilient spine and an ultra-long lasting cutting edge. The undulating line travelling along the blade is called a gunome hamon. It shows the transition between the softer spine and the ultra-hard cutting edge. Stuart's touchmark is on the right side of the blade. A deep fuller travels along the top of each side of the blade.
The handle is stabilized elm burl, secured to the tang using a hand domed bronze pin. The handle is contoured to provide a comfortable, non-slip grip. An antiqued bronze guard and spacer is perfectly fit to the blade and handle.
To keep the knife close at hand, a custom leather sheath made by Stuart's wife Michelle is included. The sheath is completed with an ostrich shin leather upper.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available