Raised Clip Bowie with Curly Koa - 5160 - Journeyman Smith Test Knife

Product Description for Raised Clip Bowie with Curly Koa - 5160 - Journeyman Smith Test Knife

Maker: Jan Vaterlaus, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 112811
** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind **
Blade length: 6.70 in.
Cutting edge length: 6.10 in.
Total length: 11.90 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.74 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.18 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.15 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.03 in.
Item weight: 9.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 14.4 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 5160 carbon steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Bolster: Fluted 416 stainless steel
Handle: Stabilized exhibition grade curly koa
Description: Journeyman Smith Jan Vaterlaus (b.1963) is an Idaho knifemaker known for forging durable, high-performance knives built for extreme outdoor use. Inspired by the rugged wilderness of his home state and his experience as a hunting guide in Alaska, Jan crafts blades with a focus on reliability, longevity, and natural materials. His pursuit of perfection led him to train under ABS Mastersmith Jim Crowell. Jan’s knives are proven hard-use tools — one is even credited with saving a biologist’s life during a grizzly attack. They embody his philosophy of creating knives that excel in the harshest conditions. Jan achieved his Journeyman Smith ranking in June of 2025.
This bowie knife was part of Jan's JS test set. When a maker tests to become a journeyman, they create five knives that are the height of their work. These five knives are then judged by established masters to determine if the maker's work is up to snuff. Often, prospective journeymen spend 2-3 times as long creating these five knives as they would generally do, as they know that their work will be poured over by the masters. These five knives are generally considered to be among the most collectable knives of a maker's career.
The raised clip blade is forged from 5160 carbon steel and features a meticulous hand rubbed satin finish. 5160 carbon steel is tough, has high chip resistant, and maintains an excellent edge. It is a great choice for hard use knives - particularly larger knives for chopping tasks. The blade is flat ground and razor sharp. Jan's touchmark is engraved on the left side of the blade.
The handle is hand contoured from presentation grade curly koa wood (acacia koa). This stabilized wood is only found on the Hawaiian Islands and is one of the most desired woods used in knifemaking. Its highly chatoyant curly figure is unrivaled. The 416 stainless steel fluted spacer and guard finish the handle.
Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available