[Scott Maccaughtry]

Hi all, I'm working on a Bowie and have a few design questions. First off the blade is 9" tip to guard,1 5/8" spine to edge and .200 thick. It will have a coffin shape frame handle. Question #1 What size ricasso would be recommended (spine to bottom ) I'm thinking 1 1/8" #2 should the frame thickness be the same as the blade or can it be thinner or taper. #3 should the handle taper side to side thick at the butt to thin at the guard. This will be my first frame handle so any advice will be a help. Thanks! Scott

[BrionTomberlin]

Hello Scott , and welcome. For the first question, I think the dimensions you have will look fine. I would suggest tracing the outline of your blade on a sheet of drawing paper and trying different combinations. See what you think looks best.

On number two, I prefer the frame to be the same thickness as the blade at the point where it joins the spacer or guard. From there I prefer a slight taper towards the butt. This will cause some more time needed in fitting, but I think it is worth it.

As for the handle shape. A little bit thicker at the butt will help with balance, but it depends on the handle material also, such as ivory versus wood or stag. It will come down to what your customer prefers or what you think looks best. My last frame handle was actually thinner at the butt, but it was what worked on the knife. I know a lot of personal preferences going on here but that is part of the process. Test fit different handle shapes made out of cheap pine and see what looks best to you.

Good Luck
Brion

[Scott Maccaughtry]

Hi Brion, Thanks for the help. I like the idea of tappering the frame but I think with this one being my first I will go with a straight frame, you know the KISS method. Thanks! Scott

[Kevin R. Cashen]

If you want a ricasso that will appeal to the widest number of human eyes, measure the width, from guard to plunge and multiply it by 1.618. But I always go the other way since it will interrupt the flow of the knife to have your ricasso wider or narrower than your handle on the other side of the guard, so with your ricasso height determined by your handle size you would divide it by 1.618 to get your length from guard to plunge. This is not based on function but has proven to be most aesthetically appealing to the human eye since the Greeks put it into practice over 2,500 years ago. Since then Da Vinci, Michelangelo, architects and even music composers have used the concept to appeal to our senses. I find the numbers repeating all over almost all the most beautiful old European blades I study.

[Scott Maccaughtry]

Kevin, I tryed this out today and it worked. I had eyeballed the dimensions of the ricasso and it turns out i'm only off by .020 now i will have to go back and look over some past blades. Thanks! Scott