[Lin Rhea]

OK. I have a hankerin to build a reproduction of the Bowie Number One. You'll recall, it's the large butcher shaped knife located in the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock. It was one of James Black's work from the early 1800's. The blade is 13 inches (roughly) and has Black Walnut sclaes and plenty of fine Silver embellishment.

My question relates to marketing it as much as anything. I am torn between making it historically as accurate as I can, with original materials, or make the blade from Damascus, the scales from Ivory, while reproducing the Silver work as it is on the original. Will using damascus and Ivory detract from the knife's historic value or will the fact that I am changing it's material to a modern interpretation be just as acceptable?

This question could apply to a number of historic knife reproductions. In a nutshell, How do you feel about modern makers using damascus and Ivory in reproductions when the originals used carbon and wood?

[Dale Huckabee]

Hi Lin,

The way I see it is, if you were going to market it as a historical reproduction you should use materials that are as close to the original as possable. But, if you are marketing it as "your interpritation" of the knife, you can use what ever materials you want to.

Dale

[BrionTomberlin]

Well Lin, here is a question for you. If James Black had damascus and ivory, or someone ordered a knife from him with these specifications, would he have used them? I think so.

Personally, If you are doing a strict historic knife reproduction, I would go with the carbon and walnut, BUT, if I were doing my interpretation of number one, I would go with whatever floats your boat. I think the damascus and ivory would look great, especially a darker mammoth, and would be more than acceptable. And you are going to have fun with the silver work. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Brion

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you Dale and Brion. I will likely use the original materials for this knife. But I can see a dressed up version looking pretty good with the contrasting colors and textures. It's mighty tempting.

I'm starting my research into the various features and pitfalls of this particular knife. The Silver will be a learning experience for sure, but I want to do it really bad.

[Gary Mulkey]

I would echo Dale & Brion thoughts. Have you given any thought to doing both and marketing them as a matched pair? It might just give the project a whole new feel & alure.

Gary

[Steve Culver]

Lin,

You got some pretty good advice from Dale and Brion. But, I like Gary's suggestion; just build two of them!

I can provide some advice on using silver. Just let me know what your questions are.

[Lin Rhea]

Excellent idea Gary. Not sure if I will do it, but excellent idea! As feed back continues to come my way, I'll decide. Wow, it would make a grueling, but rewarding project. You really should not put such ideas in my head.

Thanks Steve. I may take you up on it.

[BrionTomberlin]

That will teach you to get one of those hankerin's Lin. I do agree with Gary though, a matched pair would be a show stopper. It really does make you appreciate the work that James Black did without the tools we have today. Still working on my Black bowie after numerous issues. You will have fun.
Brion

[Phil Dwyer]

Dream BIG! Do the blade twice with your two steels, do the handle twice with your two materials, make them as take downs so they can mix and match.

[ABS Webmaster]

Lin

I really like the idea of a James Black Bowie Numer One "Yesterday and Today Pair". I think that the knife magazines and collectors would as well.

[Steve Culver]

LOL!!! Lin's going to quit asking for our advice about what he should build!

[Lin Rhea]

Yea, that's right Steve!

It dont hurt to dream though. I plan on a variation of what we've talked about. If you dont hear from me for about 6 months, you know where I'll be and what I'm doing.

[Chad Harding]

with your style and some awesome walnut burl scales its gonna be a bute

[Lin Rhea]

Thank you Chad.

[Allen Newberry]

I can't wait to bug you about construction details! That is such an interesting knife and I am betting yours will be quite accurate.

[Jerry Fisk]

Lin, the me that knife is not fun. A good stretch of your mind and work but the fun of it quit after awhile. Hair pulling aggravation is more like it. I made the one, and would make the first one again, but, not a second one.
I fall in with the others on standard materials for the repo, and kick it up for a modern one.
Interesting knife for sure.

[Josh Dabney]

Lin,

My vote would be for an accurate as possible repro. Perhaps even forge the blade from an old file ??? Or possibly that was Jim Bowie's original knife from the sandbar that would be more accurately depicted by the Caphias Ham bowie that was forged from a file.

I snapped some pics of the #1 at the museum while attending the Intro class in 2010 so I thought I'd throw a few up for those reading along who may not be familiar with it.







I can't wait to see your rendition of the #1

-Josh

[Lin Rhea]

Thanks for the pictures Josh. The middle photo is of a 1830 knock off of the Carrigan Knife made by Gravley and Wreaks. It's an important knife in itself because it shows the speed in which the Sheffield marketers got busy selling imitation "Black" knives back to the Early Americans.

I cant take the original Black Knife apart to see exactly how it's made but I can learn a lot about it's construction by making one myself. As I overcome the road blocks, I'll sort of put myself in Black's shoes.

[Russell Roosevelt]

Lin, I like the idea's everyone has brought foward, the only thing I might add, would be a WIP here on the forum!
It sounds like you have your work cut out!
We all know you are very capable of this project!

Russell

[Dale Huckabee]

Getting off the subject a little, this post has got me thinking (I know that's scary). How do ya'll do the dommed pins like the ones on Bowie No. 1 and the Carrigan bowie? I've done some before, but can't seem to get them looking like little half balls like some of you guys do. Any help will be appreciated.

Dale