2012 March of Dimes Bowie -WIP- photo heavy!

[J. Neilson]

"From John Cohea":
March of Dimes Charity Build 2012
I'm a little late in annoucing this, but better late than never. The last couple of years we have had fairly fancy knives made by some REALLY talented folks, so this year we're going to tone it down a notch or two, but the talent will still there!

This year will be a frontier style collabaration.The knife will be a big ole stag crown bowie, and our solo maker this year will be ABS Mastersmith J Neilson, with yours truly providing the leatherwork and display stand.The stag was donated by Richard J, and Coop will once again bring it all together in the end for us with photos.

J will be taking pics along the way, as will I, and we will do the WIP as we go along to keep the interest going.

This will be the fifth year for these projects and the contributions made to the March of Dimes is slightly over 15000.00 dollars, this is of course including the matching donation from the company I work for.
Layla and I would like to once again thank all of the good people who donate their time, materials, and skills, not to mention their moneythat have made these projects such a hugh success!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This piece is going to be a little different and a project I've been wanting to play with. Here's some photos so you can see it progress...

Starting my "canoe" can-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_263820.jpg

Capping the ends-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/003_479187.jpg

Laying out my "Marching" Arrows-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/005_403800.jpg

Finishing the fill & prepping the lid-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_837616.jpg

Clamped down and ready to weld-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/007_593150.jpg

All welded shut (except for the vent, of course)-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/008_585057.jpg

Into the fire-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/009_910674.jpg

Canister venting-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/010_727994.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/012_34035.jpg

Reduce, reduce, reduce-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/015_498757.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/016_823402.jpg

Billet is welded and reduced, the can is just popping off-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/017.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/018_725353.jpg

Pealed off the can and here is the raw billet-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/019.jpg

Starting to forge the tip/tang-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/021.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/024.jpg

Nice close up, huh?-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/025.jpg

Roughing out the steel-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/027.jpg

Looking for my "arrows"-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/029.jpg

[J. Neilson]

Profiled blade-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/034.jpg

Finished profile and the crown for the handle-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/038.jpg

A bit more etch, just for fun-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/043.jpg

The Stag will get worked down more but, here's a rough idea-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/044.jpg

I've ground the blade and now she's going through her cycles and HT. More pix soon.
J.

[Kevin Jones]

Looking forward to seeing this one unfold!

[Bruce Bump]

Real interesting method J. We don't often see this much powder going into a blade. Love the chevrons too. Hurry.

[J. Neilson]

Here is the blade rough ground-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_988476.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/002_171690.jpg

Re-annealed-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/003_413284.jpg

And ready for HT-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/004.jpg

[Steven Janik]

Hey J,
In the past I have published a few work in progress photo books for knife makers, Coffee Table Style. I did one last year for the CKCA Cancer Fighter knife on this forum.
If you keep the pics posted through completion including the Pro Photos at the end, I will pull them from this thread and donate a book to be awarded to the eventual owner of this knife.

Let me know,
I'd be happy to do it for you guys.

Steve Janik

[J. Neilson]

Softening the tang and shoulders-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_847787.jpg

Here she is after HT & 36 hrs. in vinegar-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/005_469079.jpg

Here is the blade finish ground and hand-rubbed with the rustic flats and spine (if you look close, you can see the arrows in the steel pre-etch)-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_279862.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/008_577104.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/010_211941.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/012_782381.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/013_739294.jpg

Next will be adding my name on the blade, forging the S-guard (John gave me a cool idea on this) and etching the blade.

[J. Neilson]

Thanks guys and thank you Steve (sorry I didn't reply sooner, don;t seem to be getting notifications to replies for some reason). That sounds like a great idea!
J.

[Bruce Bump]

Its coming along really nicely J.
Be sure to take Steven up on the book offer. He has done a couple others for me and the quality is the best I've seen. It would help sell tickets too.

[Steven Janik]

J,
I will start pulling and storing photos as the build progresses.
When the knife is done and it goes out for pro photos please make sure I get a copy. It can be a simple PDF by e-mail.

And John should send me sheath build pics if he doesn't post them here.

regards,
Steve

PS. Thanks Bruce for the kind words, the books would only be blank pages without the art you guys create.

[J. Neilson]

Hey, that's me!-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_516244.jpg

Here's a few pix after some light etching. Not going to do any heavy etching until the guard is ready but, I really wanted to see this. I'm putting up different angles to try and get you a good look. You can see the arrows well and the hamon is coming in nice as well-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/004_205546.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_681467.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/010_364356.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/012_179372.jpg

Forging out the wrought iron S-guard-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/013_301221.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/014_110168.jpg

Guard is slotted and rough ground-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/015_610941.jpg

Another quick look-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/016_305290.jpg

The guard is finished-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/018_605446.jpg

Adding the accents on the tips-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/021_110169.jpg

Good fit-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/022_940892.jpg

Guard is fitted up and now just need to etch the guard and finish etching the blade-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/025_35100.jpg

A little more imagination-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/027_841823.jpg

Doing the Maryland show this weekend so no more until next week. I'll etch everything up, set the guard and start the damascus throat then. I'll post more soon.
J.

[J. Neilson]

J,
I will start pulling and storing photos as the build progresses.
When the knife is done and it goes out for pro photos please make sure I get a copy. It can be a simple PDF by e-mail.

And John should send me sheath build pics if he doesn't post them here.

regards,
Steve

PS. Thanks Bruce for the kind words, the books would only be blank pages without the art you guys create.

That's great Steve. If you can pull them right off the web even better or I can send them to you. I'll let John know about this as well if he hasn't read this already. This is going to be a great addition. Thank you again.

[J. Neilson]

Etching the wrought iron guard-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_295105.jpg

Done!-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_533453.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/007_54774.jpg

Finished blade etch (it tough to get a good photo of the blade/arrows/hamon without my photo bax so bear with me here)-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/014_395438.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/016_906450.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/017_127516.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/020.jpg

Setting the guard-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/023_452909.jpg

A nice tight/clean fit-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/024_532064.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/030.jpg

Next is the damascus throat and the Sambar stag... stay tuned-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/032.jpg

[J. Neilson]

Milling out the damascus throat-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/002_442275.jpg

Drilling out the Sambar stag for the tang-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/004_943038.jpg

A fair amount of tang for the handle-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_541257.jpg

Securing the throat to the handle... with a black spacer-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/009_427550.jpg

Roughing out the throat-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/018_990519.jpg

Cutting in the "Stag Grooves"-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/020_198993.jpg

Finished throat with things lined up from the side-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/023_876367.jpg

and the top-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/024_145256.jpg

Getting a coating of clear nail polish in prep for etching the throat-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/025_960935.jpg

[J. Neilson]

Etched throat with the stag smoothed out-
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/005_569234.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/003_144945.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/004_694408.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/006_529822.jpg

Next is just drilling for the pin, setting her and then sealing everything up. Should have her done just in time to show the kids at X-mas!

[J. Neilson]

Ok, these are the last of the photos from me. The next step is up to John's creativity and for Coop to do the final "Wow Factor".

Pien'ed 3/16" carbon steel pin, both sides...
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/001_868136.jpg

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/003_891042.jpg

Sealing the Stag in a boiled linseed oil mix...
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/008_274517.jpg

Etching the pin heads...
http://www.jerzeedevil.com/gallery/files/1/0/6/4/009_277678.jpg

I can't wait to see what you've got planned John!!!

Thanks again everyone,
J.

[J. Neilson]

I want to send out a huge thank you to Steve Janik. I was sitting quietly at Blade this weekend, just minding my own business (LOL) when Steve comes over and hands me this beautiful book of the WIP & completed pix of this Bowie. I was stunned on how wonderful this piece Steve did (I hadn't seen one of his books before) looked and I was certainly the coolest guy in that row for the rest of the show. Thank you again very much Steve, that was great and very kind of you!

J.