Clip Point Bowie with Tasmanian Blackwood
(Journeyman Test Knife)

Product Description for Clip Point Bowie with Tasmanian Blackwood
(Journeyman Test Knife)

Maker: Towball Weightman (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 100243
Blade length: 10.00 in.
Cutting edge length: 9.30 in.
Total length: 16.00 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.90 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.19 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.02 in.
Item weight: 18.80 oz.
Shipment weight: 22.4 oz.
Blade: Hand forged 52100 carbon steel with a hand rubbed satin finish
Bolster: 416 stainless steel
Handle: Tasmanian blackwood
Description: Australian knifemaker Towball Weightman is a friend of Mastersmith Bill Burke and has spent quite a bit of time working in Bill's shop. Thanks to Towball's high attention to detail and experience working with Bill, he creates some of the highest performance knives found anywhere. He received his Journeyman Smith award at BladeShow 2019. Towball is the fifth person in Australia to receive his JS stamp.
Clip Point Bowie the Tasmanian Blackwood was part of Towball'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 large clip point blade was forged to shape from 52100 carbon steel. Many knifemakers (including the likes of Bill Burke, Ed Fowler, Bob Kramer, and more) and knife users consider 52100 to be among the best, if not the best steel used in modern knifemaking. 52100 takes a super-sharp, long lasting edge. It has tremendous resilience and strength. A hand rubbed finish provides an heirloom look. Towball's makers mark is on the left ricasso.
The handle is made from Tasmanian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) contoured to provide a comfortable grip. This strong, impact resistant exotic wood is native to Tasmania and eastern Australia. Although called “blackwood,” the name is somewhat of a misnomer, as its wood is not at all black. Rather, its lustrous golden brown grain and figure is often compared to Hawaiian curly koa. The handle is fit to a satin finished 416 stainless steel guard. Stainless steel and black fiber spacers assist the wood with adjusting to humidity and temperature changes.
Exceptional work throughout!


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