Hamon Coffin Handle Bowie with Ironwood

Product Description for Hamon Coffin Handle Bowie with Ironwood

Maker: Stuart Smith, J.S. (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 106982
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 10.20 in.
Cutting edge length: 9.60 in.
Total length: 15.90 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.58 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.28 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.23 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.05 in.
Item weight: 14.60 oz.
Shipment weight: 20.2 oz.
Blade: 1070 carbon steel with a Japanese clay zone heat treatment
Bolster: Antiqued bronze fittings
Handle: Arizona desert ironwood
Sheath: Tooled leather
Description: Stuart Smith began making knives in 2000 after he took a class with Mastersmith Kevin Harvey. He was immediately hooked and quit his job working as a salesman by 2004. Only a few years after that, in 2009, Stuart began teaching knifemaking classes of his own. Among his many students is Neels van den Berg. Stuart has been very active over the years in the Southern African Bladesmiths Association (SABA) and the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa (KGSA). Stuart became an ABS journeyman smith in June of 2019.
This impressive bowie features a 10.2 inch hand forged 1070 carbon steel blade. Stuart borrowed his heat treatment technique from the world of Japanese swords. The spine was coated with clay prior to heat treatment. This results in a softer, supportive spine, with a hard, keen edge. The undulating line (called a hamon) travelling along the blade shows the transition between the hard edge steel and the supportive spine. This technique combines durability with an ultra-long lasting edge. The blade features an heirloom quality hand rubbed satin finish.
The handle is Arizona desert ironwood. Ironwood is among the most desirable woods used in custom knives. Desert ironwood (Olneya tesota) is a rare wood that is only found in the valleys of the Sonoran Desert below 2,500 foot elevation. It is extremely dense and durable. In fact it is so dense, that if a piece is dropped in water it will sink! The guard, finial, and spacer are matching antiqued bronze.
To keep the knife close a hand, Stuart has included a custom tooled leather custom sheath. Excellent work throughout!


Availability: Not currently available