Hand Forged, Stag Gripped Bowie Knife & Period Sheath

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Mountain Man Customs Presents A Native Style Bowie Knife Shipping lowered by another $1.50 Limited Time! it is fellow custom knife lovers. This is a landmark knife for me as it is my first, forged from my own "Poorboy" forge, my first hand forged Bowie knife. I am quite proud of it and am offering it to you for purchase, however reluctantly. I recently learned that my SSI benefits have finally been approved, but I'm not due to receive a penny until at least another 45 days or so. You know the government. If it weren't for needing that and having to still wait that long, this knife would stay in my family w it belongs, it yet may still. The knife started life out in the very early 1800's, 1846 if memory serves, as a French Military Chassepot rifle sword bayonet. This section of the blade was the original tang, ricasso, and about 3 to 4 inches of the original cutting edge of the blade. Using my burdgeoning skills as a blacksmith, I widened the blade about 1/2" and drew the length out about 2" more and shaped the end pretty much as it is now. I used my belt grinder to grind the cutting edge which is technically called a saber grind. The stick tang goes the full length through the elk one-piece grip; held in place by 1 1/8" solid brass pin, counter filled with pewter to add weight, and finally traditionally peened using the solid brass hand-shaped pommel as the "washer" for the riveted (peened) tang. As you can see, I wrapped about half of the grip with a thick piece of cow rawhide that is sewn together at the bottom of the grip. I also added 1/2" long round headed solid brass nails, pre-drilled into the stag and rawhide to add grip and decoration. The iron guard is hand-forged by me as well. I shaped the steel and quenched it in burnt oil to give it the almost black look that you see. This sheath is not only made to be very functional and durable, but as a work of my art. The liner is made from heavy 7 - 8 oz. cow latigo, most often used by me to make hard soled moccasin soles. The belt loop and washer is made from the same material. The exterior is made from a very beautiful, brain tanned buckskin. I first made and finished the liner and placed it over a piece of smoked buckskin. Once I had the outer cover cut out for the sheath I cut another couple of scrap pieces of buckskin out for the fringe. I turned all the buckskin inside out and stitched it up to the lines of the liner. Once the sewing was complete I turned the buckskin pouch I had just made right side out and I had a perfect cover for the liner. I slid the latigo liner into the buckskin outer, stitched up the top to close it off, one completed sheath, at your service! I cut and hand twisted the braintan buckskin fringe, drilled the holes and placed the antique brass rivets, and decorated the rest of the sheath as you see it. The top medal is a solid pewter replica of a genuine Hudson's Bay Company "Beaver Tag" and the cross is again a solid pewter replica from the same company, used as trade tokens during the fur trade for trade to the Indians. I used antiqued brass, colored pony, and genuine bone hairpipe beads, beaded onto thick cut braintan strips, run through the outer cover of the sheath as dangles on the third "decoration" on the front of the sheath. The latigo belt loop is dyed dark and compliments the lighter colored buckskin over cover of the sheath. It is attached by brass Chicago screws that are secured with threadloc so they won't come undone with useage but can be removed if you wanted to. This knife will make you a great user and/or a great collectable. The ricasso bears my maker mark, hot stamped into the steel during forging. Knives EXACTLY like this, INCLUDING the sheath were the mainstay of the Fur Trappers during the early 1800's. Find and look at one of the sketchbooks, you'll see for yourself. As always, as fellow knife lovers and droolers, I sincerely appreciate your confidence and your appreciation for my works. You won't be unhappy with... read more

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