Willow Bow Sheep & Bog Oak Drop Point

This is a special knife for me. While still in Wyoming this May, I forged a large stockpile of blades to work from while I had access to Ed Fowler's Little Giant trip hammers, including this one. From June-September I was in a temporary shop space while I getting my ducks in a row, and it was there that I ground and heat treated this blade. In my now-permanent shop I finished the handle and made the sheath, crossing this project across all three locations. For what it's worth, this is the first knife completed in my first full-service custom shop and it includes a little piece of every step of my journey so far, and I take great pride in this.

The blade is forged from John Deer load control shaft bar (5160) and it measures 4 1/2" from tip to guard with a razor sharp convex grind and a ricasso that both sturdies the blade and gives a cozy spot to choke up on. I left some true hammermarks from the forging process as well because I didn't want the blade any thinner. For those that mind, I triple quenched the steel in Texaco type A before a triple temper cycle. I learned these ways from Ed Fowler and can assure you my steel is the stuff of tanks. The copper guard is staked and soldered in place over black, maroon, white and gray fiber spacers with a healthy chunk of 4,500 year old bog oak and some gorgeous Willow Bow sheep horn. Overall length measures 9" and it comes in one of my custom Cunninghammer pouch sheaths. Guarnteed for life, as usual!