Coffin Handle Bowie Knife Patterns ?

[Denes Szabo]

Hello, First time posting here. I searched for quite a while for patterns, but didn't find anything. I'm looking for a Coffin Handled Bowie Pattern to make a 12 to 14 inch knife. I made a nice thick piece of Twist pattern welded steel out of 15N20 and 1084 and I have some wrought Iron for guard material, still not quite set on Handle material. Any help or leads would be appreciated. I belong to the Ohio Knife Makers on FB, and do most of my work at Ianni Knife and Tool making forge in Old Brooklyn, Ohio. We meet every Sunday 10 am to 4pm, if there's any interest in joining us to either learn how to make a knife (no cost), show and tell or shoot the breeze while drinking Coffee, shoot me a message.

 

[Richard338]

Welcome to BF. I made a few Bowies in the last few years, the second one has a coffin handle. There was a fantastic WIP thread by John White for a dogbone that I followed to do mine. Sadly the images no longer render. I have them saved on another computer and you are welcome to them if you wish. I have an image of my coffin pattern also, but you can see from the photo it's pretty easy to sketch out.

 

[Jak Epp]

I definitely didn’t make these (I just saved them for inspiration), but maybe you could get some ideas from these. I know some of them are daggers, but it wouldn’t be that hard to put a bowie blade on a dagger handle.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The basic shape is pretty simple. Make a template from stiff cardboard or thin wood to get the shape you like. Then shape a block of pine or other cheap wood to check it out. Don't get too curvy.

PINS - Pins are what makes the classic look of a coffin handle. Many call them "coffin nails". They should be fairly small and perfectly spaced. Six to ten pins is just right. If even one pin is off a bit, it will catch your eye. Use a pencil and rule to mark the setback lines on the handle and mark the pin locations. Double check everything to make sure both sides are evenly spaced. Unless you have a properly trammed drill press and absolutely flat and parallel wood ( plus a lot of experience), drill each side separately.
Domed pins are the Crème de la crème!
. Make a small size head spinner to get them even. Use soft pin stock. Nickel silver, sterling, brass are classic.

Bolster - a bolster of some sort is also just about mandatory. It can be wood or metal (Metal is preferred). It is often file worked or decorated in some way (layered, engraved, damascus, etc.).

Guard - The guard is what makes a camp knife into a Bowie. After Rezin Bowie severely cut his hand with his guardless large knife he had a new one made with a large guard. Since that day it has been called a Bowie knife. The guard on a coffin handle is normally a smaller symmetrical guard. It should have some sort of shaping beyond a simple oval. On other styles of Bowies the guard can be asymmetrical or even a full D-guard.

Handle construction - A coffin handle can be a hidden tang or a frame handle. Frame handle construction allows for the most stunning look and is easier to get done evenly.

 

[Denes Szabo]

Thank you guys for replying, love the pics and info, good inspiration to follow up.

 

[billf]

I'm pretty sure Neels at Blackdragon forge has printable templates for coffin handle dagger and Bowie - very reasonable prices. Take a look!

Bill