"Awesome. Thank you James.
Your method of brazing the coupler nut onto the pommel is new to me, and not what I was expecting.
I appreciate the extra pictorials."
iKnife Collector
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KnifeMaker
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James McClendon
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- United States
- KnifeMaker
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James McClendon's Groups
James McClendon's Discussions
New Years Project
Started this discussion. Last reply by Kevin D Jan 3. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Happy New Year! Here's a recent project, spent New Years Day morning building the sheath for it. The Bowie started out as crane cable, band saw steel and an old Delta mill file. …Continue
Mountain Man Longhunter Bushcraft Bowie's
Started this discussion. Last reply by James McClendon Aug 17, 2024. 4 Replies 4 Likes
I've always had a "older" soul. Seemed born for another time. So when I got into knifemaking I naturally gravitated towards an older style. Natural materials like wood and antler just spoke my…Continue
Ball Bearing becomes a Bowie.
Started this discussion. Last reply by Andy Larrison Apr 22, 2024. 1 Reply 3 Likes
A while back a gentleman sent me a large ball bearing wanting a Bowie forged from it. I started out by welding a little piece of rebar on the bearing to give something to hold on to while it was…Continue
G&H Barnett Bowies
Started Dec 17, 2023 0 Replies 0 Likes
In 1863 G&H Barnett Black Diamond File works started. They were in business until Nicholson bought the company in 1907 changing the name to "Black Diamond". These Bowie was made from a large…Continue
James McClendon's Page
Latest Activity
KnifeMakerAndy Larrison replied to James McClendon's discussion New Years Project
"Very nice build! I too appreciate the step by step pictorial."
KnifeMakerJames McClendon replied to James McClendon's discussion New Years Project
"Oh, with that handle; it's stabilized elk antler. I'll find the sun bleached, cracked ones and stabilize them. Put black dye then when it's sanded down it makes the piece pop."
KnifeMakerJames McClendon replied to James McClendon's discussion New Years Project
"This isn't that knife, but it's the way I do these tangs. Wayne Goddard outlined the process in one of his books. He used machine threads that were the same thickness as the knife. I took the idea and beefed it up.…"
"Nice job James,
I appreciate seeing the process that bladesmiths make their knives. Using the three different materials to make the go-mai blade was a little unexpected as I was expecting a thin layer of nickel instead of the saw blade. I…"
KnifeMakerJames McClendon posted a discussion
New Years Project
Happy New Year! Here's a recent project, spent New Years Day morning building the sheath for it. The Bowie started out as crane cable, band saw steel and an old Delta mill file. First, the cable was forge welded into a billet. The cable Damascus billet was cut in half and an old, 1950's vintage Delta mill file was placed as the core/cutting edge. Because these two…See More
KnifeMakerJames McClendon replied to James McClendon's discussion Using Old Files for Knives
"I"ve run across Grobert's many times. It's a "modern" brand by my standards. This one was probably made in the 1980's-90's. Still, any US made mill file will be pretty decent compared to…"
"Good Evening James,
I ran across a (very rusty) file today. The end of the file was chipped a fair bit. I took a chance on it not being 'modern' and bought it. After doing a bit of cleaning on the file stamp I…"
KnifeMakerJames McClendon replied to James McClendon's discussion Mountain Man Longhunter Bushcraft Bowie's
"Thank you!"
Featureddead_left_knife_guy replied to James McClendon's discussion Mountain Man Longhunter Bushcraft Bowie's
"I'm not usually a Damascus guy, but this one is beautiful! And I especially appreciate that quillion guard! "
KnifeMakerJames McClendon commented on Chase Richardson's blog post Custom Demascus Bowie
"Do you have a better pic of the makers mark? While I am far from any expert on individual makers this is a nicely made knife. I'd agree with Kevins assessment with the exception of one thing, the guard is most defiantly from the…"
KnifeMakerJames McClendon replied to James McClendon's discussion Mountain Man Longhunter Bushcraft Bowie's
"Thank you!"
"That's definitely a work of art, James. Very cool."
KnifeMakerJames McClendon posted a discussion
Mountain Man Longhunter Bushcraft Bowie's
I've always had a "older" soul. Seemed born for another time. So when I got into knifemaking I naturally gravitated towards an older style. Natural materials like wood and antler just spoke my language. Over the years I saw the trend for the "bushcraft knife", a utilitarian blade that usually came with a ferro rod to start the camp fire.One day I had a bright idea, do a Bushcraft knife but one that looked like it was from 1800 rather than a modern kitchen drawer. The first one here was…See More
KnifeMakerAndy Larrison replied to James McClendon's discussion Ball Bearing becomes a Bowie.
"Outstanding! Thanks for sharing the step by step pics. Very cool."
Profile Information
- Profile
- KnifeMaker
- How did you hear about iKnifeCollector?
- Internet
- Do you currently subscribe to any knife publication (offline)
- Yes
- How long have you collected knives?
- 16- 20 years
- Favorite Kind of Knives
- Bowie
- About Me
- Bladesmith specializing on Bowie’s and hunters with a story.
- Interests
- History and metallurgy.
- Other Hobbies
- Outdoors.
James McClendon's Photos
James McClendon's Blog
A BLADESMITHS SHOP
Posted on January 16, 2024 at 13:08 4 Comments 4 Likes
We got snowed in with a dusting of snow and I thought I'd share the tools in a blade smiths shop. Certainly, this isn't every tool and they can vary from shop to shop with what the smith needs to make their style of knife.
The king of the shop is the Anvil. The most common style, and the one most think of when they hear "anvil" is the London Pattern which began in the late 1700's, sometimes those early ones are referred to as a "colonial". By the mid 1800's the London Pattern anvil…
ContinueCable Damascus, The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Forging Wire Rope Into A Blade
Posted on June 29, 2023 at 18:39 2 Comments 4 Likes
Many years ago when I first got into knife making one of the first books I got mentioned forging crane cable into a blade. I found that fascinated and wanted to try it. At that time there wasn't a lot of information on the subject. Here are some things I learned.
Steel rope, or as I like to call it "crane cable" can be divided into 2 steel families. The first is stainless, these cables are either 200 or 300 grade austenitic stainless. This isn't a grade that is suitable for…
ContinueComment Wall (3 comments)
- At 19:06 on August 4, 2023,
Ellis H. Roberson said…
Hey James.. Treat. We keep in touch
- At 19:00 on July 5, 2023,
Jan Carter said…
The 5 top things to do when you join iKnifeCollector!
Navigating iKnifeCollector.com
Best Photo upload size? 640x480
and join us in the chatroom if you have any questions or just want to chat
- At 20:09 on June 26, 2023,
J.J. Smith III said…
Welcome aboard, James.
Good to have you here at iKC.
White River Knives
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