I picked this up on the cheap a couple weeks ago. I'm going to strip the kraton grip and rehandle it with a Hell's Belle guard and ebony coffin handle. I'll never be able to justify the expense of a true Hell's Belle so a Bagwell licensed blade will have to suffice. At least until I hit the LOTTO or my rich uncle Jefferson kicks off and leaves me his millions anyway.
Ontario SPEC-PLUS SP-18 Frontiersman
TANSTAAFL
Managing Partner, Custom Carry Concepts, LLC
I really like Bowie knives.Originally Posted by Rich@CCC
Was that one expensive? Does someone still sell those? A quick search on my phone didn't really give me any good results.
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IDPA SSP classification: Sharpshooter
F.A.S.T. classification: Intermediate
I dug around a bit when I found this one.
I really didn't find much about the SP-18 specifically, but it looks like the Ontario Bagwell clones were in the $100-$200 range originally depending on the model. I did find some old auctions for the SP-18 that were asking $200 but they ended with out a sale. The SP-6 can be had for in the $50 range. The Ontario Hell's Belle copy has sold for $300 but they are hard to find.
I'm into this one for about $60 in trade.
I'm having a bit of hard time finding a piece of ebony big enough to make the handle I want to. I may just go with black canvas Micarta, since this will be a blacked out "tacticool"version.
ETA: The Ontario Bagwell Bowies have all been discontinued from Ontario, if I am not mistaken. So, the only way to get one is on the secondary market.
Last edited by Rich@CCC; 10-24-2017 at 09:33 AM.
TANSTAAFL
Managing Partner, Custom Carry Concepts, LLC
Sub day at work. The sub is not as minimalist as the knife.
Jesus paid a debt he did not owe,
Because I owed a debt I could not pay.
Here's the semi finished Poor Man's Hell's Belle
I still need to get the guard blacked out. A local gun shop does Cerakote and DuraCoat, they said they would do this small piece for $20.00 with flt black DuraCoat over the weekend for me. As the DuraCoat is $60.00+/- anywhere I could find it, I'd say that is a good deal.
I'm also waiting for the stainless steel pins to arrive.
Some pics of the pieces parts:
TANSTAAFL
Managing Partner, Custom Carry Concepts, LLC
Who makes the hollowed pencil?
I finished my Hell's Belle clone and it's green w/black carbon fiber finish speed sheath on my birthday!
Last edited by Rich@CCC; 10-30-2017 at 05:51 PM.
TANSTAAFL
Managing Partner, Custom Carry Concepts, LLC
This is one of my treasures, made by Kyley Harris of CKC knives out of New Zealand. He no longer produces custom knives, but was lucky enough to be offered this one after he quit making knives. I told myself I'd buy one of his knives while he was in business, never happened due to financial issues... lucky me I guess. Kyley's knives are ground thin, they are designed to excel at cutting... unlike MOST knives that are being sold these days.
This is a Swamp Rat Knife Works Vex (Gen 2) which I also purchased secondhand without the micarta handle slabs they come with. I had it sandblasted to remove the disgusting powder coating they use, then I reground the blade by hand on 24 & 60 grit waterstones to a full height convex grind to get it to cut reasonably well while still being a bit of a brute. Finally, I did 550 paracord wrap on the handle.... it is very thin overall because of this yet still functional to a large degree. The handle wrap is quite tight and the ends were knotted and forced into the holes in the tang, it would take alot to get this wrap to come loose.
Last edited by Thy.Will.Be.Done; 10-31-2017 at 09:44 AM.
Very, very nice!
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IDPA SSP classification: Sharpshooter
F.A.S.T. classification: Intermediate
Last edited by voodoo_man; 11-07-2017 at 11:02 AM.
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