Bill Turner's knife from Pirates of the Caribbean

[Kobeque]

I like replicating underappreciated props, so here is my attempt at a replica of Bill Turner's "Black Knife" from Pirates of the Caribbean. This is the knife that Bootstrap Bill gives him, and the same knife that is used to cut out his heart at the end of the third film. There's hardly any good reference of this knife available, but I'll include everything I could find on it in this thread.

Here is the actual prop, It's scratch-built out of PVC and acrylic sheet and then painted with rattle cans and acrylics. I used wood putty to sculpt in the barnacles and other crusty details which are present all over the knife in the film.

 

[Kobeque]

Here are the references images I used for those project, mostly screenshots from the film itself.

 

[Supe]

Those barnacle details look great, nice work! Love the faux woodgrain in the "bare spots" rather than just leaving it a single color.

 

[Kobeque]

Those barnacle details look great, nice work! Love the faux woodgrain in the "bare spots" rather than just leaving it a single color.

Thanks so much! That grain effect is achieved by a few strokes of rough sandpaper, got to be careful not to overdo it though.

 

[merlinb]

Always a pleasure to see a PotC prop on here!

 

[robstyle]

many times what youre actually seeing in the first two POTC sequels, as goo/barnacles is a batch of contaminated rubber. It was used to coat/cover, to recycle existing cannonball moulds until new ones had to be made, the iron maiden cages seen at the start, the bone cages, pistols, swords and knives...

The Bill/Will knife if memory serves was a custom rush job, one hero, multiple rubber castings. There was a mould made of just the grips should anything happen to the original hero grips due to heavy use in and around water. I still have some of those castings in a drawer. Ill look tomorrow.

Until then, here is that hero knife before leaving to the production.

 

[Cbstudios]

many times what youre actually seeing in the first two POTC sequels, as goo/barnacles is a batch of contaminated rubber. It was used to coat/cover, to recycle existing cannonball moulds until new ones had to be made, the iron maiden cages seen at the start, the bone cages, pistols, swords and knives...

The Bill/Will knife if memory serves was a custom rush job, one hero, multiple rubber castings. There was a mould made of just the grips should anything happen to the original hero grips due to heavy use in and around water. I still have some of those castings in a drawer. Ill look tomorrow.

Until then, here is that hero knife before leaving to the production.
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Well damn robstyle , Those are some incredible BTS photos and an even cooler explanation! Super keen to see pictures of the grips castings! Also fantastic build there Kobeque

 

[Kobeque]

many times what youre actually seeing in the first two POTC sequels, as goo/barnacles is a batch of contaminated rubber. It was used to coat/cover, to recycle existing cannonball moulds until new ones had to be made, the iron maiden cages seen at the start, the bone cages, pistols, swords and knives...

The Bill/Will knife if memory serves was a custom rush job, one hero, multiple rubber castings. There was a mould made of just the grips should anything happen to the original hero grips due to heavy use in and around water. I still have some of those castings in a drawer. Ill look tomorrow.

Until then, here is that hero knife before leaving to the production.
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Wow, that's incredible! Thanks so much for that insight, I love learning details like that. Please put up a photo of those grips if you get the chance, I'd love to have another go at this prop with accuracy in mind. Cheers!

 

[Kobeque]

Well damn robstyle , Those are some incredible BTS photos and an even cooler explanation! Super keen to see pictures of the grips castings! Also fantastic build there Kobeque

How cool right? and thank you as well.

 

[robstyle]

sorry for the delay, life stuff. These are back up castings made of, what we called, liquid wood which is a rubbery durable plastic like what old radios are made from. Ive tried to brighten them up a little. Like most everything from the first two sequels they went out one color and were constantly touched up, repainted or just dipped in a pail of blackish wash when needed. Not much continuity.

 

[Kobeque]

sorry for the delay, life stuff. These are back up castings made of, what we called, liquid wood which is a rubbery durable plastic like what old radios are made from. Ive tried to brighten them up a little. Like most everything from the first two sequels they went out one color and were constantly touched up, repainted or just dipped in a pail of blackish wash when needed. Not much continuity.

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That's incredible! Thanks for posting those I'll definitely be having another go at this prop now.

 

[willrhami]

This is why I love this site so much. you're looking around, find a reply like this that starts with "Yeah they did xzy for abc and whatever else, I'll show you the originals I made for the thing tomorrow" and you're like WHAT?! Then it's like, "Here's this obscure cool thing next to a ruler that you never thought you'd see your welcome." All I can say is thank you props department, love this info so much."

 

[Kobeque]

This is why I love this site so much. you're looking around, find a reply like this that starts with "Yeah they did xzy for abc and whatever else, I'll show you the originals I made for the thing tomorrow" and you're like WHAT?! Then it's like, "Here's this obscure cool thing next to a ruler that you never thought you'd see your welcome." All I can say is thank you props department, love this info so much."

Right? Where else can you see stuff like this for such a niche topic, it's an amazing resource and community.

 

[ThePadre]

I found the blade used for the prop for anyone still looking. It's an old 18th century Roach Belly scalper sold by Crazy Crow trading post.

Here's the link. You can see the beveled wood scales, the serpentine pin pattern and the brass rivets. I knew that I recognized the knife when I saw it, I just couldn't remember where.

Scalper Knife, 6" Blade

Check out the deal on Scalper Knife, 6" Blade at Crazy Crow Trading Post

www.crazycrow.com