1917 Frontier Bowie

Not surprisingly, I clicked on a thread about a knife I wasn't particularly interested in, and now I really want one! The photos provided by members here are much better from CS.

And not to hijack the thread, but PocketKnifeJimmie, who made your miniature Bowies? Collecting those could eat up some cash, but at least not my shelf space. ;)
 
The miniature Bowies are labled Windlass Steelcrafts, but are actually made for them in China. If one can get over the fact that they're just another import item, they are actually quite well made and neat little knives. They make great conversation/display items, that could also do double duty as cool letter openers ☺


Btw, these miniature knives are not etched with the typical China word... Instead having the abbreviation 'PRC' (Peoples Republic of China). Somehow it looks less chintzy than the word China, imo (I really can't explain why, lol) 😉

I am not a collector of miniatures, per se, but do like adding diversity into my self described 'Man Gadget Collection'. This miniature tomahawk is also a Chinese made item that was sold under the 'Wrangler' trade name. I own some modern (read "tactical") tomahawks, and I thought adding this little traditional looking mini would add some interest to the collection. Anyhow, it came in the same type of wood presentation box that the miniature bowies came in, and am thinking they are made by the same folks in "PRC" 😉 The mini Bowies being placed right alongside the CS Frontier Bowie, was no coincidence... The Frontier being my biggest Bowie, and the minis being my smallest. Again, just a way to add interest to the collection. They surely make the Frontier look even more massive than it already really is, lol! 😉

m7qqs4.jpg
 
Last edited:
I love my Frontier Bowie, beautifully finished and monstrous, but certainly don't consider it a fighting knife, like the traditional Bowie . No doubt Jim Bowie was substantially stronger than me, LOL, , but I have a dozen knives I would choose over this 24 oz. boat anchor. Even the Natchez is pushing the envelope, weight wise, whereas the Laredo or Trail Master is just about right. Tho in all honesty, if I knew I was going to be in the highly unlikely knife fight, I'd be way more likely to choose my OSS, or even Recon Scout (Or, not to be unfaithful, my BK 9 or even BK5). . Just my 2 cents.
 
ichor said:
I love my Frontier Bowie, beautifully finished and monstrous, but certainly don't consider it a fighting knife, like the traditional Bowie . No doubt Jim Bowie was substantially stronger than me, LOL, , but I have a dozen knives I would choose over this 24 oz. boat anchor. Even the Natchez is pushing the envelope, weight wise, whereas the Laredo or Trail Master is just about right. Tho in all honesty, if I knew I was going to be in the highly unlikely knife fight, I'd be way more likely to choose my OSS, or even Recon Scout (Or, not to be unfaithful, my BK 9 or even BK5). . Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

All likely very true, Sir ☺
As for myself, if I knew I was going to be in the highly unlikely knife fight, I would bring a handgun... Just my 2 cents 😉
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
All likely very true, Sir ☺
As for myself, if I knew I was going to be in the highly unlikely knife fight, I would bring a handgun... Just my 2 cents ��
Click to expand...

Heh...well shit, of course, for crissakes. Then it wouldn't be a knife fight, would it?
 
Well, it would still be a knife fight for the other guy. But, for me?... Not so much... lol! 😉
 
Last edited:
True enough, I guess. If I wasn't positive it would be a knife fight, I'd bring my very short shotgun. :D
 
As I had mentioned earlier, some folks may get creative with these bowies, as they lend themselves well for handle modification and such. This is a picture of one that seems to have everything on it modified, except the handle, lol! They sure made it a unique specimen ☺

117fvdg.jpg
 
Thanks for the info, I did not know they were going to the 1085 steel on the 1917 Frontier Bowie. I wonder why... I imagine the 1085 will be done for better edge retention, where as the 1055 was the original choice for likely being a tougher steel (less carbon and less brittle). I wonder when the phasing out of the 1055 will be done?

Btw, I kept trying to find his statement on the steel change in your linked video, but I only heard Mr. Thompson's self defense info through the video. Are you sure this was the video? Thanks in any case ☺
 
Last edited:
Sorry PocketKnifeJimmy,the wrong link was added,it's corrected now.The steel change was done,as Lynn Thompson says customer demand.
 
I don't know if its really the carbon content, but more likely the temper of the 1055 that makes it better for swords than 1085 or 1095 for example. Those higher carbon steels are typically hardened and tempered such that they are too brittle for a long sword. Because I am sure the Frontier Bowie is made by Windlass for Cold Steel the same way their swords are made, the 1055 was a natural choice. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Bowies are made from what is essentially sword scrap. I'm just speculating here.

1085 is likely to be more brittle, but would be stronger, stiffer, and possibly hold an edge better. It would be fine for a knife that is as short as the Bowie, but I don't see it having a huge advantage by the small amount more carbon. Instead, the advantage would be gained through the heat treat and tempering, and it's not clear to me that the 1055 Bowie is giving up much of the available advantage in that respect. If they were making the 1055 Bowies especially soft and really bendy like a tough sword steel, then the knife could benefit from some hardening and tempering that is more suitable to a knife, and they may accomplish that with a switch to 1085. They could nearly just as well accomplish it with 1055, and whether they are doing that or not, I don't know.

If you want a hard use knife like a Becker or Esee, those deeper hardening, higher carbon steels will do well for chopping wood and cutting steel cans. But if the knife is primarily a weapon for use on flesh and blood, then there's not that much to be gained. 1055 will take a very sharp edge and retain it because it does actually get very hard near the surface, and because the hardening is somewhat shallow, the core is flexible and tough enough to last through the end of any fight.

I'd be interested in any announcement to a change to 1085 since I'd like to learn more. I didn't hear it in the linked video.
 
Yeah... It was mentioned by Mr. Thompson during the video link above. The video was done in 2014, and he mentions the switch to 1085 for next year (which would have meant 2015). I have not seen advertisements online for the new steel bowie, my still seeing them listed for sale with the 1055 specs. The fact that it's almost 2016 now, I'm wondering if dealers have been selling the new 1085 steel versions, but maybe simply have not updated their website specs? The paperwork that came with mine (British Proof Test), is dated January 2014, so mine is safely in the 1055 steel catagory, but I guess without the new models being different in appearance, and without knowing the transition cut-off date (which would then allow using the British Proof Test certificate to help in determining what steel was used by using the test date)... There may be no way to surely know what steel was used by just the knife's appearance.
 
Last edited:
ichor said:
I love my Frontier Bowie, beautifully finished and monstrous, but certainly don't consider it a fighting knife, like the traditional Bowie . No doubt Jim Bowie was substantially stronger than me, LOL, , but I have a dozen knives I would choose over this 24 oz. boat anchor. Even the Natchez is pushing the envelope, weight wise, whereas the Laredo or Trail Master is just about right. Tho in all honesty, if I knew I was going to be in the highly unlikely knife fight, I'd be way more likely to choose my OSS, or even Recon Scout (Or, not to be unfaithful, my BK 9 or even BK5). . Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Build up those manly muscles!
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Yeah... It was mentioned by Mr. Thompson during the video link above. The video was done in 2014, and he mentions the switch to 1085 for next year (which would have meant 2015). I have not seen advertisements online for the new steel bowie, my still seeing them listed for sale with the 1055 specs. The fact that it's almost 2016 now, I'm wondering if dealers have been selling the new 1085 steel versions, but maybe simply have not updated their website specs? The paperwork that came with mine (British Proof Test), is dated January 2014, so mine is safely in the 1055 steel catagory, but I guess without the new models being different in appearance, and without knowing the transition cut-off date (which would then allow using the British Proof Test certificate to help in determining what steel was used by using the test date)... There may be no way to surely know what steel was used by just the knife's appearance.
Click to expand...

I thought I'd heard a while back that the 1085 steel was already being sold. I don't remember which dealers. Since most dealers don't bother updating their online catalogs, you really won't be able to tell what version you're getting these days. Similar to the situation when SK-5 was getting phased out and O-1 was being introduced in the other Cold Steel bowies, although the O-1 versions were marked. I don't know whether the 1085 versions will be marked as such. I actually prefer the 1055 and am glad I got it in the tougher steel. I won't be shaving my face or making wood shavings with this knife. If it's a fighter, I much prefer toughness over edge holding.
 
I visited the Cold Steel website page for the 1917 Frontier Bowie, and it too still has the knife as being 1055. I guess buying one right now will be a grab bag (during this transitional period). That may or may not matter to some, but does seem to be the current reality.

I am far from being a metallurgist, but I am surprised that CS went with the jump to 1085 carbon steel for this knife. It seems pretty clear that the original 1055 was chosen for toughness over edge sharpness retention. The 1055 known for that toughness, where as the other common carbon steel (1095), is the known better edge retainer, while giving up a little on toughness (more likely to chip or even snap, where the 1055 wouldn't).
That said, I am surprised that CS didn't go for the right in the middle grade of those two (1075)... which, atleast on paper, would be the best compromise between the two (right in between 1055 and 1095). Anyhow, I am sure the 1085 will still be a pretty tough cookie in the Frontier Bowie ☺
 
Last edited:
I was checking out reviews on the big "A" online seller of products (their reviews are a great way to see how products seem to be accepted by the public). Anyhow, I noticed that the reviews given for the Frontier Bowie during 2014, had nobody mentioning any problem with people receiving their Bowies with any rust on the blades... But, as the reviews went into the 2015 year, receiving blades with spots of rust were reported on more than one review. Maybe the greater amounts of carbon in the new 1085 Frontier Bowies has increased the susceptibility to this corrosion.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
I was checking out reviews on the big "A" online seller of products (their reviews are a great way to see how products seem to be accepted by the public). Anyhow, I noticed that the reviews given for the Frontier Bowie during 2014, had nobody mentioning any problem with people receiving their Bowies with any rust on the blades... But, as the reviews went into the 2015 year, receiving blades with spots of rust were reported on more than one review. Maybe the greater amounts of carbon in the new 1085 Frontier Bowies has increased the susceptibility to this corrosion.
Click to expand...

That's not an uncommon occurrence with a lot of Windlass blades, most of which are also made of 1085.
 
All of our blades are heavily oiled for protection in storage - our HQ and warehouse facilities / shipping departments are all based in Ventura CA - just a few miles from the ocean.

Our warranty covers defects in materials and worksmanship, and that includes rust or surface blemishes. If you get a product from us and it's rusty, let us know ASAP. We'll make it right.
You can reach our team directly at (800) 255 4716. They are here to help

The only exception to this is "seconds" - which are clearly marked and sold without warranty
Several Frontier Bowies were "seconds" - they were sold very inexpensively via our Special Projects site back in the day - and I would not be surprised if those reviews were of those blades.
as always though, they should be very clearly marked with a "2"

Point of interest, the heavily customized bowie in the pics above is owned by one of my colleagues here at CS HQ and was modded by Robert Vaughn.
It was a "second" with a tarnished guard.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top