A first look at the Natchez Bowie

chasden said:
Looks like someone has traded some emails with customer service on this, so I guess it's settled. Hopefully the construction is solid enough that the partial tang set up won't be an issue.

A in-depth review of both the Natchez and Laredo can be found on expeditionexchange (scroll down).
Click to expand...

Nice Reviews :thumbup:
 
Mike Sastre said:
I like the Natchez as well. I've made Southern Comforts for at least ten of these beasts, and all the clips have been slightly different. Last time I talked with Lynn Thompson about it, he told me all the false edges were done by hand. I've got one in the shop now, that the owner had professionally sharpened, and it's at least as sharp as a Laredo's false edge. Impressive!!
Click to expand...

Could you post some pictures of the sharpened false edge? Were the bevels significantly reshaped? Did it affect the overall shape of the clip? By the way, I love mine!
 
I'll have to wait until I've finished the sheath to take a picture. I'll put it alongside a stock Natchez. Dwight McLemore likes his Natchez Bowie better than a custom Bowie he had made to his specs.
 
I have 1 I am using, testing.

Observations so far:
Overall as nice a bowie design as I have seen! Very fast, moves into backcuts well.
Only cosmetic flaw is that on the front edge choil the 2 sides do not start at the exact same distance from the guard. Does not hurt function.
Shipped sharp.

Seems tough, I did some hard cuts to a 10" pine striking post using hip drive , no visible damage. Also did some (#4 I think) cross body back cuts with the tip. No visible damage.

Does not chop as well as a more point heavy blade, Seems like a Trailmaster has better chopping balance.
The Natchez is quite fast, that seems to be the trade off always speed versus chopping impact.

Assuming the tang holds out it is one of my favorites.
 
cmcampbell said:
I have 1 I am using, testing.

Observations so far:
Overall as nice a bowie design as I have seen! Very fast, moves into backcuts well.
Only cosmetic flaw is that on the front edge choil the 2 sides do not start at the exact same distance from the guard. Does not hurt function.
Shipped sharp.

Seems tough, I did some hard cuts to a 10" pine striking post using hip drive , no visible damage. Also did some (#4 I think) cross body back cuts with the tip. No visible damage.

Does not chop as well as a more point heavy blade, Seems like a Trailmaster has better chopping balance.
The Natchez is quite fast, that seems to be the trade off always speed versus chopping impact.

Assuming the tang holds out it is one of my favorites.
Click to expand...






This is encouraging........
 
45Shooter,

Here's some pics for you, but there's not much change you can see. Can sure feel it though. 1st picture - sharpened Natchez on bottom/left. 2nd picture - sharpened Natchez on right. 3rd picture - sharpened Natchez unsheathed.
 
That Southern Comfort is a nice piece of work. I'm definitely thinking about ordering one.
 
That's a very sexy bowie knife. I've been admiring that blade for some time now. Congratulations on the purchase and I'm glad you're pleased.
 
cmcampbell said:
Seems tough, I did some hard cuts to a 10" pine striking post using hip drive , no visible damage. Also did some (#4 I think) cross body back cuts with the tip. No visible damage.

Does not chop as well as a more point heavy blade, Seems like a Trailmaster has better chopping balance.
The Natchez is quite fast, that seems to be the trade off always speed versus chopping impact.
Click to expand...

I would hope there would be no way to damage it by striking (edge first, anyway) into pine of any sort.

But since you have one, could you tell us where the dynamic balance point is? (I.E., the pivot point corresponding to the back of the crossguard) Speed and power do not necessarily have to be at odds with each other if it's done properly.
 
Oh man, it is wicked looking. Chasden, cmcampbell, have either of you handled the Ontario Bagwell Hell's Belle? I know the Natchez is a much broader blade, but was wondering how they compared. The Natchez looks like it would be blade heavy.. Its Quick? Hows it track into the thrust...is the point pretty much on center?
 
This past Saturday (17th), Lynn demonstrated using the Natchez Bowie in his left hand while he fought with a sword in his right hand at the Cold Steel parking lot sale before they opened for business at 7:30 a.m. I was impressed with the options that you can have with the Natchez Bowie in one's 'off' hand while in a fighting situation.
I did get to handle the Natchez Bowie and can report that it feels well balanced. I also agree with the person that said it looks better in person than in the catalogs or websites.
Nicholas
 
last year i had the tangs of both the Laredo and the Natchez X-rayed.Natchez has a tang that looks beefier.but the blade is too heavy for this type of assembly.my pal owns both,and is into knife fighting so did a whole lot of movements with the Natchez,no impacts or cutting.after a few days the handle was making a strnge "pinging" sound.
i can email a scan of the X-ray,send me an email addy
 
harm was able to supply the scans from the x-rays he took of the Natchez and Laredo. I'd like to hear from the knifemakers out there their opinion.

-1.jpg


-2.jpg
 
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i'll go 1st.the Laredo should have had a full length hidden tang.failing that,a pin in the stub tang,many custom bowies are done this way and a good heat treat prevents mishaps [cant say anything about the CS heat treat],looks like it can still be done.the Natchex too could do with a beefier tang,as i feel the blade is too heavy for the current set-up.these my opinions based on my observations
 
I'm no knifemaker but am a user, and have hard used a Laredo with no problems whatsoever. When you show me a Laredo or Natches whose handle has been broken under normal hard you use, then I might be concerned. Until then it's much ado about nothing.
 
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