A Quest - The Best $200 Bowie

northingeasting

northingeasting

Joined
May 4, 2011
Messages
142
Let's say I've got $200 burning a hole in my pocket and I've got a hankering to buy a 'classic' Bowie-style blade. What are my options? Where is my money best spent?

I'm looking for the best interpretation of the classic Bowie available at a $200 price point. What do I mean by 'classic'? I realize that nobody knows just what the knife Jim Bowie carried actually looked like; his design has been guessed at and re-interpreted down through the years. However, we do have some early examples to follow so let's use the Moore Bowie as a guide:

moore.jpg

A 7" clip point blade with a full cross guard and wood handle.

I've got several modern interpretations in my collection - a Case Bowie, a Cold Steel Trailmaster, a Becker BK-7 and even the ubiquitous Buck 119 and the Ka-Bar USMC Combat Utility knife, but this time I'm looking for a knife that more closely follows the traditional style elements.

While this knife will be used mainly as a display and comparison piece I don't want junk - I'm looking for a fully functional, quality knife. I realize that at this price point custom knives are out of the question and so are a number of production blades, but that's what makes this quest fun - just how good of a blade can I buy for $200?

So what are your recommendations? What's out there that goes for $200 or less (retail, not manufacturer's list)?

Thanks!

NE
 
Svord Tempsky Bowie is pretty " classic bowie" looking. It's under $200 in most places.
 
I thought the Camillus Fisk OVB bowies were a very good Bowie style. I believe they have been out of production for 5 years or more. Before that they were available for under $200, maybe they are higher than that now.

I was curious about this myself because I don't have a good bowie but I also don't want to spend $500 for one. I went to one of the big online knife sellers, typed "bowie" into the search box and sorted the results by price. They had a lot for under $200 and many of them were nice looking knives and not just something tacticool looking. They had quite a few for well over $200 too.
 
Swamprat Rodent 9 from swampratknifeworks.com.

It'll outperform everything else in that price range.
 
The svord Tempest Bowie comes to mind when I read your criteria, but it is in a different size category than the other blades you are talking about (its an 11in blade IIRC). However its got a great L6 blade on it and is very classic in its appearance.

yhst-129988217023674_2221_16055093


The Western 49 is also a good suggestion, but I believe its a bit larger as well.

You could look at the blackjack halo attack. Its a 7.5in a2 blade, but its got a natural micarta handle rather than the wood. It also has finger grooves, not sure how you feel about that.

BCB14NM[medium].jpg


Another blackjack knife the model 1-7 has a 7in blade, but once again is missing the wooden scales.

BCB7NM[medium].jpg


All of these are under $200.

And also, I think it might be a bit easier to find a knife like you are describing in the slightly larger 9-11in range. Most of the reading that I've done has suggested that the early bowies were on the larger side.

Either way though, good luck, and I hope you find something that you like :).
 
I may be new to this and therefore wrong, but I have several several Windlass Bowies from Atlanta Cutlery that I thought were pretty good. If anyone more knowledgeable has an opinion on their work I would be interested in hearing it.
 
The Bart Moore knife story hasn't hold up for close inspection as stated by Norm Flayderman in his book "The Bowie Knife".

A very early pattern is the guardless Natchez bowie from around as early as late 1820ies.
The Bark River Rouge is a modern version of this style and I got mine for about 200$.

View attachment 308533

Rouge-Rosewood-handle.jpg

"The Bowie Knife" is a great resource to learn about the greatest of all American knives.
I post these pics from the book with permission from Mr Flayderman.


Regards
Mikael
 
Mikael W said:
The Bart Moore knife story hasn't hold up for close inspection as stated by Norm Flayderman in his book "The Bowie Knife".
Click to expand...

Indeed. The James Black story doesn't hold up either. But, in the end, it probably doesn't matter. I think people, when they are looking for Bowies, often aren't looking for historical accuracy, as much as something that looks like what they think a Bowie looks like.

Ans there's nothing wrong with that at all.

The Case Bowie is awfully "Bowie/Iron Mistress"...that might be worth a look. I like the Fallkniven Norther Lights series, myself as classic looking not modern...but they don't really seem to be your cup of tea.
 
Cold Steel's Laredo/Natchez bowies may tickle your fancy. There's also the Zombie Tools Felon, but it lacks an upper guard and it runs about $250, so it doesn't fit exactly within your criteria.
 
Ontario Knife Company Spec-Plus line. SP-10 Marine Raider Bowie. You could buy 3 of them, to your door for around $171. I have one. I have pounded the snot out of it with no issues. (I do not throw my knives). Check em out.
 
The best I've found so far is the Svord Von Tempsky. That thing is ridiculous. What a beast of a knife. It makes my Battle Mistresses look tame by comparison.
I showed it to my son and he said "Wow! Cool sword Dad!" :D
 
Get the Carbon Steel Cold Steel Natchez Bowie. My only beef is that I wish they gave it a leather sheath instead of a plastic one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top