As I said above, I had ordered one of the Generation 2 Frontiersman's Long Knives from Imperial Weapons as I have been impressed with their replicas of historical Bowie knives. It arrived yesterday and it is a beaut. The blade measures just at the specified 10" and it is a very light and handy knife as the blade is not so wide nor so thick as some of the Bowies that I have. This knife has one of Generation 2's new style scabbards just as the J.D. Searles replica Bowie has, and I like them a lot. They are much thinner than the old chubby ones such as came with the Musso and the Iron Mistress Bowies.
One thing that is quite noticeable on the knife that is not shown too clearly in the pictures is the sharpened swedge. This is just under 2 3/4" and would, I suspect, be very helpful in penetrating. The blade has a wickedly sharp point on it. The edges on both the cutting edge and on the swedge are decent working edges, but need some honing to finish them. This is not surprising, as that seems true of many knives from the factory. The blade is made of hand-forged 5160 carbon, not stainless, steel. The hilt is of some unidentified hardwood that looks like cherry and it is very well finished when the price, $99.00, is considered and experience has taught me to keep the wood well oiled. The knife, as are all Generation 2 blades that I have seen, is made in the Philippines.
One question: Has anyone any suggestions for loosening the fit of the blade to the scabbard? The scabbard is leather over thin wooden slats hollowed to take the blade. I am certain that it will loosen with use, but it is extremely tight right now.
http://www.imperialweapons.com/knives/Ip-133.html
One thing that is quite noticeable on the knife that is not shown too clearly in the pictures is the sharpened swedge. This is just under 2 3/4" and would, I suspect, be very helpful in penetrating. The blade has a wickedly sharp point on it. The edges on both the cutting edge and on the swedge are decent working edges, but need some honing to finish them. This is not surprising, as that seems true of many knives from the factory. The blade is made of hand-forged 5160 carbon, not stainless, steel. The hilt is of some unidentified hardwood that looks like cherry and it is very well finished when the price, $99.00, is considered and experience has taught me to keep the wood well oiled. The knife, as are all Generation 2 blades that I have seen, is made in the Philippines.
One question: Has anyone any suggestions for loosening the fit of the blade to the scabbard? The scabbard is leather over thin wooden slats hollowed to take the blade. I am certain that it will loosen with use, but it is extremely tight right now.
http://www.imperialweapons.com/knives/Ip-133.html