Best available production bowies?

bae

bae

Joined
Nov 21, 2001
Messages
848
I'm looking for a fighting bowie:

- minimum 9.5" blade, ideal 11.5" or so
- proper concave sharpened clip point
- point in-line with line-of-thrust
- "point" properly radiused to slice on a thrust
- useful guard, spanish notch an extra plus
- stainless a minus, would prefer carbon steel or functional damascus
- good balance
- sensible grip

I'm not looking for art, I'm looking for something I can use, and that I can get within a month or two :-)

Any advice greatly appreciated.
 
I would take a look at the Cold Steel line of bowies. If you can stomach the advertising they do offer some nice bowies. I have to say that I have never owned any of their bowies but I have read my share of review on them.
 
Depending on what you have in mind, if you plan on chopping firewood or skinning a buffalo, you have many options.
 
The criteria for the production Fighting Bowie you want is basically the same as a Bagwell Custom Bowie, so the closest you will get to that is an Ontario Bagwell, either the Hell's Belle or Fortress. The only way you'll get it all is to go custom. The Ontarios are stainless, but they've got the fighting guard. If you want carbon steel, I'd go with the Cold Steel Laredo. Doesn't have the fighting guard, but it's IMHO the best "all around everything you'd want to do with a Bowie" production Bowie knife available. Ontario has ceased production on the Bagwell series, so if you want one, I'd get it soon, before prices go up as availability goes down. The CS Laredo in SK-5 can be had for less money than the Ontarios if budget is a concern. Carbon V versions tend to bring a premium, but some bargains occasionally surface.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top