Best full tang stainless bowie <$300?

Drop bear said:
I have been eyeing off the European stainless bowies. Joker, cudeman, muela.

But not really the full tang as I want the proper stag handle experience.

They seem serviceable enough even if they don't have super steels.

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Interesting how people have different desires. Personally, I won't buy a knife unless I'm 100% sure it's full tang. I don't mind a full hidden tang, as long as they show me a picture of the tang, so I know how wide and thick it is. I definitely understand a lot of people like the look and feel of stag and stacked leather handles. It's surprising to me that companies like Boker and Joker, which are fairly expensive, don't provide pictures of the hidden full tang.
 
DDDYLN said:
Interesting how people have different desires. Personally, I won't buy a knife unless I'm 100% sure it's full tang. I don't mind a full hidden tang, as long as they show me a picture of the tang, so I know how wide and thick it is. I definitely understand a lot of people like the look and feel of stag and stacked leather handles. It's surprising to me that companies like Boker and Joker, which are fairly expensive, don't provide pictures of the hidden full tang.
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They do have full tang versions. But then the handle becomes scales. And the looks of a bowie is a big reason for buying a bowie for me.

I think the full tang is overated. But it would be nice to know if the tang was properly radiused.
 
Drop bear said:
They do have full tang versions. But then the handle becomes scales. And the looks of a bowie is a big reason for buying a bowie for me.

I think the full tang is overated. But it would be nice to know if the tang was properly radiused.
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Yup, very over rated by the internet bushcraft crowd especially. Lots of knives without a full
tang have survived hard use for many years. The Kabar for instance......or Randall Model 1....
AbgHGP4.jpg
 
Drop bear said:
They do have full tang versions. But then the handle becomes scales. And the looks of a bowie is a big reason for buying a bowie for me.

I think the full tang is overated. But it would be nice to know if the tang was properly radiused.
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I buy large knives to do work. I know a lot people like to collect. There's nothing wrong with that. For me, if it will break batoning wood, I don't have a use for it, with the exception of self defense. My favorite Bowie is one of the least expensive, although now discontinued. When camping, there's nothing the Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie can't do. It's a 0.25" thick piece of 1075 high carbon steel. The 0.25" thickness goes all the way through the wide tang. It just has a Kraton handle on top for grip. It's not pretty. But, I don't think it would break, even if I ran it over with my SUV!
 
There has to be a full tang Bowie out there, with quality stainless steel, that can be had for under $300. I know people will probably say the Cold Steel Trail Master or Recon Scout in San Mai III. I'm not really a fan of San Mai III. It chips pretty easily. The CPM-3V versions are nice, but they're not truly stainless. I can't throw one in my tailgate and forget about it for a year. It will rust significantly.
 
DDDYLN said:
That's my bad. It's the SKU# that's 420. That's an off choice for a SKU#, as it makes people think the blade is made from cheap stainless steel. That said, you can get a better axe at your local hardware store for less than half the price. I'm not sure why someone would pay $200 for this. You can buy a Cold Steel 1055 carbon steel axe for less than $50. That's the same steel the Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe uses. I imagine most hardware store axes use carbon steel as well. Harbor Freight has high carbon steel axes for $30.
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As I said, I was quite surprised by the price. I only noticed it after I looked up the steel type.

But then again, it is a quality product with a known pedigree that will hold its resale value.

Way back when there was a thread touting the Dexter Fish Splitter as a do all, inexpensive, hard use knife. Take a look:
 
DDDYLN said:
There has to be a full tang Bowie out there, with quality stainless steel, that can be had for under $300. I know people will probably say the Cold Steel Trail Master or Recon Scout in San Mai III. I'm not really a fan of San Mai III. It chips pretty easily. The CPM-3V versions are nice, but they're not truly stainless. I can't throw one in my tailgate and forget about it for a year. It will rust significantly.
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Cuderman in bohler for about $227 here.


If you can get them.

But those three companies Joker, cudeman, muela all do bowies in ok stainless for not much money.
 
Drop bear said:
Cuderman in bohler for about $227 here.


If you can get them.

But those three companies Joker, cudeman, muela all do bowies in ok stainless for not much money.
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I appreciate the find. That is what I'm looking for. The price is a bit out of my range. Bohler steel is a lot more expensive than 440C. Unfortunately, there aren't many 440C, full tang Bowies out there. I also don't trust the steel type and heat treat on the Chinese knives that claim to be 440C.
 
Drop bear said:
Cuderman in bohler for about $227 here.


If you can get them.

But those three companies Joker, cudeman, muela all do bowies in ok stainless for not much money.
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I came across this knife from Eafengrow. https://www.amazon.com/Eafengrow-Micarta-Straight-Adventure-Bushcraft（Black/dp/B0CM3GK5Q4 It's the Eafengrow EF141 Fixed Blade Knife 1.7" Width AUS-10 Steel Blade Micarta Handle Full Tang Heavy Duty. It's the perfect kind of survival knife to put in my SUV tailgate. The problem, is that they want $67 for it after taxes. Eafengrow has been known to falsify steel types in the past. They've been caught numerous times. The knife, while not a Bowie, has all the specs I'm looking for. Reviewers say Eafengrow has increased their quality. That said, until I watch or read a review, from one of the reputable knife reviewers, I don't trust the knife. Cold Steel AUS-10A steel is awesome. But, Cold Steel makes them in Taiwan, not China. They have the heat treat down to a science. Unfortunately, I can't find an AUS-10 fixed blade from any reputable knife companies. I do have a Steel Will Argonaut 800, which is a full tang, 6 3" AUS-8 blade. These knives have an excellent reputation. AUS-10 is supposed to be superior to AUS-8. However, I can buy another Steel Will Argonaut (they make 3 models, with different blade shapes and lengths), for $56. I think I'll wait for reputable knife reviewers to review this Eafengrow EF141. If that never happens, I'm not buying it.
 
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MolokaiRider said:
Ontario Woodsman.

420HC. USA made. Tang is not skelentonized.

Gotta hurry tho...prices are rising.
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Ever since they went under, OKC knife prices have tripled. I should have bought one when they were still in business. It's really sad to see another reputable, USA made knife manufacturer, go out of business. I'm truly shocked the government didn't step in, since all their bayonets are from Ontario. Admittedly, the OKC bayonets are garbage. However, I haven't seen any other companies stepping up to fill the void.
 
DDDYLN said:
Ever since they went under, OKC knife prices have tripled. I should have bought one when they were still in business. It's really sad to see another reputable, USA made knife manufacturer, go out of business. I'm truly shocked the government didn't step in, since all their bayonets are from Ontario. Admittedly, the OKC bayonets are garbage. However, I haven't seen any other companies stepping up to fill the void.
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I feel ya.

I have a bunch of Ontario knives, and am a big fan.

The SP series used to be a very value-centric line of tools that got work done.
 
There's an Ontario Rat 6 S35VN for sale for $163+tax. I'm not sure what the original price was. On Amazon and eBay, they're selling for $250-$315. I'm wondering if I should pick one up, while they're still available.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I feel ya.

I have a bunch of Ontario knives, and am a big fan.

The SP series used to be a very value-centric line of tools that got work done.
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I'm glad I got the SP10 Marine Raider Bowie, and the SP6 Fighting knife, when they were still inexpensive.You have to sharpen them yourself, but they're some of the toughest knives that used to be available. I actually got my SP6 for free, due to an Amazon error!
 
DDDYLN said:
I appreciate the find. That is what I'm looking for. The price is a bit out of my range. Bohler steel is a lot more expensive than 440C. Unfortunately, there aren't many 440C, full tang Bowies out there. I also don't trust the steel type and heat treat on the Chinese knives that claim to be 440C.
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$227 In Australia. So usually about half that.

Joker knives are often 440. They do full tang versions.
 
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