I received this traditional pattern Bowie a couple of weeks back from Bill Siegle, BF's own was4u. It has a flat ground, 1/4" thick & 7 3/4" long brush finished 5160 blade with 3 1/2" swedge, 1/8" thick straight titanium guard, hidden tang (3/4" x 3 1/2"), oak handle, and Kydex sheath.
The knife shows very good fit & finish and, IMO, is an interesting blend of a traditional pattern with a modern tactical slant. The knife weighs in at just about 11 oz. on my postal scale & has a balance point immediately in front of the choil. That flat ground 5160 blade really takes a "full body shiver" edge. The coffin shaped oak handle provides a secure grip & the knife is very fast in the hand.
The Kydex sheath is a one-piece and comes with a molded in belt loop. There is a flap of Kydex that extends past the guard & holds the knife very securely in place, allowing for standard vertical or inverted carry. In fact, it held the knife a bit too securely for my liking but it was easily remedied by a brief session with a hairdryer. Worn inverted on my belt, it is completely covered by a short jacket yet it can be in the hand with only a sharp tug on the handle.
When I told Bill how happy I was with the knife & that I wanted to do a review, he asked that I mention that he has a low output & that he makes knives more for fun than for profit. There is a picture of Bill's version of a HI AK Bowie over in the Himalayan Imports forum that you may want to take a look at as well.
If you're in the market for a very solid traditional pattern, talk with Bill about what he can do for you. You may have a bit of a wait but, IMO, it's worth it.
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Cheers,
--+Brian+--
He who finishes with the most toys wins.
[This message has been edited by bcaffrey (edited 02-08-2000).]
