Bowie/Hunting/Fixed-Blade Knife Under $100 as a Present?

R

RSharpe

Joined
Aug 28, 2006
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25
Greetings!

I'd like to buy a friend a knife as a present. Neither of us are blade enthusiasts. However, we're both equestrians and enjoy the outdoors. He's a "retired" farmer and our former road commissioner. He also worked in the oil field for a long time and operated a backhoe too. Though he's older than me (his son was a year ahead of me in school), he's a very close friend. However, I don't think I want to go to quite $100 as a present. So, I'm looking for a knife under $100, closer to $50 than going over that amount.

Now, if he were a blade enthusiast, that wouldn't be a very good price point, but he's not.

Also, the knife will not be well maintained if he actually does decide to use it as a primary fixed blade. So, corrosion resistance is essential.

Wood or stag handles are a big plus.

I've seen what he likes in a fixed-blade knife because he has two. One he keeps in his truck and the other he sometimes wears on his belt. He likes what I consider "classic" hunting or bowie fixed-blade knives. That might not be correct nomenclature in blade-enthusiast setting, but again, I'm not a blade enthusiast so I wouldn't know.

Here's some I'm considering:

* $30—Schrade 153UH Uncle Henry Golden Spike Fixed 5" Blade, Delrin Stag Handle

I like the looks of this one the most, I think. Not sure how good 7CR17 steel is, but for under $30, I can't expect too much. Actually, it seems to be close to 440A, for better or worse. He would recognize the "Uncle Henry" name, but the "Stagalorn" plastic handle . . . I think I'll avoid this one. :(

* $50—KA-BAR 1236 Bowie Knife 6-15/16" Blade, Stacked Leather Handles, Leather Sheath - 2-1236-9

I like this one, but this thread makes me worry about the blade's quality. Apparently, it's not quite as tough as even Buck's 420HC, and even for my very modest tastes, I figured that was about as low as one could consider. I know, you get what you pay for.

* $50—Buck 119 Special Hunting Knife 6" Blade, Black Phenolic Handles - 9207
* $80—Buck 119BR Special Fixed 6" Blade Cocobolo Handle with Leather Sheath - 2638
* $85—Buck 120 General Fixed 7-3/8" Blade, Cocobola Dymondwood Handles (0120BRS) - 7808

He'll recognize the Buck brand name. The 6-inch blade is probably more appropriate for wear in a saddle than the 7-inch. This is probably going to be the knife I get him, barring better recommendations.

Any recommendations? Really, $100 is a lot of money for me, though he is a close friend. I don't want to cross that line, even by a few dollars.

Thanks!
 
The stacked leather handled kabar us navy mk1 sounds like it could tick all the right boxes for you(other than corrosion resistance, but in my experience 1095 crovan isn't terribly susceptible to stains).

It's a leather handled 5in bladed knife. I've used the kraton handled one, and its a great blade. The handle on it is a touch on the small side, so if your friend has big hands then it might not work for him. For what its worth, I wear large gloves and it fit me just fine, but larger than that might have issues.

Here is a photo of it, although this one has a stripped blade (the black coating has been taken off).

IMG_39262.jpg


The buck 119 is another great choice, an iconic blade.
 
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I agree with the Buck 119 being iconic. I would suggest the BK-15, BK-16, or BK-17 as a great regular user knife within your price range.

Another kind of a cool knife are the Puma SGB knives.... reportedly assembled in china but with German no-name steel (added I believe it is 440A). I have no complaints really about the SGB Puma Elk Hunter with the stag handles, but I haven't used it much. It is within your price range. It may not be the greatest steel, but it is a cool knife. Mine came with a nylon sheath (like Uncle Mike's holsters) that works, although I would prefer leather. There are a number of models available at pretty reasonable prices.
 
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Oops! Didn't notice 22-rimfire's post. Those Puma knives do look really good and I like that they are made with real stag handles. The "German 440A" is a bit worrisome. But, I know, you get what you pay for and the price is in the right range. I like the looks of that Puma SGB Trail Guide and also the Puma 116396 Gold Series Bowie a lot. However, it doesn't look like the Bowie can be found new for under $100. About $110-$120 out the door was the cheapest I saw.

Here's a thread on the Puma Bowie: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/678207-Any-Opinions-on-the-PUMA-Bowie

I saw a picture of it in its sheath and fell in love, but it sounds like the Buck 119 is just a better knife for a lot cheaper and made in the USA, so that's not such a tough choice for me between the two.
 
I didn't want to mislead you about the SGB Pumas. 440A is pretty much known for not holding an edge, but will sharpen up easily. They are not comparable to the German made Pumas which are much more expensive. But, you get what you pay for and yes, the stag is cool. I know mine was razor sharp when I bought it. It was one of those spontaneous purchases when I saw it as the price didn't beat me up at the time.
 
Oh, no, certainly nothing you posted was misleading! Your post lead me to research Puma and I learned a lot. In fact, I actually called my sister and asked if she wanted to go halfsies with me on the Bowie. Still waiting for a call back. That may be the one. :-)
 
I find a 3 or 4" fixed blade works best for hunting chores. A large knife can be kind of clumsy doing some of the detail or careful cutting that often needs to be done.
 
But, wait . . . How would you deal with the fact that other people on the trail might have a bigger knife? ;-)
 
The trail is a different matter. :D You have me fondling my Puma Elk Hunter now.... I cut the living crap out of my finger at the store by accident with this knife and felt compelled to buy it since it had my blood on it. Basically I fumbled while checking it out and tried to catch it so it wouldn't hit the store floor... bad move. Lots of blood. They almost sent me to the emergency room.
 
You've sold me on Puma. All the research I've done, I think they it's a good chance I'll really like the knife. Oops! I said "I'll" really like the knife! That's because I'm getting one for me. :D

Yeah, there are a lot of complaints that they aren't as good as they use-ta be, but that's a very common sentiment from both firearms and blade enthusiast communities. I'm sure there's a measure of truth to it, but again, I'm no enthusiast, so I have a strong feeling that I'll really like the knife.

I think the Buck 119BR is a good choice for my friend. "Puma" likely won't mean a thing to him (though he'd like the stag handle) I think "Buck" to him will mean that it's a good knife. There's no telling if he'll like either one enough for it to become his go-to knife, so . . . Yeah, I'm going to get him the Buck.

BTW, I'm also ordering a Cold Steel Trail Master (in the the new O-1 steel) and a Tramontina 18" Bush Machete and a Coarse/Fine DMT Diafold. Along with the Buck and Puma, that's several hundred dollars of blades all in one day for someone claiming not to be an enthusiast!

I may have caught the fever. :D
 
I use the 8" DMT Diafold in cs/fine as a regular sharpening stone. Expensive. Don't apply much pressure when you are sharpening with it. You can knock the diamonds off.

Trams are good. But if you read the recent machete thread, I just picked up an 18" wood handled Condor El Salvador and really like it. Be prepared to do some sanding with the Tram. No big thing.

Yeah, you may have caught the fever. :rolleyes:
 
Just finished making all my orders. :D

Thanks for all your advice, 22-rimfire! :)

Oh, and I have a Condor El Salvador alright. It's a warrior. It's a genocidal brush mass-murderer. It shaves hair (with the help of my belt sander). It goes through the thin, willowy grass like it's not even there. It slices through branches like butter. I've cut down trees with it. I've even been forced to do a chainsaw's work with it, and it didn't complain and neither did I. It wants to eat brush. I use the hell out of it. Just today, I was behind it for a half hour. I use it maybe an hour a week. That will lessen since Fall is upon us, so unless I blaze a new trail, what I do now probably will stay done until next year, thank God.

Take a look at my Condor El Salvador 18" machete thread from 2012 here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Newbie-Good-Machetes-and-How-to-Sharpen-Them

Suffice it to say, I love my Condor El Salvador and if it were legal in this state, then by God, yes I would marry it! :D

I got the Tram because I needed another machete as a loaner and I'd like to test it out. Okay, I got it because I wanted it and don't really have a better reason. :D I put FortyTwoBlade's special quality option on it and ordered a Cold Steel sheath for it too. But, no, I don't expect it to outdo my baby. I need that heavy weight and durability. The fact that it's easy to sharpen to a razor edge and retains that edge for a long, long time is a big plus.
 
Seems you have way more experience with the El Salvador than I do. I purchased it at that big knife store over near the Smoky Mts. Yeah, you pay a little more, but I can handle it in the store. They are going to have another manufacturer weekend in about a week and I'll probably visit then barring work schedules. Been eyeing up the Kabar Snoddy but I just can't get past the thin handle and the leather sheath has no belt attachment.

When I get a Tram, it will be through Ben (42 Blades) with his special treatment.

Back in 2012, I was still on a Condor Golok kick. I still like it, but I seem to choose either the Condor Pack Golok for chopping or my 14.5" Puerto Rican (PR) for wacking. Now the PR will probably get less use until the new is out of the El Salvador. I have the Condor Viking to try out too. It has not cut anything as of yet.

I hope when you get the SGB, you don't say... what a piece of crap and blame me. The only complaint I have with it is I can feel the pins in the handle just a tad. They need to be cut or sanded just a hair closer to the stag.
 
Oh, I'm not getting an SGB. I'm getting the 116396 Gold Series Bowie that I linked above (440C). I hope I'll just thank you for turning me on to the brand. :)
 
I know you've already ordered, just wanted to say, you can't go wrong with a KaBar, especally the Becker designs.
 
7cr17 is awful steel just for future reference. Had 3 different knives in it that I couldn't even get sharp.
 
Those stag-handled Muelas are beautiful knives at the right price! I'm glad I already ordered; it would have made it just that much harder to choose! :)
 
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