Bowie Team 6 design discussion

resinguy

resinguy

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
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It is very cool to get a peek behind the curtain of the unique knives that Jerry and Co design for special customers. There is a long history of these Military Overuns being released to we mere citizens when possible.

The latest example, and generating much buzz, is the Bowie Team 6. Variants have been showing up in Grab Bags, and folks are just about falling out over them. Disclaimer: I did not order a Grab Bag, and have no vested interest in promoting, nor hurting, any BT6 sales. I am simply interested in a dispassionate discussion of the design parameters of this blade. My expectation is that the Busse staff will not join in here, out of respect to any confidentially agreement with the original customer. Therefore, please do not post any questions to the Busse folks and expect an answer. All opinions and speculations are purely our own.

My thread, I need to start. In general, I really like Clip Point styles of 'Bowies'. In specific, I don't much care for curved clip points. It's a style thing with me, YMMV. But, with respect to function, NOT style, let us speculate on the design choices of the BT6. The wide blade provides more metal for strength in torsion/bending stresses. 0.22" thick; more than enough strength/thickness in a short blade. So, that curved clip with the raising point ... what function does it serve?

Please speculate on the functional advantage of this curved clip over a straight clip, or a simple drop point, as shown here:

IMG_20160913_161957_zpszuicjw4g.jpg
 
I would imagine better penetration, especially through military type fabrics, that curved clip would push the edge into material as it penetrated. I imagine it's meant for single penetration kills that would either hit the heart or arteries quickly.


Sincerely,
Ego sum Chrysaora
 
Very interesting design indeed. Thanks for starting this thread.
As far as the clip point goes, my speculation, assuming this is a fighting, blade would be that it lends itself to upward thrust penetration. Specifically close quarters, under the sternum/ribs and up into the vitals. I hope I'm not getting too violent with this. Mods, please delete if necessary.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Remember this could have been a requirement from the procurement officer based on whatever criteria he imposed. So it may not have anything to do with real logic.
 
If it was sharpened, there is theoretically some advantage to having a trailing point for performing a back cut.
Another possibility-I'm not sure if it comes across fully in the pics, but the tip is very slender and, again citing Bagwell, the top/swedge would push the edge and provide tremendous penetration.
Hope that makes sense.

A couple review notes:
The balance point (G10 scales) is right behind the first tube rivet.
It is definitely thicker than the flat handles of the Ratmandu and for me, feels better in the hand because of it. Not nearly as thick as magnum slabs (going from memory on that one), and there is very little waist (narrowing) off the swell between the 2nd and 3rd tubes. For me, I would prefer that there was, and it would be just about perfect.
Overall, it feels great in the hand, and the extra dip on the back of the blade, combined with the generous choil, you have great controlled choking up on the blade.
My thoughts-designed to be a dedicated close-in fighter with some respectable bushcraft capability.
 
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Cobalt said:
Remember this could have been a requirement from the procurement officer based on whatever criteria he imposed. So it may not have anything to do with real logic.
Click to expand...

Like the fact that it is illegal to carry in Texas because it a) has a blade over 5 1/2", and b) is a Bowie knife !
 
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I like the knife and kinda want one, but don't care for the bowie tip. I love the handle, square choil, length, height and thickness....if it was a drop point I would need 3.

Either way, awesome knife, I am jealous and congrats to all those who scored.
 
This plus, definitely a drop point with no choil and Satin please!! Looks like a cool surprise for those who got one-Congratulations!!!
jbs121s said:
I like the knife and kinda want one, but don't care for the bowie tip. I love the handle, square choil, length, height and thickness....if it was a drop point I would need 3.

Either way, awesome knife, I am jealous and congrats to all those who scored.
Click to expand...
 
There's a Gerber LMF at the 10th Mountain Division HQ missing the last 1/2" or so of the tip missing.... I'll let your imagination tell you where the rest is.

I'd imagine the procurement officer had a desire for a utilitarian blade which could still thrust through thick garments or soft armor. There are plenty of uses for the blade at any rate, there's a bunch of things that need prying and chopping in the Military theater- hell, that's what brought me to Busse in the first place!

Of course, this'll most likely be an MRE opener and ammo crate wire pryer, but I'm sure it'll excell at its darker purpose.
 
So, did the Busse just changed the color and logos before releasing these to the public ?
The design stayed exactly the same as military got ?
 
I still say that it looks an awful lot like the old Swamp Rat Mini Mojo / Mini Uncle Mojo. Which also happened to have an "EH3" military overrun model. Still one of my top (and most used) Bussekin blades of all time! :thumbup: :cool:



Such an underrated model. I never understood why it never drew an interest, especially given how this new BT6 seems to be. :confused:
 
Well, after holding one for several hours, I can tell you the first thing it reminds me of is that a no choil Tankbuster is about the closest blank you are going to find for a similar blade to modify into the BT6 if it isn't it's own original pattern. The handle would have to be ground & drilled differently for the straighter hole placement of this handle prior to heat treatment, but otherwise the front half is almost a perfect match. The ultramag scales are much thicker & heavier than Tac mags though yet the round butt on the BT6 is much classier than the TB version too. Great design overall! :thumbup:
105bk7a.jpg
 
I'll speculate that perhaps the original intent of the design was to have the clip sharpened. It would make sense..... Then again, I'm just bear-ly smarter than the average bear.
 
Doesn't look like it, but does it have a palm swell, or just flat chamfered like a RMD?
 
They look very similar to the Swamp's R6 Mil overruns. I love the design. And I love a curved up clip. As far as function goes, well it seems more pointy and stabby than a regular drop point or straight clip.

93ij4dd.jpg
 
rcb2000 said:
Doesn't look like it, but does it have a palm swell, or just flat chamfered like a RMD?
Click to expand...

Yeah there's a little palm swell. It's just enough.

RobStanley said:
They look very similar to the Swamp's R6 Mil overruns. I love the design. And I love a curved up clip. As far as function goes, well it seems more pointy and stabby than a regular drop point or straight clip.

93ij4dd.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a sweet knife. Must've been before I came around and I don't think I've seen one before. I'd take one for sure.
 
I don't recall the thickness but from here it looks like it would make a fine hunting knife if it's not super thick. I like the general style of a bowie/clip point knife for my cutting chores as tip strength is rarely an issue. That said, I wish I had a BT6.....
 
Raised curved clip=perfect from behind forward motion throat slicer...seeing as how that is the technique taught by military in hand to hand combat. Guess it depends on how "unique" the focus of the mission these individuals have, but to my eye that looks like an offensive design made for silent-night mission type dudes.
 
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