Bowie under $75?

T

Tyronethepro

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Oct 25, 2010
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Does anybody know of a decent made bowie style knife under $75? I'm looking for a wood/bone handle, decent steel (doesn't have to be super steel) and a leather sheath. Blade length preferably in the 8 inch range. Its going to go to a longtime buddy who just graduated from Wyo-tech who has a habit of carrying a 10 dollar Winchester bowie on his hip. I feel like it'd be a great "Welcome home" gift for him. Thank you in advance, keep 'em sharp!
 
Watch the 'bay for a CS Trailmaster, or Recon Scout, usually the highest quality Bowie you can get for about $150. Under $75, maybe a SOG Seal Pup or NW Ranger.
 
The Condor Hudson Bay is under $40. Wood handles. You probably can't buy more steel for the money. ;)

I cannot vouch for the quality, but the current Boker Magnum (China) line contains a few Bowie-like models.
You might get lucky and find a Boker Arbolito Bowie (Argentina) for close to your price. A bit nicer than the Boker Magnum products.

Buck won't have anything in bone or leather for that price, but their 120 General sells for $65 - $75. Indestructible phenolic handles.
Similarly the Becker BK7 is available for under $75, and it can be modified with wood handle scales.
 
Get a sog seal team or a sog seal pup on eBay new that can go half of 120 (I could do the math but that's there original price on the website) that's where I got mine
 
The Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie Knife is decent knife with a 9" 1085 steel blade for around $60 bucks

knife.jpg
 
The OP did specifically state he was looking for something with wood or bone handles. I love things like the Ka-bar heavy bowie(and the Ontario SP-10, etc) too, but no wood/bone handles so that seems to disqualify it. Out of every reply so far, the only knife that actually has what the OP asked for is the Condor Hudson Bay. It's also the only one I can think of in the OP's price range with wood handles and good quality. 1075 carbon steel, 8.5 inch blade, comes with a nice leather sheath, all for around $40.

For the OP, here's a pic of the Hudson Bay and it's sheath:
chb2.jpg
 
Note to the OP: the market is unfortunately lacking in affordable "traditional" bowies. Most of the traditionally-styled ones in your price range come from India or China and I really wouldn't trust the quality.

There are a lot of modern bowies but they usually have synthetic handles and lack a guard. The Ontario SP-10 is probably the closest knife (of good quality) that you will find in that price range so I would recommend that.


Someone just posted a thread yesterday showing a modified SP10 with stripped blade and stag handles: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1121684-Modified-Ontario-Raider-Bowie
 
Budk has a lot of traditional bodies for cheap and some Gil hibbens I there would be exactly what you are looking for or you could get the condor boomslang on Amazon for just about in you price range
 
Svord makes some traditional-ish bowies in that range. Here's one 7 inches, L6 steel, and convex ground with wood handles. A very nice performer. http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/SVO280H/Svord-280H-Hunter-Fixed-7-inch-Carbon-Steel-Blade-Brown-Hardwood-Handles-Leather-Sheath

IKL/Wohlstein ( sheffield) makes some very traditional looking knives. 6 inch blade, EN9 Carbon steel ( 1065 carbon steel equv.), V grind http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/IXL6054/IXL-Wostenholm-6-inch-Bowie-with-Stag-Handle

There are more. Some are bowies with non traditional looks but great performance such as the KaBar Large heavy bowie above. Any Ontario, Becker or KaBar is going to be fairly good to excellent plus. The Ontario Ranger RD line in 5160 has some excellent ones.

You are looking at a price point for a style that gives you lots of options unless you get stuck on any one thing, such as it must be 8 inches, walnut, and 3V. The more specific you become, the narrower the field and typically the higher the price.

My recommendation? Stay away from anything less than 1075 ( no 1055-1065) and stay away from stick or cable tangs. Unless it's a wall hanger.
 
Condor Hudson Bay first off, then I thought about the Becker 7 and you can get some wood slabs, they cost more, but I have seen them.
 
I would also recommend the Condor Hudson Bay. I've used it on several camping trips and it has performed very well for the money.

FlaskandHudson003.jpg
 
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