Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie... forged or milled barstock?

After watcing this vid I finnally figured out who Lynn Thompson reminds me of....he's the Donald Trump of the knife industry. ;')
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
For anyone that may be interested in the Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie, the following video link will show Lynn Thompson talking about some features of this knife while being interviewed during the 2014 Blade show. I had seen this before, and had forgotten him mentioning Dave Baker when he talks about this knife. I don't know if Dave Baker completely designed this knife for Cold Steel, or if some input for it was given by Mr. Thompson and/or other Cold Steel personnel. He begins discussing this knife at about the 2:30 minute mark...

https://youtu.be/mAjVeanpgbI
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Thank you for the video link. That's a man who knows what he is doing with his designs. The 1917 bowie handle is squarish for a good reason it seems.
 
👍👍 It's definitely a high "cool factor" knife 👍👍 Hope you guys receive specimens that make you smile ☺

As for my original question on whether or not these are made by hammer forging or milling from barstock... I am now 99% convinced that they are indeed a hand forged product.

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Talking yesterday with a younger friend (him being 24 and me being 51), I noticed a big difference in our understanding of manufacturing expectations. While we discussed the Frontier Bowie, it seems our acceptance of it's appearance were not equal. For me, being a bit older, I tend to understand, and even appreciate, the slight imperfect deviations that the Frontier Bowie has from one specimen to the next. My knowing that these are more old school made, and knowing that these are things found on specimens that are made in the old school way. He, on the other hand, is used to knives made more new school way. More modern machinery, including cnc machines, offering more exact and consistent appearances in the final product. Cold Steel offers both methods. For instance, their Natchez Bowie is made with that new school process, and they are closer to what perfection is considered, and the Frontier Bowie done with the more old school hands on labor that shows more in the final product. I personally like representations of both old and new school items, but must admit to having a preference for the old school stuff. Must be the age thing, and my being a bit nostalgic 😂
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Talking yesterday with a younger friend (him being 24 and me being 51), I noticed a big difference in our understanding of manufacturing expectations. While we discussed the Frontier Bowie, it seems our acceptance of it's appearance were not equal. For me, being a bit older, I tend to understand, and even appreciate, the slight imperfect deviations that the Frontier Bowie has from one specimen to the next. My knowing that these are more old school made, and knowing that these are things found on specimens that are made in the old school way. He, on the other hand, is used to knives made more new school way. More modern machinery, including cnc machines, offering more exact and consistent appearances in the final product. Cold Steel offers both methods. For instance, their Natchez Bowie is made with that new school process, and they are closer to what perfection is considered, and the Frontier Bowie done with the more old school hands on labor that shows more in the final product. I personally like representations of both old and new school items, but must admit to having a preference for the old school stuff. Must be the age thing, and my being a bit nostalgic 😂
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that's true. super tight tolerances due to robots and cnc, etc. have really changed folks expectations on all products even in the older generations. the youth never really grew up with hand made things in any bulk to see and understand, etc.
 
This was always an interesting blade. It kind of reminds me of the old bayonets that I collected as a teenager. It does have a bit of weight, but no more than the Nepalese Kukri that I just received. I suppose it depends on what a guy is willing to carry.
 
i finally scrapped and saved enough to grab one of these. not sure if its the 1055 or 1080/5 version. my guard is blue blued though, not brownish. came covered in a cosmoline like goop, but not cosmoline. wood handle blade and sheath. cleaned up easier than cosmoline so whatever grease it was. edge was decent but had a typical cold steel machetes big burr. knocked off easily on the sharpmaker.

i dislike the sheath other than the dangler setup. its a bit of a curved blade slightly along the length and the thickness changed width wise and the sheath isn't quite big enough and it cuts into the blade side of the sheath. blade comes out covered in leather dust from the cutting while.removing not matter how its removed. also too tight and heavy to really carry it and use easily. gonna have to build my own sheath for actual carry and use. its fine for display, but use not so much.

im actually impressed for the cost. fit and finish isnt perfect but much better than i expected. im gonna use mine so ill see how long it holds up. also the handle is kinda short. i have smaller hands and i can stay on the handle in a hammer grip but saber grip my hands off the handle and where its sloppy and awkward.
 
I personally do not see the Von Tempsky as the template for the Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie. I see the Frontier Bowie as it's own animal, and succeeding at sticking out in the crowd. But, that is only my opinion 😃

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I picked up one of the 1085 blued steel guard versions a few month ago. Definitely a deviation from the normal Cold Steel folders(AK-47,Recon 1,Code 4) and fixed blades like the trailmaster,Laredo and recon Scout that I own.The only two things that bothered me was how crudely make the screws were and how this knife did not have a sharp keen edge.
 
razorburn said:
I picked up one of the 1085 blued steel guard versions a few month ago. Definitely a deviation from the normal Cold Steel folders(AK-47,Recon 1,Code 4) and fixed blades like the trailmaster,Laredo and recon Scout that I own.The only two things that bothered me was how crudely make the screws were and how this knife did not have a sharp keen edge.
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Yes, many aspects of these knives reinforce the idea that, for it being modern times, these are very much hand made items. For me, some of these things are what adds a bit of authentic hand made charm to the knife. I originally questioned whether these were forged or machined from steel bar/plate stock... But, I no longer feel that these are anything but truly hand forged steel knives. And, again, such method of manufacture adds that certain authentic charm. They are obviously old school in, not only their styling, but also in their way of being manufactured 👍😃👍
 
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horseclover said:
When one compares the Dynasty Forge medieval swords with the Cold Steel medieval swords, there is little doubt that they both come from similar sources in China (not that there is anything wrong with that). Also realize that Windlass sources from several forges/shops. See Weapon Edge and Universal Sword as makers of stuff like the CS "1917", dirks and spadroons. While I am well aware of the Windlass connection (see Hank Reinhardt disclosures more than a decade ago). I am more a sword guy than knife guy, so let's just say I try to keep track.

Cheers

GC
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The CS 1917 Frontier Bowie is well heat treated 1085 high carbon steel. The steel is not from China. These knives are made in India. They can withstand a lot of punishment, based on the videos I've seen. Joe X tried to destroy the 1917 Frontier Bowie, and he struggled to get it to bend or break. From what I've seen, China does not manufacture typical high carbon steels (1055 through 1095). For knives, China only offers a number of carbon molybdenum steels, like 8Cr13Mov. or any number of ?Cr?Mov stainless steel. I've never seen a Chinese made knife with standard high carbon steel. I'm sure they make high carbon steels for I-beams and other structural members used to build large high rise buildings and bridges. However, they don't have the equipment to properly heat treat high carbon steels for knives.
 
DDDYLN said:
The CS 1917 Frontier Bowie is well heat treated 1085 high carbon steel. The steel is not from China. These knives are made in India. They can withstand a lot of punishment, based on the videos I've seen. Joe X tried to destroy the 1917 Frontier Bowie, and he struggled to get it to bend or break. From what I've seen, China does not manufacture typical high carbon steels (1055 through 1095). For knives, China only offers a number of carbon molybdenum steels, like 8Cr13Mov. or any number of ?Cr?Mov stainless steel. I've never seen a Chinese made knife with standard high carbon steel. I'm sure they make high carbon steels for I-beams and other structural members used to build large high rise buildings and bridges. However, they don't have the equipment to properly heat treat high carbon steels for knives.
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China uses a lot of xx50 and other comparable steels for all their jians, katana and other swords (see my Dynasty Forge comment. There are no doubt knives made in China will little U.S. appeal that are not stainless. Cold Steel katana are in the 1055 rage of steels. Other use a lot of 9260, comparable to 5160 in results. No doubt the CS 1917 Frontier Bowie appeals to some and has a good service record. That's fine. I have enough tank knives. Check out LK Chen stuff, as one example now eight years after where the market was in 2016. Hell, isn't Lynn not even Cold Steel anymore?
 
DDDYLN said:
The CS 1917 Frontier Bowie is well heat treated 1085 high carbon steel. The steel is not from China. These knives are made in India. They can withstand a lot of punishment, based on the videos I've seen. Joe X tried to destroy the 1917 Frontier Bowie, and he struggled to get it to bend or break. From what I've seen, China does not manufacture typical high carbon steels (1055 through 1095). For knives, China only offers a number of carbon molybdenum steels, like 8Cr13Mov. or any number of ?Cr?Mov stainless steel. I've never seen a Chinese made knife with standard high carbon steel. I'm sure they make high carbon steels for I-beams and other structural members used to build large high rise buildings and bridges. However, they don't have the equipment to properly heat treat high carbon steels for knives.
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This thread is eight years old.
 
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