Cold Steel Marauder Bowie

It's a quality knife but at 11 ounces might be a little light for a choppa. Also the quillions and sub hilt are flexible rubber material. They will do the job of keeping your hand/fingers off of the blade but some prefer more rigid material. If you don't mind spending a little more money a Recon Scout might suit your needs better.
 
Man with no name said:
It's a quality knife but at 11 ounces might be a little light for a choppa. Also the quillions and sub hilt are flexible rubber material. They will do the job of keeping your hand/fingers off of the blade but some prefer more rigid material. If you don't mind spending a little more money a Recon Scout might suit your needs better.
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I always found that really weird. I like this knife, but I'd love to see it with metal guard and different handle material.
 
The handle doesnt do anything for me, but the blade itself looks decent. A nice size as well for me as well.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
I always found that really weird. I like this knife, but I'd love to see it with metal guard and different handle material.
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There is such a knife, it's called the Black Bear Classic by Cold Steel. Micarta handle, steel guard and sub hilt, San Mai steel blade. Sadly no longer in production but a very nice knife.
 
The Black Bear Classic is NOT the same knife, at all. BBC is a version of the Jimmy Lile Big Bear, a double edge sub-hilt design, while the Marauder is more similar in blade size and shape to the Case V-44 Raider knife of WWII. The synthetic sub-hilt is a mystery to me, a decent micarta handle without the sub-hilt would have been a better option, in my opinion...
 
Cameron Duck said:
Hi everyone,
As some of you know I'm in the market for a knife that looks good, can chop small to medium wood, can stand the test of time and is around $0-$100. I came across the Marauder Bowie Knife quite a while ago but found it on Knife Centre. I like everything about it except it's made in Taiwan. Would you still recommend?

Here it is: https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CS39LSWB/Cold-Steel-39LSWB-Marauder
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For your intended uses, I definitely would NOT recommend the Marauder. It's designed as a fighting bowie, with a hollow-ground blade, thin edge, and acute point. If you chop with it, you certainly will chip the edge. Also, sub-hilts don't make for the best outdoor knives, in my experience, as their handles aren't as versatile or comfortable in general use as plain handles are.

Cold Steel makes some great, tough outdoor bowies (Trail Master and Recon Scout), but that's not what the Marauder was built for.

-Steve
 
justjed said:
The Black Bear Classic is NOT the same knife, at all. BBC is a version of the Jimmy Lile Big Bear, a double edge sub-hilt design, while the Marauder is more similar in blade size and shape to the Case V-44 Raider knife of WWII. The synthetic sub-hilt is a mystery to me, a decent micarta handle without the sub-hilt would have been a better option, in my opinion...
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Doh. You're right. I had the OSS sub hilt on my mind.
 
Cameron Duck said:
Hi everyone,
As some of you know I'm in the market for a knife that looks good, can chop small to medium wood, can stand the test of time and is around $0-$100. I came across the Marauder Bowie Knife quite a while ago but found it on Knife Centre. I like everything about it except it's made in Taiwan. Would you still recommend?
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Well Cameron, that knife looks good, can chop small wood, is built with enough quality that it will probably stand the test of time, and is certainly within your $0-$100 range.

If you like everything about it but the Taiwan thing, then you shouldn't fret. Lotsa good stuff from Taiwan nowadays.

Them's the facts. The rest is just our opinions, Man. Go get that thing and come back with a review for us.
 
Yeah, the Marauder is pretty much the Cold Steel OSS subhilt handle with an XL Espada looking blade. The Black Bear is pretty awesome. I believe it was a Bob Loveless design though, not Jimmy Lile?
 
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For your intended uses and under $100, there actually are a lot of choices. Condor, Ontario, Kabar, Muela, Nieto. I wouldn't limit myself to just CS Marauder. Made in Taiwan has been really good for a long time now, so I wouldn't let that scare you, if you're set on that one. But there are probably better choices of that size knife.
 
Yes, Big Bear was Loveless. I knew it was one of those two, just too lazy to look it up. My bad...
 
worth pointing out that for choppers, you don't really want to use stainless steel, as they are generally weaker than carbon steels...
also, if it's a real chopper, you want something like 1065 - 1080 or whatever, or the 65mn Chinese variant, as the lower carbon will make for a tougher blade for chopping

Many good ones around for this price - I'd personally go for a kukri style blade if chopping.
If you want to stick with a bowie style - this 1075 blade might be ideal https://www.knifecenter.com/item/CN...el-Blade-Polypropylene-Handles-Leather-Sheath
 
I never really cared for that grip on my OSS.

Did you see the Cold Steel Frontier Bowie? $90-120 pretty cool lookin beater.
 
Look at the CS machete bowies. The original bowie machete for a guardless option or the new black bear machete if you want a guard (steel under the plastic). You'll probably have to clean up the edge ( they tend to come very burry) but they are big, tough and get very sharp - including the clip. You can usually find them for less than $25.00. These are probably the best bang for the buck big bowies on the planet. Not pretty but value packed. The nearest thing to the marauder would be the ontario marine raider. Same overall size but 1095 steel and a little thicker blade stock in a saber grind and a little heavier. Also, steel guard. If you look hard enough you can sometimes find them for around $50 and usually for under $70.
 
^^^Beat me to it. If you're looking for a tough beater, the Ontario Raider Bowie has the same blade shape in thicker, tougher steel & a more neutral handle. The Marauder is thinner & quicker as a weapon, but more delicate. They're both modern takes on the old V-44 Raider Bowie.
 
flatface77 said:
^^^Beat me to it. If you're looking for a tough beater, the Ontario Raider Bowie has the same blade shape in thicker, tougher steel & a more neutral handle. The Marauder is thinner & quicker as a weapon, but more delicate. They're both modern takes on the old V-44 Raider Bowie.
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The OKC Marine Raider Bowie is the best way to go for tough chopping. Sadly, OKC just went out of business. Hopefully the new owners will keep the same designs, and improve the sheath. As an aside, while it's not a design for everyone, I batoned like 4 pre-cut logs, both pine and hardwood, with my Cold Steel Chaos Bowie, which is SK5 (1085HC). If you want a knife that's both a reasonably light fighter, but also can do camping tasks, it will do it. For pure outdoor tasks, the Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie is the best option, but it is heavy at 0.25" thick. You also have to sharpen it yourself, and the sheath is lackluster. Perhaps the new owners will improve those 2 factors. I'd rather pay $130 for the SP10, if it arrived sharp, and came with a great sheath.
 
I have a Cudeman Bowie knife on the way. It’s within your price point and reportedly very hefty and sharp. These Spanish knives get great reviews and this bowie looks particularly good. Whether it will make a good chopper remains to be seen. If you are not stuck on a bowie style knife and want a great chopper, I’d be looking at the Skrama 200 or 240
 

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