Cold Steel Natchez Bowie?

J

Jockohomo

Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
241
I thought I'd done with Cold Steel knives quite some time ago. Don't get me wrong I'm not a 'hater' and have half a dozen, all having served well. I suppose it's partly a snob thing and I usually buy higher end makes and antiques.
However, I'm loving the Natchez bowie. Can anyone tell me if they think it's a winner? Does it have a sharpened clip?
I can import one for around $400. To buy one in Britain would be well over $500, so it feels like a bit of a bargain. Still, is it worth that much?
Thanks for any info. but, please, no anti-Cold Steel tirades. I know all the points against them already.:thumbup:

Just double checked and the price in Britain is $680 !!!
 
Jockohomo said:
I thought I'd done with Cold Steel knives quite some time ago. Don't get me wrong I'm not a 'hater' and have half a dozen, all having served well. I suppose it's partly a snob thing and I usually buy higher end makes and antiques.
However, I'm loving the Natchez bowie. Can anyone tell me if they think it's a winner? Does it have a sharpened clip?
I can import one for around $400. To buy one in Britain would be well over $500, so it feels like a bit of a bargain. Still, is it worth that much?
Thanks for any info. but, please, no anti-Cold Steel tirades. I know all the points against them already.:thumbup:
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I am having a hard time deciding between the CS Laredo Bowie and the Natchez ( in SK-5, because I think their San Mai III line is a waste of money ).
 
May I ask what you have against the San Mai? I have one of their small folders in San Mai, bought back in the 80's, and it was rather good.
 
Take a look at the BArk RIver ROgue Bowie, they are period correct and great knives. They are also a lot cheaper and the customer service is great. I know from experience.
 
Jockohomo said:
May I ask what you have against the San Mai? I have one of their small folders in San Mai, bought back in the 80's, and it was rather good.
Click to expand...
I have nothing against the material, I do however, have everything against the price asked for the CS products in San Mai. It is a decent steel, but with those ridiculous overhyped prices, Cold Steel is stepping into Busse territory and custom made blades. VG-1 is not a super steel, it doens't come close of the S30V, ZDP-189 or even VG-10, much less INFI! Would you rather pay that money for a Busse, a Zero Tolerance, or to have a mass produced knife like Cold Steel that's not even made in the U.S!??
 
Deltaunit, you have good taste sir! I already have a Bark River Rogue and it is a splendid knife. I have over 20 bowies of various makes and sizes but none are Cold Steel. Just fancy a new toy.
Price is always a tricky issue but $400 feels quite cheap although, if it were $200, I'd buy it without even thinking twice.
Compared to what I spend on wristwatches and art, my knife budget is miniscule.
Sharpened clip anyone?
 
Thank you for the compliment Jocko, The Barkies are great knives and i own several myself. I am also a Bowie fan and have a couple customs and a lot of factory. I'm sure you have the Ontario knife company "Hells Belles" bowies (Big bagwell copies) those have sharpened clips. I just think that Cold Steel has out priced themselves, i know customs you can get that are less and much better quality. You thake care and good luck on you rknife buying.
 
I called Cold Steel and spoke to a rep about the Natchez Bowie.She told me that it isn't full tang but some sort of partial tang with a cable and a nut.She tried to tell me that it was done that way to increase strength.I also asked about how sharp both edges were.Her answer was a WORKING edge because they were having trouble keeping the blades from cutting through the box in shipping.The whole conservation sort of turned me off.

I have been looking at the Fallkniven NL1 Thor.Also waiting to see what Bark River releases this year.There is already a larger camp knife out and a large Wayfarer bowie in the works.
 
Yes, it seems to have the stub tang and wire arrangement just like the Laredo. I mentioned this in another thread and another chap said he'd tested the Laredo extensively and thought it was plenty strong.
That said, I do remember an even earlier thread where the wire had 'unwound' and, as a result the handle became loose.
Even though I'II never actually use the Natchez, I do like things to be fit for purpose just as a matter of principle.
I do have the Ontario Helle's Belle and Gambler, the early production mirror finished versions. They are great knives but, I've really gone off the handles. The pakkawood, or, whatever it is, looks nasty, cheap and plasticky.
Saw a great picture of a genuine Bagwell HB with a stag handle. It looked good and super comfortable.
I have a German trench knife from WW1 and its stag handle is about the most comfortable I've ever held.
Thanks everyone. I think the notion has past and I won't buy the Natchez.
 
I think that the Natchez Bowie is much nicer in person than the pictures that you see in the catalog.

I would take the Natchez Bowie over the Laredo Bowie but they are both solid knives.
 
i own the natchez bowie, very beautiful knife, love the blade on it and the macarta handle is very nice. get one !! u wont regret it. ^_^


VG Japanese Steel is a premium grade of steel that boasts an extremely high carbon content. It is manufactured in limited quantities in Japan.

VG Japanese steel is harder than German steel. It has a greater sharpening potential. It also maintains an edge longer than other lower-carbon steel formulae. These features make VG Japanese steel the ideal material for manufacturing high performance cutlery.

thats to outdoors fanatic , pls dont start a flame war over steels. thats like me saying 154cm steel isnt a premium steel from the usa.
 
VG-10 yes, VG-1, I just simply don't know, because Cold Steel likes to put their own names to the steels they use, and as far as I know no one else uses VG-1 in their knives, so there's simply nothing to compare it to.

Unlike VG-10 which is pretty much the industry gold standard for stainless (and S30V is the platinum standard, and ZDP-189 is the diamond :P), and used by countless manufacturers and custom makers a like.
 
Hell I would gladly make a custom Bowie that size for that price...and I'll use D2 or S30V and G10 for the handles. Someone offers me $400-$600 for a bowie...it will DEFINETLY be a one off...................................and I'll sharpen the clip point. LOL. :)
 
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