CS Laredo Bowie Handle construction

H

halbschaf

Joined
Oct 26, 2011
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191
Hello everybody

Without having checked all threads which might have to do with this matter, I like to ask as follows:
I´m thinking about buying the CS Laredo Bowie, as it looks great and for me it seems to have the right size.
I will use it as a survival- and fighting knife and so it must have the adequate capacity.

Unfortunately we here in Germany have heard , that the construction of the tang isn´t strong enough, as it has the tendency to broke when hard used.

Has anyone knowledge about it?
 
I have never heard of one breaking off at the tang. The blade shoulder's have a radiused transition that tightly fits to the guard hardware and it has more steel in the handle than a nepalese kukri. It uses a slight variation of a design that's been time tested on swords for centuries and still very wildly used.
 
Tang construction is classic. There is a tang, then a welded steel cable with a nut on the end. Cables, large screws welded to the tang aren't anything new.
It won't be as strong as full tang, but strong enough. Especially if you think about broken rtaks, rats, and other full tang knives. You can abuse anything.

But the laredo handle is made out of plywood. That is what turns me off. Great, just GREAT blade, and fake handle...
 
Is another Bowie available with similar design and similar measurements, but with a more solid construction? Not custom made, but good serial quality like CS, Al Mar, Buck or whatever. Blade length 10 1/2 to max. 11 inches, not 10 (to short) and not 12 inches (to long). A knife, which can be used as a figther and a chopper?
 
Get the TrailMaster, it will serve you better.

Moose
 
What does it mean?
It uses a slight variation of a design that's been time tested on swords for centuries and still very wildly used.
On the other hand:
It won't be as strong as full tang, but strong enough.
 
I was going to buy one of those once...


... until I was looking for one on Ebay and found a seller who was selling left over blade blanks for them. They're a half tang with a skinny little rod welded on to the end and threaded at the pommel to fool buyers into thinking it's a full internal tang.

Now, the internal tang doesn't mean much to me. That configuration is plenty strong if done right, and a half tang with a skinny rod welded on, is not right.

I like the design. It's a classic interpretation of a 19th century coffin-handled bowie, but what were those clowns at Cold Steel thinking? To save weight? I'd rather have the few extra ounces than have sub-par construction.

Bleh.

Too bad. I'm still looking for a decent classic old fashioned "production" bowie. Too bad virtually all the manufacturers have gone Tacticool and don't care about us traditionalists anymore.
 
halbschaf said:
Is another Bowie available with similar design and similar measurements, but with a more solid construction? Not custom made, but good serial quality like CS, Al Mar, Buck or whatever. Blade length 10 1/2 to max. 11 inches, not 10 (to short) and not 12 inches (to long). A knife, which can be used as a figther and a chopper?
Click to expand...
A San Mai III Laredo with the micarta handle?

The new CS Trail Master has a very honed clip in comparison to previous models. Forget about the 10 1/2" minimum, because it's limiting your options to practically nothing that isn't of a similar construction to that Laredo bowie. Even Fallkniven's Thor is only 10".
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I like the design. It's a classic interpretation of a 19th century coffin-handled bowie, but what were those clowns at Cold Steel thinking? To save weight? I'd rather have the few extra ounces than have sub-par construction.
Click to expand...
The Laredo is an inch longer and ounce lighter than a Trail Master. Those "clowns" were thinking about the balance. It's a traditional way to build a bowie, and there is nothing sub-par about it.
 
Picksmith said:
The Laredo is an inch longer and ounce lighter than a Trail Master. Those "clowns" were thinking about the balance. It's a traditional way to build a bowie, and there is nothing sub-par about it.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm sure there are numerous bowies from circa 1840 with welded rods on their tangs.

I don't trust it. I won't buy it. I don't care what anyone tries to beat over my head. End of story.
 
That's your preference, but you'd missing out on alot of great bowie knives, production and custom, if you can't trust a similar build style.
 
Picksmith said:
That's your preference, but you'd missing out on alot of great bowie knives, production and custom, if you can't trust a similar build style.
Click to expand...

How similar? If it's a genuine full through internal tang with no welded rod monkey business, I'm good.

And I've pretty much given up on finding a traditional production Bowie. Virtually everything is Tacticool stuff now.
 
I've got a cold steel laredo, its quick in the hand and well made, I've used it quite a bit in the woods with no complaints. Its a good looking classic bowie. Here is a pic of it with a tomahawk

269048_2273053232266_1426711158_32559940_7591928_n.jpg


and if you like a damascus bowie another pic

285241_2273050312193_1426711158_32559936_4193826_n.jpg


take it easy
cricket
 
Calling the handle "ply wood" is a bit misguided.

It is not a solid single piece of hardwood. It is in fact, layers of wood and bonding agent (which is where people who call it "plywood" are coming from). Take layers of wood, and add a bonding agent like a strong epoxy, then press it and heat it to cure.

This, by the way, is similar to the construction of Micarta or G10, only the wood makes up the layers, not fabric or woven glass. Both of these materials are made into greatly stronger material (from a shock absorption, torsion, impact, temperature etc standpoint).

However, the stuff looks just fine (I have held and examined more than one). It is impervious to water, won't warp, crack, rot or split from exposure to moisture (which cannot be said of solid hardwood, which can swell, warp, rot etc due to exposure to moisture).

It is also better at resisting shock, and repeated stress.

There is a reason this same type of wood is used often in custom rifle stocks, especially for competition/target rifles. Because the addition of the resin, heat and pressure makes for a very stable, strong, shock proof, anti warping material.

I am also one of those who does not really like a welded/partial tang design. I would prefer the Laredo design with a full length hidden tang.

I owned one of the Tralimaster's in sanmai steel for more than a decade. I sold it when I moved on to bigger/better choppers (Busse), but it was a great blade.

The only thing I would have changed was the handle (I do not like Krayton.....not durable enough for me, and to soft and grippy........give me a nice micarta, or g10, or Resiprine C handle!!!! that stuff is so much better than Krayton).
 
The "little welded rod" Is actually a piece of tensioned steel cable. Apparently it was designed not only to improve balance but also to reduce the influence of shock on the tang. In theory, this tang is less likely to break than a full tang.
 
I heard the CS Natchez has the same tang construction as the Laredo. To take the San Mai isn´t a solution, as nothing will change. So, who will talk to Lynn Thompson and explain the issue? If he will produce both Bowies with a solid tang he would sell much more knifes.
 
They will probably need to have some of these knives being returned for repair/replacement before changing the design. As long as it works it wouldn't matter if they had some pink toothpaste in the handle holding things together.
 
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