custom bowies

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Cliff Stamp

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Who currently makes Bowies that are not strictly fighters but are designed as camp or heavy duty utility knives? Bare bones design, nothing fancy, no decoration, just pure function. Toughness and cutting ability, strongly preferred over just pure edge holding, as a little extra maintaince is not a problem.

-Cliff
 
A.J.Hubbard,Tim Hancock,Harvey Dean and Roger Green are a few that come to mind.
Bob
 
I agree with Strider, all makers he recomends are vry good. However, for a "plain jane" but custom user I would call Tim Zowada and see if he had a heavy duty "therapy" model kicking around.

Very good value. None cut better.

Tims "therapy" model fits your description perfectly.
 
Hi Cliff,

First question is, how much are you willing to spend.

Most of the guys mentioned by the other posters are excellent makers and their carbon steel bowies start at about $650.00. Not to mention you get to wait several years!

Let me know what price range you are looking at.

Les
 
I don't know about exact bowies, but I have a couple makers that make something pretty close...first is Rob Simonich, who makes great knives of just about any steel and in any pattern. He pictures a lot of his custom work at www.simonichknives.com. Another maker that comes to mind is MadPoet Custom Knives (Mel Sorg), who works mainly in D-2 (I am ordering two blades from him as kit knives, and have heard great things about his work). Hos camp knife is rather Bowie-esque, and goes for a meager $150. He will grind any blade you can think of at a very reasonable price. His webage is www.angelfire.com/mn/madpoet/

Give them both an email and see what comes of it (both are very prompt at returning mail, although Mel's had a few problems with his server lately..should be fixed now, though).
Steve
 
Why don't you try Ted Frizzell at Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works. His 5160 Bowies are not only reasonably priced but one of the toughest "using" Bowies available. Ted's number is 501-839-2516.
 
One I bought awhile back was from Dr. Jim Hrisoulas at Salamander Armoury. http://atar.com
He call it a Rifleman's Knife.

This Bowie style blade is
12" long, 1 1/2" wide with Crown stag grip only. Bronze or Nickel silver double branched guard. A truly impressive piece forged from 1/4" thick 1095.
Click to expand...

I liked it alot and for $220+$5.50 s/h
for a hand forged blade

------------------
-Greg Johnson
ICQ#4236341

 
Les, I am not that concerned about price. Bottom line I am not looking for decoration, I don't want ivory handles, rare metals, engraving etc. Nothing like that. Performance over looks. 10" blade a min., with a nice long, thick comfortable handle.

Everybody else, thanks for the suggestions. I will be collecting all of these up and making some phone call the summer.

-Cliff
 
Cliff- Tim will have a "therapy" model on hand occasionally. They are first come/first serve, no wait. They are very reasonably priced, and very plain as far as "decoration" goes. You WONT find a better cutting knife anywhere at any price.

He makes them for "therapy" from the stress created by making his high end stuff, hence the name.

Tim's link is at the bottom of the "custom makers" link page on this site.

If you can catch Jerry Fisk at a show, his Arkansas Camp knife, or Packer model would also be hard to beat for a user, but they are on the expensive end for a "user".
 
Cliff,

Are you looking for a traditional look, or just function?

If I were looking for a big camp knife, I think I would try to get to some shows. Whenever I get to a show, I invariably find some maker that I have never heard of before, with a great basic big camp knife on his table with a really great price tag on it.

I think it was Knive Illustrated that ran a series of articles comparing hand made camp knives.

You might give some thought to emailing Ernie Mayer at Black Cloud knives. The guy knows how to grind a great bowie out of A-2, and he would be just as happy to do one in a chopping weight blade. That 10" third generation Fighting Bowie that I had would have made a beauty of a camp knife without the sharpened clip. I think it might have made a beauty of a camp knife anyway, but Ernie could make a better one. I would have Ernie make me one, but I keep thinking about a Busse BM just to try out INFI.

I guess, ultimately, the two guys I would like to have a big L-6 bowie from are Larry Harley or Wayne Goddard.

Harv
 
Steve, function. I have heard Harley's name around before. I have seen examples of his combat bowies before but they are not exactly what I would be looking for from a utility point of view. L6 is reason enough to get interested in an of itself though. A net search only turned up some of his neck knives. Are there pictures of his large bowies on line anywhere?

-Cliff
 
Contact Larry via email, he has some .jpg photos of his large bowies. The ones ive seen were more fighter/combat bowies.

Heck, i think i have some .jpg's loaded, i will try and send them to you.
 
I have on hand one neck hanger from Mel Sorg, which is a long way from being a Bowie. It was ground from D-2 planer blade stock. Have not used it (it's for our giveaway) so I can't discuss its cutting ability, etc. It could be improved IMHO relative to "fit and finish" however. Maybe his Bowies are better.
 
Chiro75 and others: I'm not backing down from my previous post, but just after sending it, found more conversation re Mel Sorg's knives. As mentioned, I have only seen one of his knives. Now I realize he makes his knives rough and ready, a la Dan Winkler, in a sense, and I understand why the blade wasn't finished "real cool."
 
Bud, did he describe it to you as being a bowie? As for the fit and finish they are rough, but again what did you ask for?

-Cliff
 
I have 2 of Mel's MadPoet knives. They both carry some "frontier" flavor as he leaves a shadow of carbonizing from heat treating and also some light grind lines.
Personally, I think the hint of primitive adds to the appearance.
The "fit" on mine are excellent re: handle material(he makes a nice sheath too), the "finish" is just what I said it was, slightly frontier- not sloppy.
For "using" knives, Mel's are a treat to cut with, balance beautifully in the hand, and don't cost an arm and a leg.
I've got another one coming from Mel soon.
 
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