Custom full size bowie knives - what do you have?

D

dr0

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
102
I'm considering ordering an 8" bladed bowie from a custom maker. It would be a user knife, not a collectors piece and I wondered what other members might have in the way of full-size bowies in their collections. I'm more focused on blades that are made to use rather than some of the amazing art blades that are out there with engraving, but happy to see 'em all. (I previously posted a "how nice is too nice to use" thread, and got some interesting answers. If you would like to comment on that here too, please do!)
 
hello. what are your intentions of using it ? that might help narrow down choices. i ask because 8" i think is on the low end of good chopping ability simply because of its length. i am sure everyone has different opinions, but i wouldent call an 8 inch bowie full size. to be well prepared in the woods, you are still going to need a small 2 or 3 inch blade, even a folding pocket knife to do things that the 8 inch wont do well. that being said, since you will already have something small, it would be more efficient to have something that does large tasks well. this is my user built in my shop, 10 inch blade. no keeper strap on purpose. all kinds of animals in the woods out here. the sheath is copper bound because i cut accidentally through the last one.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN9823.jpg
    DSCN9823.jpg
    84.2 KB · Views: 79
woodster said:
hello. what are your intentions of using it ? that might help narrow down choices. i ask because 8" i think is on the low end of good chopping ability simply because of its length. i am sure everyone has different opinions, but i wouldent call an 8 inch bowie full size. to be well prepared in the woods, you are still going to need a small 2 or 3 inch blade, even a folding pocket knife to do things that the 8 inch wont do well. that being said, since you will already have something small, it would be more efficient to have something that does large tasks well. this is my user built in my shop, 10 inch blade. no keeper strap on purpose. all kinds of animals in the woods out here. the sheath is copper bound because i cut accidentally through the last one.
Click to expand...

Hi Woodster

I fully and completely agree with you,when it comes "full size" Bowie,,,, I d expect minimum 10 inch blade, to maximum 14 inch blade. I am crazy about large Bowie knives too, it's my weakness. Your gallery is fantastic, you have surelly great skills to make knives man!
 
thank you seriousblades ! i used to make mostly large knives, they are my favorite too. i collect big ones also. i read bowies and battle blades by bill bagwell years ago and was hooked on them.
 
woodster said:
thank you seriousblades ! i used to make mostly large knives, they are my favorite too. i collect big ones also. i read bowies and battle blades by bill bagwell years ago and was hooked on them.
Click to expand...

There is something magical about large badass blades, I can't explain. Also, they are very rare to find in comparison to most ordinary small and mid sized knives.There is nothing more beautiful than well made large blade IMO. Thanks for your reply. What steels you prefer to work with on your large blades? What steels you ever work with?
 
great link. those would be some pricey users :) i work with 1084 & 1095. ( san mai only twice) the simpler the heat treat, the more confidence i have doing it and less opportunity for screwups. someday i might get the equipment to do stainless. i think there are collectors that avoid high carbon steels.
 
I'm a big fan of axes for chopping. I live in the Cascade Mountain region of Washington State, and so take frequent trips to the mountains and forests, usually by 4WD sometimes with extensive hike ins from nearest road to wilderness areas. i often have both a hatchet and ax in the truck, and either might be packed in (easier than carrying wood). So I probably deemphasize chopping as something for a big blade to do. Based on a bunch of threads here I guess if I was going to (for instance) drop the hatchet for a big chopping blade for my walk-in trips I'd consider the Kukri style blade, anyway.

So the Bowie is more for general purpose camp chores (sub chopping up firewood) and also general peace of mind in the woods and pride of ownership with the ever competitive and knife obsessed buddies. I've been carrying a Strider knife for a while but the military vibe is sort of out of place in my current state of mind.

Maybe I'll buy a cheap big 10" production Bowie to play around with and see how much I like that size, based on people's feedback here.
 
dr0 said:
I'm a big fan of axes for chopping. I live in the Cascade Mountain region of Washington State, and so take frequent trips to the mountains and forests, usually by 4WD sometimes with extensive hike ins from nearest road to wilderness areas. i often have both a hatchet and ax in the truck, and either might be packed in (easier than carrying wood). So I probably deemphasize chopping as something for a big blade to do. Based on a bunch of threads here I guess if I was going to (for instance) drop the hatchet for a big chopping blade for my walk-in trips I'd consider the Kukri style blade, anyway.

So the Bowie is more for general purpose camp chores (sub chopping up firewood) and also general peace of mind in the woods and pride of ownership with the ever competitive and knife obsessed buddies. I've been carrying a Strider knife for a while but the military vibe is sort of out of place in my current state of mind.

Maybe I'll buy a cheap big 10" production Bowie to play around with and see how much I like that size, based on people's feedback here.
Click to expand...

According your activities and article, I d recommend to you check out Chiruwa AngKhola Khukuri from HI,,,, when it comes to chopping, I can hardly think of some other blade that would surpass this one, I have 20 inch one from them, but that is a heck of steel for carrying arround, so I d go with 16,5 inch option instead, for long tours....

Check this blade out also on youtube channel of knifeguy, "chiruwa AngKhola strongest knife on the planet" recurved edge and it's momentum when you swing it eats the wood like butter
 
woodster said:
great link. those would be some pricey users :) i work with 1084 & 1095. ( san mai only twice) the simpler the heat treat, the more confidence i have doing it and less opportunity for screwups. someday i might get the equipment to do stainless. i think there are collectors that avoid high carbon steels.
Click to expand...

Man You are really master in what you do, not only knives look superb but, those leather sheaths you have done are astonishing! Very good prices of knives too!
 
Lon Humphrey pig sticker

IMG_5746.jpg


IMG_0819.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone for the replies to this thread, and for the links. "The list" postings are amazing, but as someone else said above the full Damascus steel knives with amazing engraving are not really ones I would consider using. I'm not sure the price on these beauties, but I'm thinking way over $1000 for most.

Maybe I'll go play in the production knife forums for a while :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top