EDC Bowies?

S

steelscout30

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Aug 1, 2006
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I've seen quite a bit recently about carrying a bowie-style knife inside the waistband with sheaths like River City's Southern Comfort (correct me if I'm wrong...) and with the belt pegs going a variety of different ways under looser shirts and clothing such as coats. I thought it was a good idea and had some merit to it, especially in bad weather when such a knife could be useful in an emergency situation. What affordable, moderately priced production bowie would you recommend for such carry, and, are there any other sheaths available for such carry? Thanks for the help. God bless you and America.
 
Scrapyard Dogfather is a nice inexpensive bowie but it is more a chopper than a fighter.
 
One of the best I like and use is the Perrin Bowie by Spyderco in a Mike Sastre [ River City Sheaths ] "drawpoint" sheath.

Fast as a cat to out and using it [ accessibility ] from a closed garment and faster still from an unbuttoned shirt, easily hidden all day and comfortable as hell.

I'll also use Mikes Southern Comfort made for one of my bigger bowies ocassionally as well when I'm in the mood.

Brownie
 
The first question that you ned to answer is, "How big do you wish to go? How big can you legally go?" I know of people who carry the Ontario version of the Bagwell Hells Belle inside their waistbands or belts, hidden under kackets or shirts.
 
Check out the C.S. Loredo Bowie. It is amazing how easy blades this size are able to hide under thin clothing. It takes some experimenting on the right spot to pack it. There are a lot of bowie style blades out there and from your post, you want something that gives you more versatility. I would give Mike Sastre a call or p.m. or one of the other forum members here, bowie authority Dwight McLemore.
 
Dwight wrote a book on "Advanced bowie Techniques" it is a great book. This book is filled with 100's of beautiful line drawnings. With the line drawings is a description of each phase of the "engagements". The book was written in 2006 and is very current in its presentation.

Mike Sastre. I brought a Hell's Belle and a Soutern Comfort sheath together. Mr. Sastre sells these together and I strongly recommend this combination. Please talk to Mike about sizing. If you are vertically challenged you probably should go for a slightly shorter blade. Talk to Mr. Sastre and he can give you great advice.

I have a Cold Steel Laredo. I used it to kill boars. This knife is interesting and heavier than the Hell's Belle. The Hells Belle is more delicate and a pure fighter. I believe that Mike Sastre can provide a Laredo and southern comfort sheath together. So you you do not have to buy a Hell's Belle or a Laredo and then order a sheath from another person. It is nice to buy a complete package. When you buy a hell's belle Mr. Sastre does a few mod's to the stock knife.

Again I strongly recommend the book and the sheaths.

Regards,

Timber Man

Post Script-----There is a school of thought that a heavier blade might be favored over the light blade. Dwight McLemore who is found on these forums has interesting information on weight , balance and handling. I think not being an expert that fighting bowies are and should be custom fitted to the person. A 6-3 thin person is extirely different than a 5-7 chunky person.

A big knife to me is a world of difference than a EDC folder. With a quick cut a wrist could be severed. This would end a fight rather quickly.
 
I'd advise against a Kydex belt-peg sheath. You can't draw the blade without pressing against the sheath, or else you'll draw a sheathed blade. Leather belt-peg sheaths are cleared easier. :thumbup:
 
tyr,

Gonna have to seriously beg to differ with you on that last one if it is one I built, and I'm sure other SC owners will say the same. The Southern Comfort sheath is made to work like a broke-in Bagwell leather sheath. It takes at least two weeks of EDC to break in one of Bill's leather sheaths so it will release the knife when drawn from concealment. Yes, belt pressure is part of the equation, but does not have to be overly tight - no tighter than a corresponding leather sheath would need. I do the equivalent of at least 25 draws from concealment in the final fitting stage of every Southern Comfort that leaves here. Making one of these and having it work properly is a very tricky proposition, - not many people try it, and I haven't heard of anyone doing it successfully yet. Fit - sheath will cling to the blade, yet release easily when drawn from concealment, have "freeplay" around the blade, and have a "no rattle" lock-up. That's a lot going on in a sheath. Final fitting can take minutes, hours, or days. I had one Ontario Midnight that fought me for months. The factory sheaths for the Ontario Bagwells and the Laredos actually break in too loose if worn a lot. I've also seen some of these where the front 3-6" has come through the sheath (also went through one gentleman from Detroit's $700 leather coat). If by some way outside chance that you have one of my Southern Comforts that doesn't work the way you want it to, send it in for a free fitting. The Southern Comfort works for knives with blades 6" and above, but really starts "gettin' good" at about 8", and gets better as blade length approaches the limit YOUR "sweet spot" will support. I wouldn't be making so many of these if they didn't work. Here's a Laredo in Southern Comfort.
 
Gonna have to seriously beg to differ with you on that last one if it is one I built, and I'm sure other SC owners will say the same. The Southern Comfort sheath is made to work like a broke-in Bagwell leather sheath.

Yup, Mikes SC's are superb and let the blade release exactly as he said.

In fact I have one of the SC's like Mike showed above for the Laredo, one for my Bagwell and one for a custom bowie I had made. They all work the same, releasing the blade when you want it from day 1.

Brownie
 
I added a second stud that goes below the belt on my bowie scabbard to help prevent this as well.
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The combination of wooden scabbard, swelling belly to the blade, and extreme length mean it can sometimes get slightly caught when drawing in a real hurry, and the second stud keeps the scabbard in the belt. That, and it also helps in general, like when you sit down, the scabbard won't work its way upward too much. The second stud gives me a little peace of mind, and I have not yet found any drawbacks after years of constant carry, so why not?

Also note in the picture above, the top stud is too small for this rig, and it sometimes slips through my belt if I wear it too loose. I'm designing my next one differently; more of an elongated teardrop shape rather than a round button. And, I never officially finished this scabbard. It really needs metal reinforcement at the throat and tip (since it's made of wood). I have constant problems with the wood splitting at the mouth.
 
I bought a Bagwell Gambler for that purpose. Its a real sticker. Lots of reach and all that. It sits in my drawer. I carry a CS Vaquero or a RAT-3 instead. But one day I might carry the big bad Bagwell!
 
the possum;

How you been sir?

I remember from years past you were into those looooong pig stickers:D

Brownie
 
What steel are those Ontario bagwell bowies made from?
Are those stud sheaths comfortable when sitting or getting in and out of a car?
I have wanted a true fighter style bowie for a while but I thought the Ontario's were 440A and would be uncomfortable and that has put me off.
 
Yes, Victor, that's one of my Southern Comforts. Everybody "knows" you can't carry a Bowie concealed, but with a rig like this , you can do it in shorts and t-shirt once you find YOUR "sweet spot". Takes a little experimentation.
 
I have seen Mike with a full sized Bagwell in a SC sheath in shorts and t-shirt and you would not know it was there. Bill Bagwell was is a master at conceiling a big bowie, and Mike is a Master at making a sheath that makes concealment of a big bowie easier than most folks would think.
 
Gentlemen, pls. forgive my ignorance, but this thread strikes at a question I have had for a long time, to which I have been unable to find the answer anywhere else.

I have been interested in antique American weapons for many years, bowie knives included, but have never been able to get a definitive answer to the the question of how the belt stud on old sheaths was meant to be used. I think I am getting the idea here, but would like to be sure. Was the stud at the throat meant to engage a frog, inserted into a hole in the belt, or just stuffed beneath the belt? The latter option has allways struck me as iffy, given that men in the ninteenth century held their pants up with suspenders, belts were worn, largely, simply as equipment harness. If I am right there, this would mean that the knife could easily slip under the belt and end up on the floor?

I am also unclear as to how this all adds up when carrying a ginourmous blade inside the pants. Does one just use the stud as above, relying on it and pressure from the waist band to keep the knife from slipping through?

Thanks very much for your kind attention.
 
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