First Impression Ka-Bar Large Heavy Bowie

C

Cyblade

Joined
Aug 16, 2001
Messages
1,221
I got my Heavy Bowie today and so far so good. I pulled out my Becker for the comparison. It's as thick as the BK-9 but feels alot lighter. The cutting edge is about 1/2" shorter than the bk-9 but the overall blade length is only maybe 1/4" shorter and it's maybe an 1/8 narrower. It came hair popping sharp but the handle is alittle bigger than I would like compared to the bk-9. The handle is a rubber type but it's not spongy and not checkered but should provide a good grip without hurting your hands. I would prefer the becker if I was doing alot of chopping because of the extra weight but the Ka-Bar would have more dexterity in the field and kitchen and if you were carrying an axe or machete than this knife would save a noticable amount of weight. Last but not least the sheath it's a very basic leather/coudura sheath with a belt loop on a swivel but it has what I would call a design flaw. The swivel is there to help the sheath move with your leg when its tied down however the two keepers are mounted on the belt loop so that when the knife is secured in the sheath the sheath wont move like it's suppose to. The good news is the knife fits really well in a bk9 sheath so if you hate the sheath there is other options. I'm going to go in the back and bang it around to see if it chops better than I think it will. Overall another knife to add to the great buys for under 50bux.
 
Have wanted one to compare with my BK9 and Ontario Marine Raider for a while.Unreal price.Don't know why I haven't jumped on one yet.
 
the heavy bowies seem to share the same specs as the ka-bar kukri and cutlass machete which is a rubber handle and 1085 / 52-54 hrc steel (don't know exactly as the bowies were removed from ka-bar's website), while a ka-bar camp knife features 1095 / 56-58 hrc, the beckers are even harder than that.
how do these compare? how will they perform at chopping and cutting? simply put: which is best?
 
Happy to hear you got one mate!

I've had the shorter one on order for a couple of months but no delivery yet... I thought they were thicker bladed knives - I was thinking like .25" but apparently they are thinner than that - like maybe 3/16"? Can you measure it?

Anyway, congrats dude!!!
 
Hello all

I've been waiting for a review of this blade since I saw it listed. Nice to know they are finally shipping and it's favourable so far.

Would anyone know if it's a full tang under that handle? or even what shape the tang is?

I know it's a long shot with a knife this new, but this is the place to ask :D

Best regards,
 
Sorry it took so long to respond. The edge on my bk9 was really thick and not what I would call sharp more of what I would call a chopping edge, the edge on the ka-bar is nice and thin. The tang I would guess is a narrow full tang as the handle completely covers the tang. I dont think this knife will fail unless you really try at it, of course Stamp could break a bowling ball by looking at it :) but I doubt anybody else could.
 
Cyblade said:
The edge on my bk9 was really thick ...
Click to expand...
That is the problem with lower cost productions, there tends to be some variance. The edge on mine was thicker than on the CU/7, but only slightly and still close to optimal in terms of cutting ability, 0.035-0.040", while still retaining the ability to handle heavy knot cutting and batoning. If the edge on yours is a lot thicker than I would suggest you return it and get a new one unless you want to reprofile it. It will make a very solid work knife with an edge of around 0.035" .

-Cliff
 
My BK9 was one of the 2nds that was sold by camillus I bought it knowing there would be something wrong, I've used it like this and it a bomb proof edge so I dont really mind much. If I ever get around to it I'll take it to a guy I know and have him reprofile the edge to a more all round edge.
 
I like the shape in the photo. I have actually picked up and looked at just
the Kershaw Outcast and the Becker BK-9. I like the feel of the BK-9, but
I like the finish and blade thickness on the Outcast, but don't like the handle on it, nor the very heavy forward weight.
Anyone know if there is a nice compromise between the BK-9 feel, a beefy grip, and looks kind of like this Ka-Bar heavy bowie, but with the finish on the
Outcast D-2?
 
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