Fixed blade wanted

S

samuraiprose

Joined
May 21, 2007
Messages
76
I've been looking for years for a knife of a particular design, but I never really found any matching my criteria.

What I'm looking for is actually of a simple, straightforward design. An 8" flat-back bowie blade, effective in chopping and slicing with a double hilt and a handle that conforms to the hand decently. A real butcher blade. I've always wanted this, but I could never find it.

Some of you may think that the Buck Chipped Flint Frontiersman immediately comes to mind, but I don't want a collector's piece. I want a workhorse that should last for a very long time. I've been considering taking this to a custom knifemaker, but I need some opinions before I go the whole nine yards with this idea. What steel do you recommend I use? Which knifemaker should I take this design to? Any additional comments are welcome.

Thanks in advance.
 
There are LOTS of makers here who could (and have) made knives like that, and lots of steels that would work for what you have outlined. Sorry, I know that's not much help, but much depends on your budget and patience. The good news is that shopping and learning is at least half the fun. So is working with the maker once you've decided on one.

What was suggested to me (the knife I wanted was very similar to yours) was to hang out on the maker's forums and the custom forums and look for makers whose work you like and whose prices you can afford. If there's more than one, you can talk to or email them and see who you feel like going with (look at their sheath work too).

For me, I ended up on Burt Foster's waiting list- not that I can afford him- for what I've decided on I will probably end up selling half my collection to pay for! But the bottom line is I know he can make the knife I want, he has an impeccable reputation, and I trust him and his knives from previous dealings.

I considered a few other makers who showed some knives I liked and who probably would have cost less, but when they didn't respond to emails, or didn't send pictures as promised, I decided I didn't want to count on that kind of customer service for my knife.

Some people are more patient than I am and get some very nice knives. It all depends on you, but I have found that that the more I put into a knife (even when it's going to be made by someone else) the more likely I am to get what I want and the more I get out of it. Have fun!
 
My personal preferance would be for a stainless steel blade from the maintenance viewpoint coupled with a stainless guard.

A cheaper handle material would be one of the micartas, maybe brown canvas and a leather sheath.

My own bush carry bowie knife has Iron wood handle scales but them I make knives and can put anything on that I like.

George
 
Chopping and slicing are often at odds with each other - unless we're talking vegetables.

I would recommend a knife with a thickness of 3/16" or less and flat ground. A stainless or coated high carbon steel will be easier to maintain.

Here is a knife that meets that criteria but unfortunately is no longer available - Cold Steel Bush Ranger 8A.

ColdSteel1.jpg


I like the Ontario Rat 7 - the edge on this knife is thin enough to do some limited slicing and chopping.
 
Great eye, MVF! I'd never seen Burt Foster's works before, but I was impressed with this one:

http://www.burtfoster.com/bowies/bowie_33.htm

Brilliant. Not quite what I was looking for, but nice nonetheless. I'd swap out the hilt for something more my taste, but it looks like a real hefty chopper. I like the look of some of his bowies. Real beautiful, brutal blades. I just may come to him for my design, too, or just get one of his preexisting designs like the one above just because I like it so much. Thanks for the suggestion. Out of curiosity, what was the general price tag that you were given for one of Foster's blades?

Also, again, out of curiosity, what was your design?
 
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