Good reliable bowie

You simply can not go wrong with the BK-9 or the SP-10. I own both. I have batoned the living snot out of both with no issues. You will have to sharpen the SP-10, at least i did. Sheaths on both are good for stock sheaths. I have batoned with it since making my mods of a finger choil & jimping, no issues.

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The Mastiff said:
If you are stuck on 1095 than that rules out some excellent knives with very good, perhaps better than 1095 steel alloys. Some are as good, some maybe better but they will pretty much all perform as well as 1095, or better depending on your use.

Several Ontario knives in 5160. I like the Ranger RD 9, but there are more to choose from including the generation 2 models, all in 5160.

Excellent Browning Crowell Barker competition in 1080-1085 that otherwise meets your specs for about $130 stateside.

A bit above your cutoff is the L6 Svord Von Tempsky, Not finely finished but tough as hell, and an excellent performer.

If you can find an old Western 49 ( not the newer Camillus stainless models made before Camillus folded here in the US)

The Becker BK9 is excellent. At 9 inches it's not that far off from the 10" you prefer.

Back to Ontario they do have something that fits your needs in the Ontario SP 10 Marine raider bowie , 10" blade, .250. 1095, and looks similar to the old Western 49, but the Ontario is coated black. It's price is excellent at just under $60 U.S.

Also a A SP 5 Bowie , 10 inches, .250, and a price of $50 US.

KaBar has several, including an over 9 inch "big brother" which looks like a large sized Kabar marine bowie but has a serrated edge on the top of the blade in the rear area.

There are so many more to choose from.

What would I select from this list?

Price? Ontario SP10
Price no limit: Svord Von Tempsky at around $175
or the Hogue 9 inch A2 blade at around $200
Other top choices Becker 9 inch, Ontario RD 9 in 5160, or the Crowell Barker Browning Competition, probably the sharpest, deepest cutter out of the box.

To be honest though I own most and other than the Von Tempsky I can't pick a favorite unless you count my <$500 Fehrman Final Judgement in 3V..

Joe
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The 1095 is like a minimum requirement. Anything better is welcome ofcourse.
 
GingivitisKahn said:
BK9 for sure...

See it chop!
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Marvel as it snap cuts!
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Cringe as it goes all tactical on your backside!
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Grunt incoherently as it gets all paleo and whatnot!
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Salivate as it prepares snacks!
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Rest your buns on the ad hoc outdoor furniture it prepares!
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Wibble with delight as it batons the heck out of stuff!
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Bask in the warm glow of the fires it helps you ignite!
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Don your jeweler's loupe so you can keep up with it on the fine work!
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Hear the angels sing as it pops its Excalibur pose!
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Heck yeah you want one. :D



---

Beckerhead #42
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AWESOME! pictures !!! I like the spear one :)
 
pitdog said:
Check out those from Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works.
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Damn, those bowies are nice. But if I buy one of these ( the White River or Survival bowie would be my way to go ) i would not have anything left for the 18" Ontario machete i was gonna buy. Is the price on the site the cheapest ? Can you ship those to Europe ( non UK ) ?
 
You might find one on the Exchange, as I did. But they don't come up very often, and you better move on it when it does.

The price on the MMHW site is pretty much what you'll pay, if not more. I got lucky on this one, MMHW price with a Kenny Rowe Quad sheath, and it's a one-off custom with a modified grip and FFG....

I don't know what your knife laws are like where you are, you might want to do some googling to see if there are any prohibitions.

Best bet? Hit your local junk/antique/militaria shops, yard sales, swap meets. Keep your eyes open, read the forum a lot to get an idea of what's good and what's junk.

Good luck!

PS - Don't sweat the Ontario machete - They're a dime a dozen and will always be available. You can pick one up later.
 
Dang now that I think about it, James Terrio has done as does like the bowie style in a production style that might fit in your $300 window with your input.
 
AKC said:
You might find one on the Exchange, as I did. But they don't come up very often, and you better move on it when it does.

The price on the MMHW site is pretty much what you'll pay, if not more. I got lucky on this one, MMHW price with a Kenny Rowe Quad sheath, and it's a one-off custom with a modified grip and FFG....

I don't know what your knife laws are like where you are, you might want to do some googling to see if there are any prohibitions.

Best bet? Hit your local junk/antique/militaria shops, yard sales, swap meets. Keep your eyes open, read the forum a lot to get an idea of what's good and what's junk.

Good luck!

PS - Don't sweat the Ontario machete - They're a dime a dozen and will always be available. You can pick one up later.
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Thanks. The law in my country ( Netherlands ) says that i can have any knife except butterfly knives, knives who cut on both sides ( you can still get those legally sometimes ) and stiletto's.
 
Try the Cold Steel Trailmaster, the Laredo Bowie, or The Natchez Bowie, all in SK-5 Carbon Steel, all are very good knives, incredibly priced too. Flat ground, as well. Trailmaster has a 9+ inch blade, maybe 9.25 or 9.5 inches. Laredo Bowie has a 10.25 inch blade, I believe, maybe 10.5. The Natchez has a 11.75 inch blade, it's PERFECTLY balaced, it feels like a knife half it's weight! I have the laminated VG-1 steel, but am getting the carbon SK-5 soon. You cannot go wrong with any of them, nor the Becker BK-9, I have ALL OF THEM!! Hope this helps, have a nice day!
 
the rtak ii has a 10 inc blade although i would go with the bk9 for the money or the kabar bowie
 
go with the BK9, it feels more lively in the hand than you may think, it doesn't feel too bulky or uwieldy. Replace the handles slabs with the micarta ones, and you will be surprised how much it feels like a custom piece. Also look for the RTAK 2 or the ESEE Junglas. Let us kow what you decide. Pics are always welcome too.
 
The SP10. Google Marine Raider Failure, or sp10 failure, and look for broken sp10's on YouTube, then hear the crickets. They don't break. They come dull, but once you sharpen it, it will hold its edge as well as anything else out there. Not only can it chop as well as any other non kukri 10" knife out there, but it will stab better than ANY Busse in its size range (clip points are better stickers than drop points, anyone who tells you differently is an idiot, or a liar). So it is a knife that can chop and stab. It is a respectable slicer for its size, although ffg blades slice better than saber ground blade of the same thickness due to the finer edge (the Ka Bar LHB is a perfect example) but hollow ground blades slice the best.

From what you described, the sp10 would fit the bill best.
 
(CK-VTB) Von Tempsky Bowie 11 "
CK-VTB-500x.gif

A 1900 inerview with John Toovey, an ex Forest Ranger corporal, "That's one of old Von's bowie knives," he said. "He had a lot made for us at a blacksmith's in Auckland when the Forest Rangers were divided into two companies and he had command of me.
"You know, old Von was a terror with the bowie knife. He had learned to use it in Mexico and Central America. Certainly it came in handy in the bush, and as we had no bayonets it was comforting to know you had a good sticker on your hip for a scrimmage.
"I've had that knife more than thirty years. See how it's worn down. I've used it for all sorts of jobs, hacking bush tracks, pig-sticking, skinning sheep, cutting up my tobacco and my loaf of bread. It'll last my day, my boy!"
http://www.svord.com/
 
FYI; Zombie thread alert. . .

That being said -

gadunz said:
(CK-VTB) Von Tempsky Bowie 11 "
CK-VTB-500x.gif

A 1900 inerview with John Toovey, an ex Forest Ranger corporal, "That's one of old Von's bowie knives," he said. "He had a lot made for us at a blacksmith's in Auckland when the Forest Rangers were divided into two companies and he had command of me.
"You know, old Von was a terror with the bowie knife. He had learned to use it in Mexico and Central America. Certainly it came in handy in the bush, and as we had no bayonets it was comforting to know you had a good sticker on your hip for a scrimmage.
"I've had that knife more than thirty years. See how it's worn down. I've used it for all sorts of jobs, hacking bush tracks, pig-sticking, skinning sheep, cutting up my tobacco and my loaf of bread. It'll last my day, my boy!"
http://www.svord.com/
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There have been a lot of excellent suggestions from all price points (Ontario, Beckers, customs). Anyways, here is a very convincing Von Tempsky test -

[youtube]5r4E2n83dmk[/youtube]


Budget-version for consideration; Condor's Dundee bowie

CN100511HCnw.jpg


[youtube]JYYbb2SFoHk[/youtube]
 
untamed said:
FYI; Zombie thread alert. . .

That being said -




There have been a lot of excellent suggestions from all price points (Ontario, Beckers, customs). Anyways, here is a very convincing Von Tempsky test -

[youtube]5r4E2n83dmk[/youtube]


Budget-version for consideration; Condor's Dundee bowie

CN100511HCnw.jpg


[youtube]JYYbb2SFoHk[/youtube]
Click to expand...

I cannot lie, I am a large bowie whore. The svord is one that is on my "to get list".

However, I think that the sp10 is the best value out there for a large Bowie.

On a side note, I wish that Cold Steel would have moved manufacture of the Trail Master to Ontario after Camillus' collapse. Ontario is proof that quality production in the US can be competitive in pricing (while still maintaining that expected edge in build quality) over Chinese manufacturing.

I am a Cold Steel fan, but it is inexcusable on their part, that Ontario is producing a large Bowie, with better steel, kraton, and blade to tang transition than the Trail Master, and at a 3rd of the price (the SK5 version).
 
Nothing is wrong with the Trailmaster.
I have an old Carbon V model and it is wonderful. Only other thing I can recommend is a Bussekin. especially one of the larger SR-101 blades. They are exceptional and not too expensive.
 
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