Guess I'm not really done with Cold Steel . Just now ordered the 9.5" blade Drop Forged Bowie !

rje58 said:
I'm thinking about making some handle insets for the Drop Forged Bowie, and making them a little wider than the stock ones.
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The stock Faux Stag inserts are a bit cheesy , but I'd probably wrap the metal handle anyway .

The inserts look to be made to come out easily , but I didn't try it .

I'll be looking forward to pics of your work ! :)

I don't have big hands , so the handle fits me fairly well with my thin wrap .
 
Lynn says in his Drop Forged Bowie video that he really had to push to get this knife made due to tooling issues. Plus, it uses a high grade steel that has to be forged, so it is obviously not cheap to produce. I don't think this blade has been a huge seller. Any predictions on how long it will last before it's axed by GSM?

On a side note, I think it is a special blade because it is the last large Cold Steel bowie designed by Lynn Thompson, who seems particularly fond of it. It is definitely one of a kind and something that only Lynn could dream up and put on the market for an affordable price. Lynn is a product of the time he grew up and started a business in -- the 1950s through the 1980s -i.e. big, bold and flashy (maybe a little trashy with the faux stag, but hey:) ), and this knife pretty much personifies this. Especially as his last hurrah with Cold Steel.
 
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Albin said:
What's the red tape? Knives look great!
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tess_lawrie_fan said:
Probably self-fusing insulation tape. Beautiful!
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Yes ! It's self-fusing silicone tape . No adhesive , but bonds chemically only to itself . Comes in many colors ,thicknesses , and widths etc .

It's not very sturdy stuff , but very easy to remove or just add to .

Gives you a rubbery grip . Insulates and cushions , depending on how thick it's wrapped .

Works good for insulating and waterproofing electrical connections and for temporary plumbing and automotive hose repairs .

Best thing since duct tape ! :p
 
DocJD said:
Yes ! It's self-fusing silicone tape . No adhesive , but bonds chemically only to itself . Comes in many colors ,thicknesses , and widths etc .

It's not very sturdy stuff , but very easy to remove or just add to .

Gives you a rubbery grip . Insulates and cushions , depending on how thick it's wrapped .

Works good for insulating and waterproofing electrical connections and for temporary plumbing and automotive hose repairs .

Best thing since duct tape ! :p
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Got it, thanks! [beer]
 
Although I still take an occasional look at Cold Steel products on vendors websites, I believe my 2021 year Cold Steel buying spree worked out better than I had thought.
What I mean is, I really did succeed at picking up most of the items that were most desirable to me. Some of the items that were still left on that list towards the end of that buying spree, were the ones that were only kind'a/sort'a desirable to me, and after I did some more careful pondering, they simply got scratched off my list entirely.

I'm currently waiting to receive a couple non Cold Steel blades, one being a Kizlyar of Dagestan Russia made knife, and the other being a Blackjack knife, (produced by Bark River), in thr USA.
So, my collection is still getting some additions, but at a more modest pace, and most likely now to not include anymore Cold Steel products.

Still, I did thoroughly enjoy my splurge during 2021 in acquiring some Cold Steel products. Heck, I even purchased two duplicate Japanese made, (by Hattori), VG-1 San Mai III Trail Master Bowie knives, and am now thinking that my reasoning to get that extra one for future trading purposes, was pretty ridiculous, since I don't sell or trade my knives. But, it gave me a reason to buy that extra one anyway... In other words, I totally lied to myself to justify the purchase! That's when I should have realized that I had gotten my CS fill already 😅
Yup, 2021 Cold Steel buying was fun, but I am now definitely off that track 😊
 
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I have been watching and waiting for this knife ever since it was announced. It was a real let down when the smaller original version was discontinued. It was my favorite of the Drop Forged line. I purchased several more on clearance even though I already had one. I was really looking forward to the smaller dark grey model that never made production. At the time nobody knew what was waiting in the wings, the 9.5" dark grey with handle scales to boot!

There were a few forum members that purchased these knives when they first became available. But in general there didn't seem to be much interest or enthusiasm. Youtube reviews didn't inspire much confidence either. Then there were complaints regarding the "faux stag" handle scales, the curved handle, unsharpened swedge, even the GSM take over!

I was waiting for Donnie B All Day, who is a big fan of everything Cold Steel and Bowies in particular, to do a review and run this knife through his rigorous tests, but nothing. It wasn't until David C. Andersen of KnifeCenter reviewed this knife that there was a glimmer of hope. He was really excited and seemed to have a genuine affinity for this knife. He went so far as to choose it as his favorite knife of 2021.

So I began watching the price go up and down and when it hit just under $70 I placed my order. When it arrived I was more than pleased and am greatful that Lynn Thompson put in the time and effort to produce such a great knife. The handle is very comfortable and those "faux stag" scales that everybody rags on actually prorvide a great texture no slip grip. And if one is so inclined there is nothing stopping them from replacing these scales with ones of their choosing.

I did notice that the knife was difficult to remove from the sheath. But when I removed the belt loop attatchment it loosened up right away. I think that it bows the top area in such a way that the quillions bind against the tabs. I prefer sliding the sheath under my belt or in the waistband (sash carry) than using the belt loop.

That curved handle works perfect for the Cav draw (see video below). Just wrap fingers around the handle then push thumb against the top of the sheath and out comes the knife, nice and smooth. Works concealed in waistband or open carry under the belt. I might have a sheath made of leather with a frog or post but for now the Sexure-Ex is fine.

So in conclusion I like the knife, I like it a lot. Enough that I am probably going to get another one or two just in case they decide to stop making them in the future!

 
Man with no name said:
I have been watching and waiting for this knife ever since it was announced. It was a real let down when the smaller original version was discontinued. It was my favorite of the Drop Forged line. I purchased several more on clearance even though I already had one. I was really looking forward to the smaller dark grey model that never made production. At the time nobody knew what was waiting in the wings, the 9.5" dark grey with handle scales to boot!

There were a few forum members that purchased these knives when they first became available. But in general there didn't seem to be much interest or enthusiasm. Youtube reviews didn't inspire much confidence either. Then there were complaints regarding the "faux stag" handle scales, the curved handle, unsharpened swedge, even the GSM take over!

I was waiting for Donnie B All Day, who is a big fan of everything Cold Steel and Bowies in particular, to do a review and run this knife through his rigorous tests, but nothing. It wasn't until David C. Andersen of KnifeCenter reviewed this knife that there was a glimmer of hope. He was really excited and seemed to have a genuine affinity for this knife. He went so far as to choose it as his favorite knife of 2021.

So I began watching the price go up and down and when it hit just under $70 I placed my order. When it arrived I was more than pleased and am greatful that Lynn Thompson put in the time and effort to produce such a great knife. The handle is very comfortable and those "faux stag" scales that everybody rags on actually prorvide a great texture no slip grip. And if one is so inclined there is nothing stopping them from replacing these scales with ones of their choosing.

I did notice that the knife was difficult to remove from the sheath. But when I removed the belt loop attatchment it loosened up right away. I think that it bows the top area in such a way that the quillions bind against the tabs. I prefer sliding the sheath under my belt or in the waistband (sash carry) than using the belt loop.

That curved handle works perfect for the Cav draw (see video below). Just wrap fingers around the handle then push thumb against the top of the sheath and out comes the knife, nice and smooth. Works concealed in waistband or open carry under the belt. I might have a sheath made of leather with a frog or post but for now the Sexure-Ex is fine.

So in conclusion I like the knife, I like it a lot. Enough that I am probably going to get another one or two just in case they decide to stop making them in the future!

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I wasn't quite sure if I liked it at first but the DF Bowie has become a favorite. I've purchased tons of Bowies, custom and otherwise over the years but few have pleased me more than this one.
I hope it stays in the line but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't.
It may be a little "specialized" for some, being more of a fighter style Bowie.
I think Bagwell would've like it even without the sharpened clip.
He would've probably wanted thicker stock also but I bet he would like the overall feel in hand.
GSM Steel may not do anything else I'll like going forward but this one's a keeper.
 
I just bought the 6 1/2" Drop Forged Bowie a couple days ago. It's supposed to be here later this week. This adds to my current drop forged collection to the Survivalist, DF Hunter, and Boot Knife.

I haven't decided if I'll cut off the worse than useless upper guard like I did with my R1 Military Classic, making it a much more useful knife.
 
Tenbeers said:
I wasn't quite sure if I liked it at first but the DF Bowie has become a favorite. I've purchased tons of Bowies, custom and otherwise over the years but few have pleased me more than this one.
I hope it stays in the line but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't.
It may be a little "specialized" for some, being more of a fighter style Bowie.
I think Bagwell would've like it even without the sharpened clip.
He would've probably wanted thicker stock also but I bet he would like the overall feel in hand.
GSM Steel may not do anything else I'll like going forward but this one's a keeper.
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I remember reading your posts regarding your first impressions upon receiving this knife. It struck me as luke warm. Of all the forum members, you more than any other, seemed to appreciate the smaller version as much or more than myself. I know that a sharpened swedge would have made it that much better but Lynn must have left it the way he did to appeal to a larger audience. Lets face it, for every individual that trains martially there are probably thousands or tens of thousands of bushcrafters and campers and hunters who buy these type of knives.

The blade itself, besides thickness and sharp swedge, has a profile very similar to the Trail Master. The handle is what really sets it apart. The smaller version was said to be based on a custom knife in Lynn's private collection made by an Arkansas based knifemaker. And while the name of this Arkansas based knifemaker was never mentioned, I have a feeling that it is Jerry Fisk. If you visit his website you will see quite a few of his Bowie's with this type of handle. The guards are substantial and being one piece of steel, they aren't going to move or loosen up over time. Weight and balance are excellent for a knife this size. It literally floats in the hand and you forget that it's on your belt. Scales provide a slip free surface. In other words it's everything that I thought it would be and more!
 
Luke warm accurately describes my first impression.
After a few pattern drills,I realized what I had.
It had the in-hand feel that I'd been wanting for many years.
That was probably the biggest flip from an initial impression that I've ever had and it boggles my mind that I had that first reaction to it.

I do still like the original version and I wish it had been done in the new coating. It is a wicked cutter!
 
I have the original version of this knife and I think it's a pretty decent bowie. Light and fast and razor sharp and I think 52100 is one of my favorite knife steels. I owned a Mackinaw folder with the same type of fake stag handles and found it way to slippery but maybe they fixed that with this iteration. stay safe
 
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