Hanwei Outrider Bowie and CS Laredo Bowie

Gunfucius

Gunfucius

Joined
Jul 19, 2006
Messages
812
I recently became interested in getting some kind of bowie with a blade at least 10.5 inches long that looks fairly traditional. Ideally, I'd like a bowie that has a 14.5-15 inch blade, but I haven't found one like that yet. The Hanwei Outrider and Cold Steel Laredo Bowie are the closest ones to what I'm looking for that I've found. The only thing that I'm hesitant about with the Hanwei Outrider is the 440C blade steel. Do you think that using stainless steel on a blade that long will compromise its strength?

With the CS Laredo Bowie, I have heard of some issues with the tang, but can't seam to recall what they were at the time. Any information about that will be appreciated as well.

Oh yeah, and other alternatives to these two options are welcome as well.;)

Thanks in advance.:)
 
what i read on here about the cs laredo was it had a partial tang with a wire welded on to hold on the handle. i have no first hand experience with either knife though.
 
I've both and can say the laredo is a far superior knife. The checking on the hanwei makes it quite uncomfortable and it doesn't really come with an edge as such so it would need quite a bit of reprofiling. The Outrider does hang really well off a belt, though the meta throat hasn't been filed back nicely on mine so the edge scrapes along it when you draw so all your sharpening is of no avail :D. For a user knife I would def go for the Laredo. Much nicer in the hand and nicer balance :D
 
Crap, sounds like they both suck.:( Found a picture on google of the tang/ handle connection of the Laredo, and let me say, I am NOT impressed. Little stubby tang with nothing but a small wirey thing holding the handle on.:eek: I also read a thread where a few members here had their Laredo handle loosen up a lot over time. What was Cold Steel thinking making a hard use knife with a tang like that?:confused:

Don't like the idea of the edge of the Outrider scraping against the throat of the scabbard, either.:barf:

I might look into an Ontario Helle's Bell bowie, but I'm still trying to convince myself that 440A isn't THAT bad.:D On the plus side, I do have a Cold Steel Prolite folder in 440A that takes and holds a screaming edge. Does anyone know how good Ontario's heat treating of 440A is?

Thanks to the two guys that responded so far, you've told me all I need to know about the :thumbdn:Outrider:thumbdn: and the :thumbdn:Laredo:thumbdn:.
 
I've beat my laredo about a lot and it's fine, I mean a lot chop down quick a few trees and one I suppose has to remember it's a fighting knife too I suppose :D. Could you send me that link about the laredo tang though please :D

Cheers,
Pootsy
 
I don't know what you are willing to spend, but for around $350 you can get a custom bowie, 10.5" blade of 5160 carbon steel, that has a great clean and traditional look from Ray Laconico. Look over in the Makers Forums and look under fixed blades for sale, and also in the knifemaker gallery.
 
By the look of it the tang is a threaded one on it too and I doubt whether it'd be thick and would take a lot. I think it's lovely to look at but defintely not a practical knife. Handling or edge wise. I meant the link for the pics of the laredo tang :D
 
I can't seem to find the pic of the Laredo tang anymore on google images, but I do know that it was on imageshack, so you could probably search there and find it.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top