Help me choose a bowie knife

My Father in Law has a Ruana with the copper tube like that. Definitely looks precarious at best!

any further insights on the Spanish Notch, and it's supposed use?

S'pose you could open a bottle of Moosehead with it if that guard werent in the way...:D
 
I think Bernard Levine (Not 100% sure) said that the notch was somehow used to assist either the loading of blackpower, or someother process involved with old rifles. Ask on his forum if you want to know for sure, although he did say (I think) it was on a theory.

Oh, and as far choices go, what about looking at a Linder or Puma. 440C steel, and nice stag handles for a lower price. And Maybe Marbles also. You've got A LOT of choices.
 
I don't think you could do much better than a mineral mountain white river bowie (just judging by their looks, and the reputation the brand seems to carry here)

whtrvrshthx.jpg
(borrowed from their website)

Edit: its available with a brass gaurd also....
http://www.mineralmountain.com/wrbowie.htm
 
The Trailmaster seems to have a good reputation except for the durability of the kraton handle. Cliff Stamp and others have reported that the kraton wears quickly and can come loose from the tang.

MMHW knives are very good, but the kydex sheaths are another story. They tend to loosen up quickly and the knives can slide out. This might not be much of a problem with a ten or twelve inch bowie, but shorter knives can be lost easily from such sheaths. I have a MMHW integral guard fighter, and the sheath is as loose as a goose. The knife will slide right out if I turn it upside down, and there is no strap to fasten and hold it in.
 
the MMHW White River is very close to the one I carry { I have a Proto type}
Man I have cut up cars and barrels with this and one of their old choppers. The WRB has a little more of a hilt than mine. .The price
is nice and they stand behine what they sell/
when I was in I carried an Assassin/& a Puma W.H. Some of my team mates also carried MMHW blades.Back in them days ya just did not have a big choice like you do now .Kbars and gerrbers 4/5s
regards
C
 
I would be reluctant to by one of the Atlanta Cutlery Bowies, even though they look very authentic. I live about an hour from the Atlanta Cutlery store, and once went over there to look at Museum Replica (same company) daggers.

I asked the clerk in the shop if the daggers could be sharpened, since they came with a dull edge. The clerk went to the back to ask someone. She returned and said that the Museum Replica blades could be sharpened, but not the Atlanta Cutlery blades, which she said, "can't take it".

So would you want a knife that "can't take" being sharpened?
 
You should take a look at the stuff Bill Siegle, and Bruce Evans are putting out. They are two great knife makers.

32070711inchbowiefighter.jpg

Bill Siegle
Oct01_03.jpg

Bruce Evans

n2s
 
I have orders with Matt Lamey, Terry Primos, and Bill Bagwell. They all make excellent blades, but you are in for a long wait.
I like the Cold Steel Laredo for everyday Bowie choppin' and whatnot. It also is slim enough to be fast and thrust well. 1/4" stock ain't too shabby neither. The handle feels a lot better than it looks. It is a proven design.
I have an old Western M49 Bowie as well (I think someone is selling one on the Exchange) and it is a great chopper. Bagwell's book shows you how to modify one to be a good fighter, as well, if you want a project.
If you go with the Camillus, let us know what you think! I've had my eye on one for a while.
 
How about a Muela ? Ok they are "only" 440C chrome vandium enriched steel, but my large one only set me back 78 euro !!! Great knife for it's price range.
 
Here is another example from Bill Siegle.

attachment.php

We called this one a yatagan, but it can just as well work as a large bowie fighter. The main knife is made from .25 inch 5160 and has a 15 inch blade, the companion is 0.125 inch CM-154 stainless with a 3-1/2 inch blade.

n2s
 
Originally posted by Walking Man
I think Bernard Levine (Not 100% sure) said that the notch was somehow used to assist either the loading of blackpower, or someother process involved with old rifles. Ask on his forum if you want to know for sure, although he did say (I think) it was on a theory.
Click to expand...

Yes, he postulated that the Spanish notch was to aid in the removal of a stuck percussion cap. Other's thought it was to help in certain types of rope work, or was pure decoration based upon certain Mediterranean designs.

Another vote for the W-49 Western, great knife.
:).
 
1960svintageWesternBowie.jpg


1960s vintage Western W49. Try to get an older carbon steel version of the knife.

n2s
 
Not sure I'd recommend this one for a user... I have two, one a safe Queen, the other a user that was reprofiled by a knifemaker for a full convex edge.
I have used it to lopp off dead branches from a tree and found several small nicks in the edge. When I talked with the maker I got it from, he seemed to think that maybe Camillus got the steel too brittle. Not being real educated on steels and they're treatment (I leave that to the guys that make 'em!) I can't say for sure what the real problem is.
So, I'm not sure I'd advise the OVB for a primary user... even though I find this style of Bowie to be my favorite shape and size...

Good luck!
 
Also on Bowie lore,

The brass back was actually a name plate inlaid into the back of the blade by some of the higher end makers. Some feel that folks misheard about this, and added on to the story, etc...:). Thus, the brass back parry strip was born.

:).
 
It was my understanding (which I would argue itself makes my statements suspect! :eek: ) was originally intended to add strength to the big blades they were originally found on. Seems the steel was either too soft or too brittle, depending on heattreatments, so the brass back was added for support and strength...

However, I won't swear to this... :cool:
 
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