Help me pick a bowie!

Vampire Hunter D

Vampire Hunter D

Joined
Nov 26, 1999
Messages
406
The contenders:

The mexican bowie, http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/images/400534.JPG

Ontario knives spec line bowie, http://www.ontarioknife.com/specplus_pg1.html

Ka-Bar heavy bowie, http://www.wholesalehunter.com/product/kabar/kabardes/heavybowies.htm


I want this knife mostly for martial purposes, maybe occasional work, nothing heavy. Ideally I'd like to have a 9-10" blade about 15" OAL and about 16oz. My first choice is a OVB Camillius/Fisk Southwest bowie, but there's no way I can drop $250-300, I'm setting aside $10 a month until I can afford one. I did some math and I can spend about $50, after saving up a bit, not including shipping.


The mexican bowie is, in the words of the guy at By the Sword, fully tempered 1085, full tang, and designed to be used. Comes with an edge, but not a sharp one and is 16oz. this product is made by Windlass Steel crafts and that leaves me a little worried. At best I've heard that they are hit or miss in quality. And I'd have to enlist the help help of one of yous sharpmakers.

Ontario knives are decent that I've seen, but they are ugly and heavy. Other than that they're the right size. the Fighter is nice but a little too small in the blade area.

Ka-bar is one of the best buys for the money that I've seen, but the knife is ugly and the handle possible too large. Right on in the weight dept. though 0.9 lbs.

Now there is also the Trisul. It fits the bill for reliability and fightablity, but at $35 above my limit is it worth it? It's not also what most would call a bowie, but I'm willing to bet that some of our ancestors would. And it's rare, I don't have the time to try and shark one.


So what do you think?
 
if you are not in the market for an HI bowie interpretation which sounds like a possibility for what you want:

i've been fairly impressed by the hanwei/cas iberia bowie range, traditional historical designs. while i have not 'torture tested' them, blued, etched or hardness tested them, they seem to be well made and reasonably priced. the model names are based on the blacksmiths surnames in general, the horse/gator based on a traditional riverboatman motif ([font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"I'm half-horse, half-alligator, and I can whup anybody in the house"[/font]). the vicksburg based on a southern civil war variant. there is a yankee civil war model, but i ain't gonna mention that one.


PC-2211.jpg

horse/gator, 9 1/2" blade 12 oz
PC-2215.jpg

vicksburg, 9 1/4" blade, 10 oz.
PC-2187.jpg

chevalier, 9" blade, 14 oz.
PC2210.jpg

bell, 11 1/2" blade, 16 oz.
PC-2189.jpg

hunter, 8 3/4" blade, 12 oz.

these are mostly designed as examples of 19th century fighting knives rather than general purpose camp knives, tho i'm sure they'd fit the bill as long as you are not chopping wood or prying (get an angkhola for that) and as a martial arts knife, i'd say to ol' crocodile dundee 'you call that a knife? this is a knife! as i pull out my bell...... (or my 20" HI kobra as the mood stikes me)

i've got the horse/gator, and bell models, all carbon steel blades, all with leather sheaths, bronze (not brass ) fittings, full tang (3/16 on the smaller horse/gator - 1/4 on the bell) and may get the chevalier next tho i feel the need for another khukri coming upon me now that my paypal account has been verified i'll start haunting yangdu's specials with the rest of the sharks.
 
For around $50, I would go with the Western (made by Camillus) bowie. I see them on Ebay all the time. It's the model W49. They still sell them today, but they are stainless steel. Here's an example of the older, carbon steel model. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43326&item=6544399166&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=88905&item=6543075027&rd=1


If you want the modern stainless version they are here for $79
http://www.crknives.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=crs&Category_Code=B

Good luck!

Steve
 
Hello VHD,

I can reccomend Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works ( Ted Frizzell )......I have 6 knives and 1 axe....they are well made and reasonablly priced when you can find them ....here is a link to krissblades sale

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthrea...93377&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

here are 2 from feepay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43325&item=6545454309&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42576&item=7169088781&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

enjoy

russell lawrence :)
 
Of those three the Mexican looks good. If you could afford it, I'd save up for the Ontario Bagwell line, they're more "martial."
 
I like the Bagwell's, too. You see them on eBay for less than the street price occasionally. I had not seen the Hanweis - nice attention to historical detail. Good luck.
 
Id get a trishul. I think its probably the best fit for what you want and its good quality and good price too.

Actually, Dan, how much might it cost to have a 100% replica of a Musso Bowie made?
No special materials, just a basic knife....
 
This might be off the mark but Swamp Rat Knives just released the Rat Daddy (top knife) that pretty much fits your size criteria and is one first class work knife in your price range, you might want to check it out at https://www.shop.ratknives.com :D

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Unless am misreading, he said his budget is $50, exclusive of shipping.

On the other limb, I'd save longer and buy better quality. But that's just me.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Unless am misreading, he said his budget is $50, exclusive of shipping.

On the other limb, I'd save longer and buy better quality. But that's just me.
Click to expand...
Right you are Thomas I saw the $250 to $300 but missed the budget of $50, well the Rat Daddy is out :eek:
 
All the ones that you gents have posted are really nice, but too much. I've looked at the Rat Daddy and it's awsome, but the Fisk bowie is more my style and I have no doubt about its quality. All of the Swamp Rat line is top notch in my book. But for this my eventual money goes to Camillius, provided there are any left by the time I can afford one.

I had an H.I. bowie once and it was too heavy for me. I had a Rose once too and it just wasn't what I thought it would be.

The western is nice and sturdy but not my style, plus all of the auctions I see usually end up at around $60-70.

The only "problem" I have with the Trisul is that I like big fat blades.

The Mineral Mountian line has always caught my attention and everyone seems to like them.

Looks like I'll have to think on this awhile longer. Any further ideas are more than welcome. Thanks guys.

- D
 
Hi Guys
I know they are both over the $50 limit but any of the Ontario Bagwell line are great value, and the Cold Steel Laredo Bowie is a personal favourite. I have also modified a western W49 as Bill Bagwell suggests in his book, the changes result in a vastly improved weapon.
YMMV
Phil
 
Vampire Hunter,

Have you considered a Becker Knife & Tool BK9 or BK7? They are in your price range and come shaving sharp. For around $90 you can consider the Brute or Cold Steel Trailmaster.
 
I'd put a vote in for the BK's I have a 9 that lives in the trunk of my car and has really held up well and is a great user :eek:
 
The Camillus knives are well made. They don't quite have the same feel as a custom version, but you get pretty good bang for the buck. The fit and finish isn't flawless, but it's reasonable. If I remember correctly the spine thickness is 3/16, I can't remember the steel.

In short you get a lot of knife for the money and decent fit and finish.

Matt
 
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