Here's my Bowie knife choice

B

Big Ugly Tall Texan

Joined
Jan 27, 2006
Messages
107
I decided to go with the Western Bowie and then grind off that little dip at the end. Later, I'll have it outfitted with an articicial stag or artificial ivory grip.

Western49.jpg


The stainless blade bothers me a bit, but not that much.

Of course, I'll sharpen that leading edge or false edge, or whatever you want to call it. I also plan to change that scabbard. When I get this project done, I'll post a photo.
 
those are fun knives. They look great, and they throw pretty good too!
 
Yes, please post pics! I modified my Western Bowie in a similar fashion, except I didn't touch the blade. I cut the sheath for inside the belt, high on the right hip carry, cut off the guards and sanded down the grips. I didn't lower the point, as I'm not concerned with knife fighting or thrusting. This one is for survival/hiking in the woods, so the heavy chopping blade is perfect as it is, as far as I am concerned. I think you will like this set up once you are done.
 
Good choice.
That little bird beak at the end is functional. It will help the knife to stay in your hand when you swing it.
A feature that has been on big knives for a long time.
You may want to live with it a while before you go to work on it.

Enjoy it and come back when you're ready for a custom :D
Or just another...can't have just one knife ;)
 
Bill Bagwell in his book 'Bowies, Big Knives, and the Best of Battle Blades' shows how he modified one of these. You may find it of some interest.
 
I look forward to seeing how this turns out when your all done, The grips should look really good in ivory or stag or bone.
 
If the stainless bothers you(I don't like these knives in stainless either), why don't you get yourself one of the older chrome vanadium carbon steel versions. You can get one at just about any gun/knife show for $50-100, depending on condition.
 
If you take out the beak at the end of the handle you may consider putting a turks head knot there to secure it to your hand. I did that to my GF's non traditional Kukris and it works very well as well as giving it a bit of an exotic flavor.
 
I have smallish hands for a man who stands 6-3 and weighs 255, so I might be able to hold the knife either blade up or down with the birds beak still on it. I'll have to see. Like I have said, I had one of these when I was in high school, but I can't remember what I did with it.
 
sounds like a good plan. All I did with mine was cut the corved parts of the guard off and make a new sheath. It's one of the stainless ones from when coleman bought them. I have put it through some rough use and it's kept up. I would like to get one of the older carbon ones if I ever have the extra money so I don't have to explain to my wife why I bought the same knife again.
 
Bagwell's article was good. I have it in SOF from the first time around.
Like I said, live with it for a while before you decide.
If it were mine the big guard would go. Brass is a whole lot easier to DIY, than steel.
Keep us posted :D
 
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