i'm thinnking about getting a bowie

H

hbattousi89

Joined
Sep 29, 2010
Messages
10
i really want to get a bowie and i found the Hibben highlander bowie for 50$.
has anybody had this knife before? any recommendations besides this one?
im willing to play up to 100 bucks

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Maybe if you could tell us what you think a Bowie looks like we could help more.

Also, if you tell us what you want to do with your Bowie, that would also help us help you.
 
someone gave one of the highlander bowies to me years ago, its been in its sheath ever since. not a real useful blade or shape. you would be much better off buyin a second hand cold steel laredo bowie, or a old western bowie, a case bowie. any number of bowies in your price range. almost all of them better than the highlander.

take it easy
cricket
 
For a user I'd look at Becker, Ka-Bar, Ontario. All offer heavy duty, carbon steel bowies for under $100. Oh, and welcome to Bladeforums.

Frank
 
skip it, it's just a wall hanger.

boker has a few decent options for 100 or less. kabar has a few also and they're usually a pretty safe bet for decent knives.
 
I have a K-bar bowie but for me it is just a wall hanger. It's very nice for about 45 bucks. I'm sure it could do great as a self defense blade. But a BK7 is a real bowie meant for really hard work as well sticking bad guys
 
I like the look of it, but just don't have a great feeling about ANY of the inexpensive Gil Hibben Bowies. Keep in mind that 420 is seen as a soft steel for knives. Great knife if you're just going to look at it on the wall. Is it for the wall or work?
 
These may not be the Davy Crockett/Alamo style, but they be some Big A$$ blades :D

My "Bowie's"

Becker BK 9 (9 inch blade) aprox $75
Cold Steel Recon Scout (7 inch blade, 5/16 thick) SK 5 version about $100

Both great knives for the dough. BK 9 is one of my favorites. For a big knife it handles well.




DSCF4735.jpg
 
I have been thinking of getting a bk9 to keep in my truck with my bug out bag (or stuck in the woods bag) I am guessing they are worth it? Are tehy a better choice over a Rat-7
 
i've also heard that 440 stainless is also a bad steel for knives for edc/outdoor use. is there any other metals i should stray away from?
 
markpmc said:
I like the look of it, but just don't have a great feeling about ANY of the inexpensive Gil Hibben Bowies. Keep in mind that 420 is seen as a soft steel for knives. Great knife if you're just going to look at it on the wall. Is it for the wall or work?
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i've also heard that 440 stainless is also a bad steel for knives for edc/outdoor use. is there any other metals i should stray away from? i want one for camping/outdoor use
 
hbattousi89 said:
... i want one for camping/outdoor use
Click to expand...

Bam - Here's my current shopping list for 'coated' bowie blades.

ESEE Junglas - over budget a bit
Becker BK 9 - in budget
Ontario Marine Raider SP10 - in budget
SOG Tech Bowie - both coated and satin blades.

That's all I can think of in terms of camp/work bowies in your price range.
 
hbattousi89 said:
i've also heard that 440 stainless is also a bad steel for knives for edc/outdoor use. is there any other metals i should stray away from? i want one for camping/outdoor use
Click to expand...
Well, my advice is don't listen to these people. Certain grades of 420 and 440 stainless have been used quite successfully in making folders and fixed blades for years. Of course there are fancier steels available, but don't count them out because someone who probably has a dog in the fight started some story. When properly ground and heat treated for the tasks they were designed for, most knives made of these steels work great. Sure, you can pay more for fancier steel...and that's cool. A lot of people who do don't really use their knives to any extent, and could be well served by a less expensive knife that would still perform admirably for any normal tasks.
That said, avoid any junk knives made in some unknown and undefined place and marked simply 420 stainless or 440 stainless, with no other info available...bad experiences with junk imports may also fuel the slam-the-steel fires....that and people who never bothered to learn how to properly sharpen a knife and expect some super steel to remain sharp forever.
 
BK-9 is the cheapest and best for that dollar.

I go with that Becker ,as well as my BarkRivers,and Seigle,and yes Cold Steel [ with BRK&T mod'ing] Larado.
 
I left cold steel of of the list. my mistake, don't know they catalog very well. i think the recon scout may fit in your price range. But by now I'm sure you've noticed that Becker keeps coming up. Look at them all and get the one you like the most. It's your knife.
 
Here's another BK9 vote...

20101231_ac_06.jpg


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Beckerhead #42
 
Beckers are safe buys. They are good tough knives that have passed the test over and over again in the hands of many different people. In a word, Beckers are practical.

However if you want something a bit more "Hollywood" you could snag an Ontario Marine Raider...
View attachment 228610
 
the bk9 is is the knife im considering, can anyone tell me what a molle sheath is? i know its a sheath for your knife so to speak, but i have no clue what the "molle" part is
 
it has straps on the back of the sheath to weave in and out of molle webbing straps on a vest or pack. the bk9 is a great buy for the price. most beckers are pretty much impossible to beat at the price point. i personally prefer esee's micarta and sheaths but becker is next in line.

take it easy
cricket
 
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