Is Western's W49 bowie a user?

PZ93C

PZ93C

Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
413
Howdy, y'all.

Is the W49 Western Bowie a user? Does it hold up?

Or is it a display only piece?

Thanks.
 
It is made from a good steel with a good heat-treat. It takes a nice edge (assuming you have a stone long enough to sharpen it) and holds it well. If you have a use for a blade that big, it is a good user. Mine mostly gets used to collect dust these days.
 
Well, yablanowitz, I'm coming from HI khurkri land and if my 16 1/2 Ang Kola hadn't grown legs after a break in, I wouldn't be considering a Bowie.

Thanks for the info, guys.

This should be fun. Look good on the belt with my Colt, too.
 
Both the Western and Case Bowies are direct descendants of the Collins #18 "machete", sometimes called the Marine Raider Bowie. The Westerns have a longer handle and feel better to me. Yeah, they are "users".
BowieChopper009.jpg

Here is the original by Collins:
BowieChopper001.jpg
 
Yeah, I looked at a Case XX bowie with a white polymer handle, but it was twice the asking of the Western.

Maybe a wood handle Case would appeal more and be cheaper to boot?
 
The Case handles have always been plastic, except for some stag special editions. the Westerns fit my hand better but are no longer made since Camillus went under. The later Case and Westerns went to 420HC stainless steel, but seem to hold an edge fairly well. Top to bottom:
Collins #18, Western W49, Case Bowie.

BowieChopper002.jpg
 
I own an (un-numbered) western bowie, that apparently evolved into the W49 I have used it for years and it's a great large knife.
 
I have used them to split whole chickens in half for Boy Scouts at campories. Nowadays, I'd probably be shunned or arrested for daring to demonstrate the virtues of such an evil blade. I like them (obviously).
 
Mine broke just before the handguard, on the blade side, cutting wood...
I now use a BK&T Brute, and a Kershaw D2...
I've no respect foe western... G.
 
The Western and other similar bowies were not nearly as strong as some of today's heavy choppers. They could handle light chopping well enough. The Brute is well named.

Choppers008.jpg
 
Horn Dog said:
I have used them to split whole chickens in half for Boy Scouts at campories. Nowadays, I'd probably be shunned or arrested for daring to demonstrate the virtues of such an evil blade. I like them (obviously).
Click to expand...


Shame shame on you HD...


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:);)
 
I had (I gave it to my father) a carbon steel W49 that I bagwellized. Can't say I used it much but I have to say that it's a light to medium duty knife suited for camp chores. The heavy stuff is better left to Busse's....
 
Bors said:
Shame shame on you HD... :);)
Click to expand...

Those chickens were good on the grill. The big bowie made a great cleaver. :D That was in the 80s, and political correctness was just starting with the Scouts. There were even official BSA lockbacks and fixed blades back then. I'll admit, no BSA Bowie. An oversight, no doubt. Now they just have little SAKs and such.
 
Horn Dog said:
Those chickens were good on the grill. The big bowie made a great cleaver. :D That was in the 80s, and political correctness was just starting with the Scouts. There were even official BSA lockbacks and fixed blades back then. I'll admit, no BSA Bowie. An oversight, no doubt. Now they just have little SAKs and such.
Click to expand...



OK.....since it was in the 80s I guess we can let it slide.........LOL
 
My father has a Western w/ no # on it , He purchased it new in 1976, I grew up around this knife (32 yrs old now) I've seen this knife cut & chop thru just about everything put in front of it ! He is a real mountian man, has always stayed in the outdoors (when he had a day off work - coalminer) I've seen wood chopped for campfires & deer-treerats- rabbits cleaned & prep. to eat .
He still packs this thing every trip to the woods & I would trust my life w/ it :thumbup: It holds an awsome edge (hairshaving) & is easy to re-sharpen.
 
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