Is Western's W49 bowie a user?

I owned one that i used for a year in the bush and sold it to another member as a user.. Worked great.... Plus no chips in the blade (ever)..
Matt
 
my father has an old Western W49 with carbon steel blade and this knife holds an awsome edge too....You can put the head off of a moose pretty easily with :P
 
I have no personal experience with Western, but they look freakin awesome and the seem to get a pretty good rep. However, when I bought a heavy chopper, I opted for the KaBar Short, Heavy Bowie. It's made of 1095, so it ought to take an edge well, and it is a KaBar, even if it is made in Taiwan. It's holding up pretty well so far, but I haven't used it all that much.
Best thing though is the price- 36.95 from Knifecenter.com
 
Horn Dog, I bid on one on E-BAY recently, I e-mailed the seller and asked the type of steel in his Western W49 Bowie. He wrote back and told me it was 440A stainless,That he had worked at Camillus for 34 years and had bought the knife at auction. How would a Western Bowie in 440A compare to one in 420 HC ?
Thanks AMRA
 
Hi, I've had one of these for over 25 years and have beat on it pretty good. You have to watch for rust (the leather sheath got wet on mine on a trip and well you know). It's a decent chopper and with a little work the handle is comfortable enough. Wish it was a little thicker but I've never been able to really hurt it beyond needing a quick resharpen. I spent 100 bucks for it brand new in I think the late 80's and considering that it's still in great shape it was well worth it. Cheers.
 
'Ol Bud...My father has packed a W49 since 1978:cool: it has cut/chopped/skinned/peeled & stuck just about everything. My father is a true mountian man here in Kentucky, when he wasn't working in the coalmines he was in the woods hunting & woods bumming around. It's all he knows & if he trusts his life on that knife then so would I ;) His W49 is still going & looks very cool w/ the pitina setting in on the old blade, you can unsheath it right now & shave your face :eek: If you can find one I'de say go for it ...you won't regret it :thumbup:
 
Horn Dog said:
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
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What is the bottom knife??? me likes! :thumbup:

-My brother had the western bowie in the 80's, we beat the hell out of it and it held up fine ...wouldn't mind picking up another one now that I think about it...
 
BryFry said:
What is the bottom knife??? me likes! :thumbup:

-My brother had the western bowie in the 80's, we beat the hell out of it and it held up fine ...wouldn't mind picking up another one now that I think about it...
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That bottom one is a Scrap Yard DogFather. Lifetime warranty that follows the knife. They are made out of modified jackhammer steel. Part of the Busse family of knives. Great value too.
 
A while back, actually quite a while back, there was a thread on customizing a W49. I've been trying to find that thread for a some time. If anyone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it.
Bob
 
Man this is the best knife I have ever had. I collect and sell knives and I have had 3 Western W49 bowies. My first one was stolen, the second was lost in a fire. I use this knive as a hatchet. I have cut down 7 inch dia. trees with it. I've cut carpet and it always keeps a sharp edge. I very seldom sharpen it. Yes the blade is heat-treated. i'm not sure about my last two, but my first knife had a very hard heat-treated blade.
 
Horn Dog said:
Maybe it was just the local council that banned them. As I recall they were made by Camillus, so they may be gone anyway.
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Yeah, if you go to the offical BSA website and click on their on-line store, they have 2-3 "BSA" lock-back listed for sale. Not sure who is making them, though.

I never understood the "reasoning" behind banning locking knives, as they are less dangerous under normal use, and not really any more dangerous if misused that a slip-joint. :confused:
 
Bigfattyt said:
That bottom one is a Scrap Yard DogFather. Lifetime warranty that follows the knife. They are made out of modified jackhammer steel. Part of the Busse family of knives. Great value too.
Click to expand...

The original Dogfather was a heavier knife with a black coating.

Horn Dog is showing the Dogfather LE. No coating, full flat grind, lighter, faster in hand.
 
coaldigger said:
'ol bud...my father has packed a w49 since 1978:cool: It has cut/chopped/skinned/peeled & stuck just about everything. My father is a true mountian man here in kentucky, when he wasn't working in the coalmines he was in the woods hunting & woods bumming around. It's all he knows & if he trusts his life on that knife then so would i ;) his w49 is still going & looks very cool w/ the pitina setting in on the old blade, you can unsheath it right now & shave your face :eek: If you can find one i'de say go for it ...you won't regret it :thumbup:
Click to expand...

good post,i got a old case bowie i have had it for 20 plus years i have chopped and cut everything with it,i know itz not a western but throwing that out there,saw one at a g & k show for $50 bux not new but good.
 
Friends,

The last time that I was Waxing Nostalgic and Googling "Western Bowie", I came across a nice Machinist's Drawing that someone had made of one, showing critical dimensions at several strategic points.

I believe that the Western Bowie was the best Production Bowie ever made.

I know of a Custom Knife-Maker who is considering adding a custom version to his line-up.....

He's soliciting cardboard tracings from Lucky Owners.

I'd really like to turn him on to the Drawing.....

But I just can't seem to locate it.

I know that this Forum has a Huge amount of Knife Lore and Data collectively, amongst the Many members.

Can anyone direct me to the Machinist Drawing of the W-49 Western Bowie that I'm thinking of?

Many, many thanks!

.....RVM45 :cool::eek::cool:
 
rvm45 said:
Friends,

The last time that I was Waxing Nostalgic and Googling "Western Bowie", I came across a nice Machinist's Drawing that someone had made of one, showing critical dimensions at several strategic points.

I believe that the Western Bowie was the best Production Bowie ever made.

I know of a Custom Knife-Maker who is considering adding a custom version to his line-up.....

He's soliciting cardboard tracings from Lucky Owners.

I'd really like to turn him on to the Drawing.....

But I just can't seem to locate it.

I know that this Forum has a Huge amount of Knife Lore and Data collectively, amongst the Many members.

Can anyone direct me to the Machinist Drawing of the W-49 Western Bowie that I'm thinking of?

Many, many thanks!

.....RVM45 :cool::eek::cool:
Click to expand...

Wow! You guys are speaking my language. I've inherited my dad's Western Bowie, which he must've bought in the 60s or early 70s. It's marked on the left side just above the guard "WESTERN" then on 2d line "BOWIE" an on third line "U.S.A.". I LOVE this knife!!

RVM45 - I don't have a drawing, but I could take measurements for you.
 
PZ93C said:
Howdy, y'all.

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

Or is it a display only piece?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Yes it is a user.
Yes it will hold up.
IF...
You remember that it was designed during a time when a knife was a knife and an axe was an axe.
:D

Here's mine...
W49Headhunter-1403.jpg


W49SheathPix-1473.jpg
 
The older ones with the good high carbon steel are pretty good. The new ones, with the junko stainless, not so much.
 
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