Just got my new AK Bowie!

Zombie Zeke

Zombie Zeke

Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
2,642
No pics yet, the camera died...

But it's a ridiculously cool tool.

Yangdu rocks! She shipped fast and sent me the most amazing knife I have yet owned.

There will be pics and a story to come buts lets just say I will be getting rid of my other choppers shortly.

Yangdu, you are a great, honest person, thank you.

-zeke
 
When I first saw the AK Bowie a few years ago on the HI site, I really didn't like the looks of it.

In time, it grew on me and I said if she ever offered one with a satisal handle instead of horn, I'd try it out. One day, along comes such a beast and I bought it. It still amazes me that guys can hand forge a knife that big ans thick that balances so well. And I'm also impressed that with the edge bevels that something can chop so well, and yet still slice like a razor.
 
I actually just ordered one of these. Can anyone tell me what kind of timetable I'm looking at?

Thanks :D
 
If it's in stock, you'll get it in 2-4 days.
I usually get mine in 2 days, usually no longer than 3. Yangdu ships extremely fast.
 
Awesome...based on my admittedly limited understanding of their site, I think that it should be in stock.
 
SwimmingBird said:
Awesome...based on my admittedly limited understanding of their site, I think that it should be in stock.
Click to expand...

Welcome, SwimmingBird.

Let me help here. "Stock" is what is in a shed in Reno. The "production facility" is a mud-floored house in Nepal where a bunch of folks sit on the floor and pound on steel springs from cars and trucks and turn them in to durable tools and weapons. Master craftsmen working with manual tools.

Shipping depends on who has done what in the past week, month, whatever...and how long it takes to get to a shipping facility to get to the U.S. and then to Reno.

Once in Reno, the Pro takes over and generally gets stuff to continental U.S. in 2 or 3 days...everytime. :)

So...kinda like there isn't any "stock" as Americans know it.

Welcome.:D
 
Obviously I'm a little confused, and I think I may need to think things over a bit more :o

How much variability are we talking from the knife pictured on the for sale section of the website?

Thanks everybody :D
 
Welcome SwimmingBird.

I'm new here, too, and have found that an email to Yangdu or a phone call are quickly responded to. She does a great job running the Reno end of the company on her own. These guys are right about shipping, 2-3 days. Then it's sharp blades and wood chips.:thumbup:
 
It's the variability in handle shape that has me concerned...I really like the contoured look of the picture on their online store, but I'm not so crazy about most other versions I've seen in pictures around the forum.

Also, is the tang the full thickness of the spine? I haven't seen a clear shot of it, but in one of the pictures I found it looked a bit tapered. I doubt there's a good reason for that to seem off-putting, but it does.

I sent an email with my prospective order and questions earlier in the evening.

Thanks everybody
 
SwimmingBird said:
It's the variability in handle shape that has me concerned...I really like the contoured look of the picture on their online store, but I'm not so crazy about most other versions I've seen in pictures around the forum.
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Wish I could help allay your concerns but I have to agree that the contoured grip as per the web site is much more appealing than the grips I have seen on AK Bowies that have appeared as deals of the day.

I have both the Cherokee Rose and Baby Cherokee Rose with contoured grips and they are amazingly comfortable in both sizes. That said, the smaller Baby Cherokee Rose grip is the best fitting knife grip I own.

7-30-09%20001.jpg

7-30-09%20002.jpg


An AK Bowie with such a grip would be awesome! ;) :D :thumbup:
 
The pic is a bit dark, but you're probably going to get a handle like this:
100_0107.jpg


The spine on mine si the full width of the handle, but tapers in thickness as it goes back (i.e. it is an exposed tang knife).

To be honest, thew handle on the website model is one thing I didn't like about the AK bowie. The more slab sided ones stay solidly indexed in hand during use. However, that isn't anything you can't change with a belt sander, or some files, sand paper and time.
 
SwimmingBird said:
It's the variability in handle shape that has me concerned...I really like the contoured look of the picture on their online store, but I'm not so crazy about most other versions I've seen in pictures around the forum.

Also, is the tang the full thickness of the spine? I haven't seen a clear shot of it, but in one of the pictures I found it looked a bit tapered. I doubt there's a good reason for that to seem off-putting, but it does.

I sent an email with my prospective order and questions earlier in the evening.

Thanks everybody
Click to expand...

Since you are here I'm sure you understand that each of these knives is handmade by a number of different kami's in very primitive conditions, there are no set design standards, each kami does each knife the way he see's fit, each knife is unique. So no matter what picture you see here or on the site, yours will be somewhat different. Which is exactly why many of us shop here for that unique artistry.
If you want a item that matches exact specs you can Email Yangdu and do a special order, but even she wont know exactly what any given knife will look like till it's in her hand
 
Cpl Punishment said:
When I first saw the AK Bowie a few years ago on the HI site, I really didn't like the looks of it.

In time, it grew on me and I said if she ever offered one with a satisal handle instead of horn, I'd try it out. One day, along comes such a beast and I bought it. It still amazes me that guys can hand forge a knife that big ans thick that balances so well. And I'm also impressed that with the edge bevels that something can chop so well, and yet still slice like a razor.
Click to expand...

The one she sent me is a trip and I will post pics as soon as my camera either dries out from Starbucks or I get a new one this week. The cool part about this AK Bowie is its not like the ones I have seen pictures of, it's almost perfectly straight with no exaggerated belly it looks like a giant sized spear point chopper, I am just so tickled its the best.
 
For the time being, I canceled my impulse buy. I need to work out whether or not I want a special order, (and it would probably be better for my bank account to do this next year anyway).

I definitely understand the reasons for the variability across knives, I'm just not used to that sort of thing.

I wouldn't really have a chance to use that kind of monster knife until over the summer anyway:D
 
The AK Bowie I bought was the only HI blade of around a dozen that I didn't like. The handle slabs were too thick for me but I could have sanded them down. Main thing was I thought that the spine was too thick at the thickest and then tapered too quickly towards the tip. Just don't like the design of that one. I'd love to see the Cherokee Rose Bowie pop up on a daily special. I may have to order one of those.
 
Looking forward to the review, if it's anything like your last one it'll be great!:thumbup:
 
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