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Ka Bar Heavy Bowie

T

theedge13

Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
1,745
So, as mentioned in another thread i believe i may be receiving one of these gems. Who else has one? Any advise or feedback good/bad, etc?

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Can't offer any advice, but can tell you that the heavy bowie is a HECK of a value. It chops really well, and is great for batoning. I dig it a lot.
 
serious heavy chopper, great buy for the money and pretty good ergonomics. How can you go wrong for 50 or 60$. I think they use 1075 or 1080 so it will be tougher than 1095 with a little less edge retention. Sharpens up real easy.
I leave mine out as the loaner camp knife with family, stepdad liked using it for kindling over a hatchet a few years back for the first time. (another big knife convert)
 
IIRC, you will need to reprofile the edge if you want to maximize cutting ability.
 
I remember an article written a year or better ago by an writer for Outside magazine (or was it NG Adventure) where he chronicled staying alone on a remote beach in Central America for several weeks. He wanted to try the whole survival thing. He wasn't an expert or even a knife guy, but I found it interesting that he chose a KaBar Heavy Bowie. Worked like a charm for him in shelter building and coconut splitting.
 
Agreed CWL, reprofile the edge, and this thing rocks. Mine routinely chops through 2-3" diameter brush in one swing, it also slices nicely and makes fuzzies. It takes and edge easily, and holds it well enough. And for $50, you can beat on it all you want.

I have had mine for 3 years, and I love it
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Looks like it ought to be a great knife. So far everything I've had form Ka-bar has impressed me for the money.

By all means let us know if you get it. :-0

Charlie
 
Love the Kabar Heavy Bowie. It reminds me of an old school bowie with a modern handle. I've used mine to cut saplings, chop wood, clear brush, cut meat and veggies. Great chefs knife.

These days mine sees more kitchen duty then camp duty, But I hope to change that this summer. It's one of 4 knives I have in this size, the others being an old Satin SK-5 SOG Tigershark, Becker BK-9 and HI Khukri. The SOG and becker have gotten more use this year so I've been thinking it's time to let the Khukri and Kabar out for some fun. Might even do a side by side comparison on a campout in the spring.

Heber
 
You can't go wrong with either the short or the long Kabar models. For that matter their Camp knife, and USMC Black are both rather nice for the money also.

They are 1085. Its a fine steel plenty tough and very close to 1095 really. All of Kabar's big choppers and camp blades are quite good. For a few more $ you could get one of the Becker Knife and Tool Combat Bowies in 1095. I believe its called the BK9 and its also a fine knife.

STR
 
I was so hoping they would at some point combine the blade of the Heavy Bowie with the handle of the BK9. I've never had the HB but if it chops anywhere near as well as the BK9 with that blade shape it's an awesome knife. I thought they discontinued the heavy Bowie line though.
 
mistwalker said:
I was so hoping they would at some point combine the blade of the Heavy Bowie with the handle of the BK9. I've never had the HB but if it chops anywhere near as well as the BK9 with that blade shape it's an awesome knife. I thought they discontinued the heavy Bowie line though.
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Hey mistwalker, have you handled the heavy bowie? Love your reviews and pic's but seeing as you have some size (pictures tell the story, you got some paw's !) the handle should be comfy. I am 170lb size L glove and have had no issues with retention or hotspots.

Really good cold weather knife with all kraton vs grivory, and with the aforementioned reprofiling I would put it in the running with my bk-9
 
mistwalker said:
I was so hoping they would at some point combine the blade of the Heavy Bowie with the handle of the BK9. I've never had the HB but if it chops anywhere near as well as the BK9 with that blade shape it's an awesome knife. I thought they discontinued the heavy Bowie line though.
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If they combined the leather handle on thier standard combat knives with the Heavy bowie blade..they would have one helluva winner! I would buy 2 right off the cuff without any promting.
I tested out the Heavy Bowie, and IMO, its the best bang for the buck in this size...by a pretty good margin. Thats over the BK9, Trailmaster (price points) and Browning Crowell.
 
I have had several of the HB's, I could not find one fault with them at all, other that the weight, it is more than I would ever want to carry off road without a truck. However, if you are not concerned with weight, you can't go wrong money or quality wise.
 
There is a couple vids on youtube of this high value knife . There is even one of a guy chpping down a whole tree with about a 10 or more inch diameter.
 
I've got one, I think it's a superb blade for the money. Definitely one of my all time favorite 'big' blades. Chops quite well, but is also feels lively in the hand. Big beefy grip, too. I would not feel at all under-gunned if it were my only cutting tool out in the woods.

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Would love to see the tang under the handle.
I suspect this could be a good platform kit/knife for re-handling if one were so inclined.
I'm sure it works great as is but the modding potential is definitely there.
I'm thinking nice bocote handle with a brass guard, or maybe leather ring handle ala' Kabar USMC.
 
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