Laredo Bowie Mod?

H

H2H907

Joined
Dec 30, 2007
Messages
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I've taken a renewed interest in the CS Laredo Bowie I picked up a few years ago. I like this knife a lot, I don't love it.

Many years ago, I saw a conversion someone, I believe Wayne Goddard, did on a Trailmaster Bowie. He had shaved off some of the steel and re-profiled the lines a bit, made the swedge sharp and serviceable, added a much more substantial piece of stag for the handle, and did some file work on the guard and endcap. Does anyone know of anyone currently doing this kind of conversion on the Laredo?

And finally, WTF is "faux" cocobolo??? I can't find an explanation anywhere. Is it an actual wood, or is it some type of compound. It has a strange, resin-like smell to it, is that the finish or the material? Personally I'd like to replace it with a nice chunk of stag.
 
It is diamond wood sometimes used in traditional bows. It is a laminated hardwood kind of like actionwood only died colors and can be resin impregnated or not. Can be maple or not. keepem sharp
 
Either a composite or a similar stabilized wood.
Cocobolo has a beautiful grain, great depth and texture, and it polishes up really nice.
However, it's hard to work - requires a very delicate touch - and the sawdust is toxic, so you don't often see the real thing on factory knives.

I love my Laredo. Put a good mustard patina on it, then took some NEV-R-DULL to it, so it looks about twenty years old. Great bush knife. I do admit, though, the handle could use some refurbishing. I like the coffin shape, but it's big for my hands and doesn't respond well to sweat. I'm curious about this as well. Those knifes aren't meant to be taken apart, and it would be difficult to remove the wood without damaging the guard.
 
missin_hobo said:
I love my Laredo. Put a good mustard patina on it, then took some NEV-R-DULL to it, so it looks about twenty years old. Great bush knife. I do admit, though, the handle could use some refurbishing. I like the coffin shape, but it's big for my hands and doesn't respond well to sweat. I'm curious about this as well. Those knifes aren't meant to be taken apart, and it would be difficult to remove the wood without damaging the guard.
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I dunno what a "mustard finish" is, but I like antiqued looking knives. On mine I just buffed it, almost to a mirror polish, to get the black markings off the blade. I HATE when people put the damned labels on blades. If you hold it at the right angle, you can still see the ghost of "Laredo Bowie, Carbon V, made in USA" on one side and "Cold Steel" on the other. I plan on leaving it like that for future ID purposes.

I'm just not a fan of coffin handles in general, which I know puts me on the periphery of Bowie owners. The Laredo's handle actually fits me well, I just don't like the aesthetics. I'd like something more refined looking, that does something with the tang nut instead of just leaving it out there.
 
H2H907 said:
I've taken a renewed interest in the CS Laredo Bowie I picked up a few years ago. I like this knife a lot, I don't love it.

Many years ago, I saw a conversion someone, I believe Wayne Goddard, did on a Trailmaster Bowie. He had shaved off some of the steel and re-profiled the lines a bit, made the swedge sharp and serviceable, added a much more substantial piece of stag for the handle, and did some file work on the guard and endcap. Does anyone know of anyone currently doing this kind of conversion on the Laredo?

And finally, WTF is "faux" cocobolo??? I can't find an explanation anywhere. Is it an actual wood, or is it some type of compound. It has a strange, resin-like smell to it, is that the finish or the material? Personally I'd like to replace it with a nice chunk of stag.
Click to expand...


I know that John Fitzen of Razors edge will be selling Laredo bowie and Natchez Bowie kits, that you can drop on a custom guard and stag or coffin handle made by him, go to his youtube pge and you can see a vid of his "modded" natchez, its pretty badass
 
I just ended up getting a 15 dollar stag and putting it on myself, and then putting on a mustard and apple cider vinegar patina. I love the way it came out and the feel is pretty amazing, i got creative with the photo and added a steak i just grilled up for dinner :P 290826_10151980686070517_624221886_o.jpg
 
John dosnt make his micarta handles for those kits you speak of. Him and I actually make them as a colaberative effort. I make the micarta from scratch and for the handles. He makes the guard and we sell them together as a kit. He dose all the stag ones though and he dose beautiful work.
 
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