Recommendation? Large but lightweight bowie?

MTHall720

MTHall720

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Sep 21, 2010
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I am trying to find out if there is such a thing as a large 9 inch or longer blade bowie knife that is not super heavy. I have one now that is about 8 inches and light but would really like one that is close to 10 inches. Don't really need one but it is on my one day wish list.

Thanks for any suggestions
 
There's the marbles Bowie machete.

They come with an orange blade coating you may want to remove , but at $15 for an excellent blade made in El Salvador by Imicasa you can't beat them.
 
What would you consider "light" for a 10 inch or longer Bowie?
What are the intended uses?
If "chopping" is one of the uses, a "heavier" blade is better.
If throwing during a Rendezvous shootin' match, they have a minimum length and weight requirement. (if memory serves a 10 inch blade and I think 1.5 pounds. I may be a little shy on the weight. I haven't been at a Rendezvous in around 30 years.)
 
The bowie, as originally intended, is a weapon. It needs a certain amount of weight to do its work. I'm not sure what you mean by "lightweight," but let's assume you've become disillusioned by the overbuilt brutes that are too often sold as bowies. You want a strong enough knife that balances well. You don't want a chopper, you don't want a camp knife, in short you want a superb fighting tool that is the bowie knife.

If that's the case, I suggest you go hunting for the Camillus/Jerry Fisk collaboration Southwest bowie. It has an 11 1/4" blade. Though long discontinued they can still be found if you're patient.

37900812795_1ae7af3ec3_c.jpg
 
afishhunter said:
What would you consider "light" for a 10 inch or longer Bowie?
What are the intended uses?
If "chopping" is one of the uses, a "heavier" blade is better.
If throwing during a Rendezvous shootin' match, they have a minimum length and weight requirement. (if memory serves a 10 inch blade and I think 1.5 pounds. I may be a little shy on the weight. I haven't been at a Rendezvous in around 30 years.)
Click to expand...
Not really sure about weight but not looking for real heavy duty chopper. For example a Becker BK9 is light weight to me.
 
Yes I am looking for the fighting knife. Not interested in the super heavy over built brute force blades.
 
MTHall720 said:
Not really sure about weight but not looking for real heavy duty chopper. For example a Becker BK9 is light weight to me.
Click to expand...

If a BK-9 is lightweight to you, than you should have no trouble finding a good number of options to suit your needs. I am not a small man but the BK-9 is still a substantial blade.

Have you looked at the Ka-Bar Big Brother? That is a just-north of 9" blade. Has the classic Ka-Bar look and is not all that heavy.
 
Maybe a Cold Steel Laredo Bowie? Blade Length: 10-1/2" Overall Length: 15-11/16" Steel: O-1 High Carbon. Weight: 16.3 oz. Blade Thickness: 5/16" Handle: 5-3/16" Polished Micarta
Also their Natchez Bowie, its blade is 11-3/4 inces, and I think a better looking fighter style blade
 
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Pàdruig said:
If a BK-9 is lightweight to you, than you should have no trouble finding a good number of options to suit your needs. I am not a small man but the BK-9 is still a substantial blade.

Have you looked at the Ka-Bar Big Brother? That is a just-north of 9" blade. Has the classic Ka-Bar look and is not all that heavy.
Click to expand...
I haven't actually seen the Big Brother in person. Looks like it comes in black coated only?
 
Sarah Moulton had a famous New York fishmonger on Cooking Live years and years ago. He had a knife that looked very (in my mind exactly) like the knife in Bruegel's Big Fish Eat Little Fish. Like a chef's knife with a straight back and a trailing point, which would be even more like a Searles Bowie.

I actually called in, I actually got through, and my answer to, "What kind of knife is that" was, "I don't know; you'll have to look for a knife like it". I wrote a scathing letter that probably got me onto Sarah's "do not answer" list. Twenty years later, I still don't have a name for the style or a maker who makes it.
Maybe that NY fishmonger is still alive.
[It just occurred to me to search "fishmonger knives". Close but too deep-bellied.]
This is very close:
https://www.mychefknives.co.uk/32-d...rmo-black-fish-knife-serrated-blade-35cm.html
Except for the serrations, which I think are optional.
There, I feel better.
Opinel has a straight-backed chef's, but only 8"(?) (20cm).
Anyway, you probably want a clip-point.
 
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My old Cold Steel Carbon V Trailmaster would fill that slot. They show up on the aftermarket occasionally.--KV
 
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