Large Survival Knife vs. Hawk

crossada said:
where did you find all the Ontario stuff HDW?

and that is a big bowie haul for sure. wouldn't know what to play with first:eek:
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The Ontarios were offered under "Production Knives" in the "For Sale by Individuals" sub-forum. The seller sent me a PM after seeing me lament in this thread about the unavailability of Bagwells since they went out of production.

The Laredo bowies strike me as the most field-worthy of the group, so that's where I'll start. Of course, I can always fondle the rest. :D
 
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BryFry said:
I'm jealous, that is an impressive collection of bowies! I'm itching to get the Natchez, what do you think of it?
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The Natchez is the most impressive by far, and it definitely qualifies as a "big knife". The blade is 11 3/4" long and very wide (1 13/16"), and the weight is 23.4 oz. The tip is fairly thin but the thickness behind the clip is a uniform 5/16", so the blade is plenty beefy for chopping while providing an excellent point for thrusting as well. Styling is "primitive" much like the Musso bowie without the brass strip.

The Natchez is expensive, but I don't think you'd ever regret getting one. :D
 
BryFry said:
I'm jealous, that is an impressive collection of bowies! I'm itching to get the Natchez, what do you think of it?
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I have always found the Laredo more fuctional than the Natchez. A Natchez sacrifices so much portability for stainless hardware and heavy bellied blade.

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Look at the size of the pommel on this knife!

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vector001 said:
no kidding, brother! - talk about an embarassment of riches.

....craving bowie goodness....

vec
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Like I said, the Bagwells were a group purchase so it was buy-em-all or miss the opportunity. I'll keep the Gambler and the Helles Belle.

On the Laredos, the first one I bought (the SK-5) had two handle cracks that proceeded to widen in our high desert climate (humidity from 10 to 15%). So I ordered the San Mai Laredo with a linen micarta handle. Meanwhile the dealer who sold the first Laredo to me replaced it.

So that my friend is how I wound up with the absurd sum of SIX NEW BOWIES! Arrgh! I've gone off the deep end. :eek:

Watch for my sales in "Production Knives". ;)
 
Same thing happened to mine. Apparently some of those new Laredo's had tight handles that split. This fixed it just fine.

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Best bowie I own now.
 
Thanks for the additional info grinder. I've been agonizing over which of the Laredos to keep. The San Mai with a linen micarta handle actually weighs 1.6 oz more than the SK-5 with a laminated wood handle. Sounds trivial but I swear to zeus I can feel the difference. The human hand is remarkably sensitive. My RB partner and I can both detect a 1 oz difference in racquetball racquets. But I'm going to go with the San Mai because I think that linen micarta handle is less likely to let me down someday in the boonies. :thumbup:
 
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GrinderMcgee said:
Same thing happened to mine. Apparently some of those new Laredo's had tight handles that split. This fixed it just fine.

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Best bowie I own now.
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This knife is not SMIII, it is actually a Taiwan SK-5 blade rehandled by a member here on the forum Picksmith. About 1/2 longer than the stock handle and handles great because of it.
 
I like the looks of those CS Laredo Bowies. But what gives me second thoughts about them is I found some of the Camillus-made Laredo (unhilted) blades on the Ebay and they were stub tangs. Now... really for all I know these were fakes; something we see on Ebay too often. You guys who own Laredo Bowies, are the tangs completely through to a pommel or are they just epoxied into the handle?

I'd be really tempted to buy one if the hidden tang runs all the way through.
 
Wolf i think the laredo and natchez both are built the way you describe with a partial tang and a wire tightend around a nut to hold it tight. I do believe there are x-rays of it in the testing and review forum.

That being said Mike Sastre swears up and down this is a legitimate knife and is still strong throughout his testing so that is good enough for me. ymmv
 
I took caveman X-rays... smashed it with a boulder.
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The guard is machined to match those radiused shoulders for a nice tight fit. You won't see that on the Ebay blanks either. They are mostly unsharpened partially assembled blanks, and I've seen some annealed unground blades too.
 
Never realized it was a half tang knife. They hide it well with the fake tang nut. They should have put a pin throught the hole, but then everyone would know it was a half tang. For 99% it won't matter, but kind of hokey. IMO I guess you save where you can. How much could that last inch of tang metal cost on their huge numbers? Instead, they manufacture that cable nut/bolt, then weld it onto the end of the tang. It's surprising that they save money doing it.
 
They don't save money doing it. It's a more expensive construction to manufactor a blade with a better weight and balance.
 
question on the kukri ? i noticed some have large curves and some have small curves on end. what does everyone recommend for kukri ? large curve end or small curved end and how does it affect the function of the kukri ?
 
HighDesertWalker said:
I agree, this is a really great thread. My interest in blades took two new directions while following the posts here: a) tomahawks; and b) bowie knives. I bought a custom CS trailhawk from blade man, and have a Gen 1 Mk V composite handle with BUG head on order with vec. But I really went crazy with the bowies. Have CS Natchez, CS Laredo in SK-5, CS Laredo in San Mai, Ontario Bagwell Gambler, Ontario Bagwell Helles Belle, and Ontario Bagwell Stealth. The three Bagwells were bought as a package deal and I plan to sell off the Stealth. I may also sell off the Laredo in SK-5. Got a lot more than I really need that's for sure. :D

Whadaya expect from a feller born in Lafourche Parish, Louisianna and raised in San Antonio, Texas, home of the Alamo. I've got bowies in my blood. :o
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can we get some pictures for us newbys????
 
LWFOWLER said:
question on the kukri ? i noticed some have large curves and some have small curves on end. what does everyone recommend for kukri ? large curve end or small curved end and how does it affect the function of the kukri ?
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What it really comes down to is personal preference.

Some things, like using it as a weapon, makes sense to have a pointier tip, for general woodworking, kitchen use, etc, a blunter tip or pointy tip is fine.

I suggest you hang out on the HI forum a bit, you'll find out more than you ever wanted to know about kukri.
 
GrinderMcgee said:
I have always found the Laredo more fuctional than the Natchez. A Natchez sacrifices so much portability for stainless hardware and heavy bellied blade.
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Yeah, I love my Larado too, I've been using it on my last few camping trips. -But WOW! the Natchez is one impressive looking blade! ...I don't think I've heard of anyone using them for much more than the occasional cutting demonstration though.

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I really like the look of that custom handle job you have pictured above too!
 
crossada said:
Wolf i think the laredo and natchez both are built the way you describe with a partial tang and a wire tightend around a nut to hold it tight. I do believe there are x-rays of it in the testing and review forum.

That being said Mike Sastre swears up and down this is a legitimate knife and is still strong throughout his testing so that is good enough for me. ymmv
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Thanks but I'll pass anyway :(
 
As long as everyone's showing off their Bowies here's mine.
Greco Gambler,MMHW and Greco Bowie.All have full tangs.

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