Looking for large bowie

Ferahgo · May 18, 2016

Hello all!
I am looking for a large bowie at the mo. What my main focus is on is a high quality D-guard. I need blade 10" or longer. I will be using this for general camp work at civil war reenactments.
Dguard is vastly prefered, but I am looking for any large, period bowie. Maybe even a big toothpick, if possible
My budget is quite tight, so lets keep it as economical as possible.
Thanks, folks!

screened porch · May 18, 2016

Google D-guard bowie and you'll find some.
I have an old 10-incher from Pakistan that's carbon. It looks like I made it, but I respect the steel and the HT.
Or perhaps modify a big butcher knife or a small machette?

hhmoore · May 18, 2016

Look up mcswood in the custom maker area. I think his work fits your description.

*edit: sorry, I didn't notice the budget comment. These aren't inexpensive.

mrknife · May 18, 2016

i once spent a few hours drinking and looking at huge bowie knives on amazon/bay. Ended up with a 17 inch bowie from "Colt". Very comically large and quite amusing. Always get have a grin on my face when I take it out.

Ferahgo · May 18, 2016

scrteened porch said:
Google D-guard bowie and you'll find some.
I have an old 10-incher from Pakistan that's carbon. It looks like I made it, but I respect the steel and the HT.
Or perhaps modify a big butcher knife or a small machette?

I was looking at a big butcher knife in 1095, but I can't think of a way to add a guard...

riversidedep · May 18, 2016

hhmoore said:
Look up mcswood in the custom maker area. I think his work fits your description.

*edit: sorry, I didn't notice the budget comment. These aren't inexpensive.

Not only are those expensive, they are not something that would fit into a Civil War reenactment very well.

OP, check out the D-guard bowie by Atlanta Cutlery. Decently made and not expensive.

Ferahgo · May 18, 2016

riversidedep said:
Not only are those expensive, they are not something that would fit into a Civil War reenactment very well.

OP, check out the D-guard bowie by Atlanta Cutlery. Decently made and not expensive.

I did some deep research, but they are made in Pakistan or India or something...

Campbellclanman · May 19, 2016

As you would expect when buying a cheap priced knife. ^ Im not too sure how anyone would expect to obtain a high quality D Guard Bowie with a ten inch Blade - ( so in total at least a 15 inch knife) with a tight budget in mind- a big knife like that would be cheap if you got a custom maker of average to good craftsmanship for under 300 US$.

screened porch · May 19, 2016

Ferahgo said:
I was looking at a big butcher knife in 1095, but I can't think of a way to add a guard...

You'd have to pop off the handle scales and probably grind or file the tang a little narrower to create a stop for a slotted guard.

I think Duncan's right; a large economical Bowie is going to come from India/Pakistan, or maybe China, and the Chinese ones are going to be stainless. I was thinking the Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie, but that's too rich for my blood, so maybe also yours.

Condor has the Hudson's Bay Camp Knife repro, which had a blade about 8.5"x2", if memory serves. They might have something else you can use.

BladeCommander · May 19, 2016

Cold Steel was my first thoughts for Bowie knives of good quality. Never had any by them, but they all look nice, and I have heard good things. See if they have something that may work.

afishhunter · May 19, 2016

email sent with source unmentionable here (not a supporting dealer) that specializes in re-enactment gear and equipment from pre-Revolutionary to WW II time frame.

screened porch · May 19, 2016

Also check out Baryonyx KNife Co, a supporting dealer here.

And let us know what you end up with!