Modern Bowie Knife

ChrisLee · Jun 27, 2023

Twindog said:
Thanks for that photo.

In terms of function, I have trouble understanding this design. It can't be much of a chopper with the rear-weight bias. It can't be much of a fighter, because it lof rear-weight bias that serves no function and makes the knife heavier than needed.

I don't know what else you'd use if for that wouldn't be done better by another design.

Gil Hibbens was a top notch designer and maker, but I don't get the function of this design.

Without being able to actually handle this Bowie. It is hard to make a complete assessment of the designs usefulness. However with that said I can see it’s design being a very effective fighter. I like the pommel and the cross guard. The blade width is nice and wide and flat. The long clip point looks really intimidating. Imagine having that point being pointed at you.

hermit dave · Jul 24, 2023

jdk1 said:
The Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist is definitely a modern bowie style knife, and a great knife in general. Here's mine stripped and cold blued. It needs wood or Micarta handle slabs, but I haven't given that a try yet.

How did you strip it? i have a 1st gen I'd like to strip

carnifex knifeworks · Jul 24, 2023

hermit dave said:
How did you strip it? i have a 1st gen I'd like to strip

Pretty sure you can do it with acetone

Henry Beige · Jul 24, 2023

SYKCO DB-322
The blade (8 1/2”) looks a lot bigger in person.

GB940Rookie · Jul 24, 2023

Lon Humphrey Gunfighter Bowie

HexY3co · Jul 24, 2023

jdk1 said:
The Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist is definitely a modern bowie style knife, and a great knife in general. Here's mine stripped and cold blued. It needs wood or Micarta handle slabs, but I haven't given that a try yet.

Yea these are nice. I recently did a full scales conversion on this one. I ground the tang thinner to accommodate the full scales. I used brass tubes and blued the steel where it was exposed.

carnifex knifeworks · Jul 24, 2023

coolbreezy37 said:
Here a modern Bowie custom made for me by Ted Frizzell and Kyel Kidder of Mineral Mountain Hatchet works. They make awesome and indestructible knives, especially for the money.View attachment 2169004

My gripe with a lot of modern bowies is that they have a guard that descends below the blade edge. It really limits the utility of the knife.
Not the case with this one. Nice!

jdk1 · Jul 25, 2023

hermit dave said:
How did you strip it? i have a 1st gen I'd like to strip

Citristrip. It took a little work to get it out of corners, but its not too bad. The Oxpho Blue turned out cool. I must've had a little oil still on it for the swirls to appear like that almost case hardened look!

Wasty · Jul 25, 2023

HexY3co said:
Yea these are nice. I recently did a full scales conversion on this one. I ground the tang thinner to accommodate the full scales. I used brass tubes and blued the steel where it was exposed.

That is defintely a great idea, do you mind if I copy that?

HexY3co · Jul 25, 2023

Wasty said:
That is defintely a great idea, do you mind if I copy that?

1.325% of every sale you make. Kidding. It's a lot of work but worth it. It is what CS should have done on these but it adds to the cost. I ended up with a slight tang taper to the pommel.
I had to open up the tang holes a little for the tubes. I countersunk the scales so the tubes are flared and flush. I filled the tang voids with JB weld to make it a solid flat tang and that worked great, I did that after the major grinding was done and only a final finish was needed to flush the JB. I also did a lanyard opening at the pommel.
Scales and tubes are also epoxied for a permanent hold.
Lots of work but worth it.