Natchez Bowie Here!

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Sep 9, 2011
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67
The 0-1 Natchez I ordered from Midway arrived after only 5 days.. surprised at the speed of delivery, especially at Christmas-time. I have coveted one of these for years and it is the largest bowie Ive ever had, for sure.. at a weighed 1 3/4 pounds!
Cold Steel isnt putting the edge on like they used to when I was buying TrailMasters, or even the SK Laredo..so that's a bit of a disappointment but I'll work on it with a ceramic stick and see what happens, it is still sharp, just not the "hay-er poppin" sharp Ive been used to. Had the same issue with the AUS-8 Kobun I bought last month.
The tip on this bowie was too thin, and a bit blackened from too zealous sharpening/shaping... the end of the tip flaked off and I had to touch it up a wee bit on a fine stone, no sweat but for a Natchez? Cmon CS! Quality control, anyone??
I'm not sure about the balance of this beast- seems a bit large and handle-heavy, certainly compared to previous CS bowies.. it may take some getting used to...
The back-edge (clip) isnt sharp, unlike my Laredo.. but it is contoured to take an edge so I'll work on that too.. Still, not what I expected considering all the hoop-la about the Natch as a fighting bowie over the years!
The thing I really dislike, altho I knew that going into it- is the "kydex" sheath. As arrived, the sheath held the blade too firmly to remove... I had to partially disassemble the lips of the sheath to remove the blade! The problem is the four pressed-in tabs in the lips of the sheath, put there to hold the quillions tightly- but they are TOO tight for quick or easy removal. I didnt expect to have to wrestle with the knife in order to draw it! A little dremel work to reduce the tabs should fix that. But still... not everyone has shop-tools available. If one had to emergency draw this knife, as it stands, from the sheath- it could result in a very bad time! Again, "Cmon, Cold Steel!"
With warts and all, I like this knife.. it's a real honkin bowie! and feels solid in the hand. Certainly worth what I paid for it from Midway. I'll be liking it more once I make a leather sheath- or more properly for a short sword- "scabbard" for it.
A little work and it will be just fine, I think. Gonna try it out on some brush and branches to see how it acts as far as balance and edge-holding. I don't plan to baton the blade- something I never do anyway.. It does feel solid enuff to baton on the blade however, hopefully I'll never have to go there with any bowie!
I had been thing that this would be my last acquisition from CS... however, I have wanted one of their Gurkha kukhris for a long while too.. so, maybe if The Old Woman remains distracted, I will slip into one of those too, if only to compare it to my other kukhs...

Other comments from people who own or have used the Natch regarding any experiences with this knife (or any CS bowie) are welcome.. Happy Christmas, all!
 
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:) It's totally YOUR knife to do as pleases you , but IMO the Natchez is designed more to cut flesh than be a serious hardwood chopper . Probably won't hurt to use on softer , small diameter stuff or "punky " tree trunks etc . Best of luck . Take some pics ! ;)
 
That is weird that it feels handle heavy(which the experts? say is best)with a cable tang and 11 3/4" blade. I like my Trailmaster's balance and no cable tang but no 11 3/4" blade. Most knifemakers have disdain for the cable tang and call BS on the vibration reduction(old threads on here). I hope you informed Cold Steel of the problems(in hopes of them addressing your issues in the future), they can't fix their problems if they don't know about them. I would have sent it back for that price.
It is a beautiful knife! Enjoy!
 
The balance point seems to be @ an 1 1/2" past the quillion, blade-side, so that's about more or less where my other CS bowies balance. The weighty grip "feeling" seems to be on account of the heavy brass fittings... I won't send it back as the issues noted above are all "work-around" except the scabbard, which I was intending to replace anyway. There are old period bowies with metal scabbards, almost like old swords, so a hard stiff sheath isnt unheard of, and I must say, in the event of a fall or tumble would certainly protect the wearer, maybe more so than leather.. As far as the cable goes, if it breaks or becomes undone, I'll remove it and TIG weld a full or stick tang on and mount my own grip. Wouldn't be the first time!
Over-all I do like the knife, and do intend to try it out on some branches/brush just cuz I can :D...
 
I have a Laredo bowie I bought for the display case. I thought it would pair well with an old Kabar bowie I have. :)
I thought the quality was decent and acceptable but far from perfect. The swedge on mine is not symmetric. Cool design though.
 
if it breaks or becomes undon
Only problem I've ever seen with the cable tang was a crazy/drunk Russian video where the guy beat on the handle like driving a spike . The cable did NOT break but the handle structure was destroyed . The cable has to have the handle intact to be kept in tension .
 
I have a Laredo bowie I bought for the display case. I thought it would pair well with an old Kabar bowie I have. :)
I thought the quality was decent and acceptable but far from perfect. The swedge on mine is not symmetric. Cool design though.
I have the SK-5 Laredo, and it is quite the knife! I don't care for the grip shape and have polished off the edges for a better feel. Wouldn't use it for chopping branches! It has an edge that is very sharp, as is the swedge or clip... actually feels better in the hand than the Natch, and the leather sheath suits me much better than the kydex crap...
Now I have the itch for a CS Gurkha Kukri.. does it ever end??
Only problem I've ever seen with the cable tang was a crazy/drunk Russian video where the guy beat on the handle like driving a spike . The cable did NOT break but the handle structure was destroyed . The cable has to have the handle intact to be kept in tension .
Yeah I saw that too.. lol, pitiful!
 
I was looking at my Laredo tonight. It's the micarta/O1 Taiwan version. Nice knife but I'd prefer the Japanese San Mai III if I could afford it.
Funny I remarked on the swedge being off a touch. When I looked again it wasn't as bad as I remembered. But I noticed a swedge asymmetry on a different Cold Steel - the Bush Ranger! And I was just praising it upon its recent arrival. I guess I was so focused on the centering that I didn't see the swedge. One side began about a millimeter short of the other side. I evened it out with a diamond file.
 
Cool, how did you do it?

How DO I do it .. not did, as I've been carrying a large Bowie for well over 25 years. I use the old belt stud sheath type carry IWB. The version I make is called the Southern Comfort, and I can carry concealed in shorts and a t-shirt, draw quickly from concealment, as well as sit down without it showing. When I was still doing Gun & Knife Shows, I demonstrated it all the time. It is easy once you find your "Sweet Spot" for carry.

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The cable tang in the Laredo and Natchez Bowie knives is used primarily as a shock distributor. Contrary to what people have been posting, the cost of manufacturing a full cable tang is much more than regular full tang. It is much easier and less work to cut out 1 piece of metal than it is to go through all the process of inserting a cable tang. Sometimes the cost can be significantly higher. The Laredo Bowie was constructed on purpose to have a full cable tang not to save money but for the following reason:

For many of you who have swung a large knife and hit something at high impact you will feel the shock on your hand. The cable acts almost like a guitar string and sends shock out the end of the pommel, rather than into the handle and subsequently the hand. The reason why the Trail Master is regular full tang is due to its handle material. The Trail Master has a rubber handle and the rubber acts to absorb the shocks. As for the Laredo Bowie the handle is comprised of synthetic wood in which it does not absorb the shocks when used in high impact situations. For such reason the cable tang is used at a higher cost in production.

Manufacturing the knife with the cable tang is a more expensive process than simply making the knife with a full tang, so this is done with intent and design. It is definitely not a cost-saving effort. I have never seen a cable tang break under usage.

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When people first started down-talking the cable tang in the Laredo, I took an SK-5 Laredo (chinese manufacture with JapaneseSK-5 steel) and hard use tested it. I did everything I would normally do with a Bowie, but with more force than normal. Snap cuts, cleaving cuts, and stabs into a Pell, plus made little pieces out of big pieces of yard waste, with no problems whatsoever. That's where/when I came up with the nickname "China Dolls" for them.

Ready to start my Day .... Happy New Year all.
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Well I finally found some pix of the cable arrangement. I thought the cable ran from the pommel to the guard, but it obviously does not. It is also obvious(to me anyway) that this not a cheaper way to go(could more easily have run the tang all the way than the complicated cable system). Shock attenuation is very believable. I don't care what OP say about it now, Cold Steel went the extra mile IMHO. Still don't want one, I prefer TM & Magnum Tanto's, but I do appreciate their design(and looks). Good job Cold Steel(as usual).
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The odd thing is that IIRC, the SMIII Laredo has the cable replaced with a solid rod...not sure if the SMIII Natchez is the same. Do the newer O-1 Laredos with micarta handles still have the cable tang?
 
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