New knife purchase

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Lone_Wolf_1401

Joined
Apr 21, 2023
Messages
10
Hi All,
New member here, so i will apologise up front for a rather inane question. I am looking to purchase a new blade to add to my collection and am thinking going for a bowie as I don’t have one. I was looking at a Cold Steel, but my local dealer has some Ka Bar John Ek model 5 for sale. I already have the EK model 4 which I love so was looking at getting the EK model 5 to ”complete the EK family”. What do you guys think ? A Cold Steel or the EK model 5 ?
Also, the Ka Bar USMC. Any good ? I could get both the EK and the USMC for the price of a Cold Steel.
Thanks
 
Between those options I’d go for the Model 5, but any of those three will most likely perform well for you.

If you’re open to other options I’d suggest getting a custom one here on the Exchange. Bowies, in my opinion, are one of the knife genres best served by the custom market.


But if you want to stick with production, another two I recommend are the Buck 119 and Buck 124.
 
One custom Bowie I really like is this one from Danitz Knives. His prices are extremely reasonable, and will likely be in the same ballpark as the Ka-Bar offerings for you in the UK.

He works with 80CRV2 steel, a good step up from the 1095 that Ka-Bar uses. Which is still good in its own right (I use it all the time) but objectively is not anywhere near the toughness and overall performance of 80CRV2. And since the cost is similar, I’d say its a better deal.



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HexY3co said:
Cold steel makes great blades but the handles are not very good, always a bit small and the rubber wears quickly. The custom above looks amazing I would be looking for that one. ^^^^^
Click to expand...
Cold steel's Kraton handles do not "wear quickly".
My SRK bought in 1989 used pretty heavily decades ago.
Z82cWJ.jpg
 
Lone_Wolf_1401 said:
Hi All,
New member here, so i will apologise up front for a rather inane question. I am looking to purchase a new blade to add to my collection and am thinking going for a bowie as I don’t have one. I was looking at a Cold Steel, but my local dealer has some Ka Bar John Ek model 5 for sale. I already have the EK model 4 which I love so was looking at getting the EK model 5 to ”complete the EK family”. What do you guys think ? A Cold Steel or the EK model 5 ?
Also, the Ka Bar USMC. Any good ? I could get both the EK and the USMC for the price of a Cold Steel.
Thanks
Click to expand...
If you are considering a Cold Steel at all, I would suggest looking at the Sanmai III Trail Master. It is still made by arguably the best fixed blade maker in Seki and convex. It is also very attractive price wise for what you get.

 
I'm gonna' throw another vote in the hat for the Becker BK-7 and BK-9...



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When it comes to "value per dollar" (*or British Pound), the Ethan Becker/Ka-Bar stuff is pretty hard to beat.
deal.gif




*If I remember correctly, the BK-7 was Ethan Becker's "modern" re-imagining of the U.S. Navy MKII. (*the USMC "Ka-Bar" fighting/utility knife)

**I also seem to recall that the nomenclature for the BK-9 is the "Becker Combat Bowie".
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Lone_Wolf_1401 said:
I already have the EK model 4 which I love so was looking at getting the EK model 5 to ”complete the EK family”. What do you guys think ? A Cold Steel or the EK model 5 ?
Click to expand...
Your happiness with your collection should be your guide here . Sounds like you want the EK , so that's what I recommend for you in this case ,as a collector . :)

If you are asking for the best Bowie for hard field use or fighting , something like a Cold Steel Trail Master might work better . :cool:

Any of Cold Steel's Bowies are all well proven ...except I would not recommend the 4034 steel versions for hard use .
 
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KenHash said:
Cold steel's Kraton handles do not "wear quickly".
My SRK bought in 1989 used pretty heavily decades ago.
Z82cWJ.jpg
Click to expand...
Interesting. I believe I can dig up 5 that's were worn out and not that old. I'll see if I still have them. They are just cheap rubber no reason to defend them.
 
HexY3co said:
Interesting. I believe I can dig up 5 that's were worn out and not that old. I'll see if I still have them. They are just cheap rubber no reason to defend them.
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I'm not "defending" them. Merely pointing out that a blanket statement that Cold Steel handles "wear quickly" is clearly not correct.
Maybe some do. But obviously the vast majority don't since they've been in use by CS for 42 years without "wear" becoming an issue.
I have owned 10-15 Cold Steel fixed blades over the years and none of them have had any wear issues with the handles.
 
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HexY3co said:
Interesting. I believe I can dig up 5 that's were worn out and not that old. I'll see if I still have them. They are just cheap rubber no reason to defend them.
Click to expand...
I suspect : You either bought clones or exposed the handles to some harsh solvent or DEET ? Or physical abuse .

I've had many of the Cold Steel Kraton handles ( some IIRC, for 40yrs or so ) , with only minor wear and zero "melting " or stickiness .

They are subject to wear , as any rubbery material is going to be . Can be cut , so not the best for a throwing knife .

One of my favorite handle materials otherwise . Great grip under all conditions . Excellent thermal and shock insulation . :cool:
 
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