Nice, big bowie that won't break the bank

J

jec006

Joined
Feb 14, 2010
Messages
89
Hi Everyone,

I've been reading around the forums for a while now, but haven't really posted much.

I'm thinking about getting a large bowie knife, something substantial. Was wondering if anyone has any suggestions. This may be obvious given the forum we're in but I'm thinking something with wood/leather handles and a classic/traditional style.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated
 
For about $130.00 you can get a Paul Chen Hanwei Samuel Bell Bowie. A few years ago Blade mag said it was the best production bowie built. If you do a search for Paul Chen Hanwei Samuel Bell Bowie you'll find sites with pictures. A very pretty bowie IMO.

Best regards

Robin
 
Hen & Rooster makes several style bowies with ram's horn handles and 440C steel. They're a terrific value at around $75. Made in Spain.
 
Schrade made an excellent bowie 30 or 40 years ago, and they come up on ebay about once every month or every other month. Here is a link to a thread on them on BF: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=674013&highlight=Bowie

Also, two other similar size knives of excellent quality are the discontinued Buck 124 (very robust) and the discontinued Buck 120 ( a little lighter). They are all over ebay all the time. Both of them come in various handle materials, etches, etc. In fact, I have a couple in stag (pm me if interested).
 
Thanks guys,

I looked at the blades you guys are suggesting and they all seem pretty nice, but when I saw that Bell Bowie ... geez, that thing is beautiful. It took me a while to find one at a decent price but I put an order in. I'm excited to get it.

Those Hen & Rooster blades are really nice looking too, I'll keep them on my list of knives to get.

tongueriver, I actually have a 120 from around 1975 with micarta(?) (some sorta black polished handles). Its definitely a little light for my tastes, how much heavier/sturdier is the 124 in your opinion?
 
Early Buck phenolic handle 124, 14 ounces. Early Buck micarta slab handle 124, 12.3 ounces. Late Buck phenolic handle 120, 8.4 ounces. Late Buck elk (?) stag handle 7.5 ounces.
 
I know it not a traditional but it's American and a classic.

TS-OKC040_540.jpg


The Ontario Spec Plus SP10 is a modernized version of the WWII classic Marine Raider Bowie Design. It features a Kraton handle, a epoxy powder coated carbon steel blade, and a black Cordura and Leather sheath that side loads and is double snapped for security. The sheath also features a pivot ring for free movement during use. 9.785" blade, 15.125" overall
 
or not, the site that I tried to order the hanwei bell bowie from had incorrectly listed it as in stock....
 
jec006 said:
or not, the site that I tried to order the hanwei bell bowie from had incorrectly listed it as in stock....
Click to expand...


They're hard to find. After the very favourable report in Blade mag a few years ago they sold out quickly. Keep looking but if you can't find one do a search for Hanwei bowies, they did quite a number of patterns that you might like. There is a pretty nice dogbone handled bowie that would be my second choice.

Regards

Robin
 
How about this?

About 40 Bucks.

KA-BAR Knives: KABAR Bowie Knife, KA-1236

The illustrated KABAR knife is the KABAR Bowie Knife that features a 6 15/16" clip point bowie fixed blade made of DIN 1.4116 stainless steel, with a Rockwell hardness of 55-57. The stacked leather handle of this KABAR knife is slightly finger grooved for secure grip, and comes with red, white and black decorative spacers, a brass cross guard and an aluminum butt cap. A brown genuine leather sheath is included with this KABAR Knife. The KABAR Bowie Knife has an overall length of 11 13/16", and weighs .6 pounds.


KA-1236.jpg
 
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will do ebbtide, they're hard to come by apparently ... gosh i really want one now though
 
kidwholaughs said:
I know it not a traditional but it's American and a classic.

TS-OKC040_540.jpg


The Ontario Spec Plus SP10 is a modernized version of the WWII classic Marine Raider Bowie Design. It features a Kraton handle, a epoxy powder coated carbon steel blade, and a black Cordura and Leather sheath that side loads and is double snapped for security. The sheath also features a pivot ring for free movement during use. 9.785" blade, 15.125" overall
Click to expand...

Great value for cost :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Lots of Western W-49 bowies listed on ebay, price varies on condition but lots of good users available for around $50 with new ones just over $100-125
 
A couple of the best user bowies made in the last century are the original carbon steel puma white hunter 6377 model and the cattaraugus 225q both are aweosme user grade knives with a strong traditional flair. You can probaly get one or both off ebay or a gun or knife show.
 
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