Open for Abuse

PhilL

PhilL

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
I don’t usually buy junk, and I have some very good knives. Good production knives, handmade, and customs. I have at least five custom knives in the works. I love Bowie knives. I bought a Tah-Chee Bowie from ABS Master smith PJ Tomes at Blade Show and I’m talking to Max Burnett about a Scagel styled Bowie. Still every once in a while I’ll see a knife I really want from a company I’m not too sure about. As much as I’d like to buy only customs the budget doesn’t always allow it. :(

I receive knife catalogs from many companies and I look at all of them in the porcelain reading room. One company that I’ve never ordered from always has inexpensive Bowie knives that from the pictures look great, Atlanta Cutlery. They have about a half a dozen Bowies all under $100 that I would consider buying just as display pieces. Particularly their Searles Bowie (man I love that style knife) looks decent.

(To see the Serales Bowie click on the New Orleans Bowie)
http://www.atlantacutlery.com/cgi-bin/ePages.storefront/1513245033/Catalog/2431-3050


Of course from hanging out here I now get nervous when they don’t mention the steel used in their knives. What they say is, “Authentic Bowies from Americas past, each from high carbon, hand-forged, tempered steel. Made by Windlass Steelcrafts to take and hold a razors edge.”

Now what the heck does that mean?
Does anyone know anything about these knives?
I’m not expecting these knives to pass the ABS Test, but are these things even knives?
Would anyone here admit to buying a knife like this just for Display?

Okay, let the abuse begin, just leave my family out of it. ;)
 
Phil,

Windlass Steelcrafts translates to "manufactured in India." The Windlass swords, in particular (especially those featured in Atlanta Cutlery's sister publication, Museum Replicas), have a poor-to-mediocre reputation. I don't own any myself, so I can't speak from personal experience, but at least as of a couple of years ago, the folks on Swordforum.com didn't have much to say about them that was positive. (This might have changed; you might consider asking there.)
 
windless steelcrafts is an indian production company that makes fair blades at best...they do make some medevil weapon repros that are ok....keep in mind any steel or metal can be made to have a razor edge and it will keep that edge depending on how the blade is used and what kind of metal it is made from and how it is ground and heat treated.....an example would be dozier D2 blades that take and really hold an edge a long time even with a lot of use but on the other hand i have made soup can lids razor sharp as a kid but they were dull within seconds /minutes of use....as you are obviously into the better cutlery dont waste you money on these knives made from inferior steel at best with crappy heat treat and poorly fitted handles....if you gotta spend a hundred or less there are many many decent blades available in the bowie size that will fill your needs much better and not be a waste of time and money....display piece or not they are not worth it in my honest opinion....if ya gotta have a display piece cas iberia is a much better value.....feverdoc
 
Phil -- as a follow-up, here's the comment from the Highlander Sword Shopper's Guide that I remembered concerning Windlass:

...However, more recently, Museum Replicas began to outfit their products with the blades of parent company Windlass Steelcrafts. Many fans have written in and provided much feedback regarding the poor quality of Windlass blades. They are more prone to damage when used for swordplay re-enactment, despite the quality improvement process that Museum Replicas states they have made to Windlass Steelcrafts' forging process.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, Ken. :( I didn't even think of BF's sword forum, because the conversations about Windlass I remembered came Swordforum.com rather than here. Mea culpa.
 
Thanks for all the information about swords, but I was really looking for information about Bowies, Searles Bowies in particular. I understand the connection you're making in regard to the quality of Windlass/ Museum Replicas swords. My reason for asking about Atlanta Cutlery is that they're the only company that I've found that show what I consider to be Traditonal styled Bowies, are there others?
Once again I'd consider buying one of these knives only as a Display Piece. What I would like is a reasonable reproduction with good (not perfect) Fit & Finish. This knife would be more to scratch and itch, or as a quick fix until I can afford to do a Custom one. Heck I may even make my own reproduction out of wood, just to have something to hold in my hand. I've done it before.
 
Phill: Those bowies from India or others from red china are the only way to get such large knives for that little money. They have a place, just as the bowie styles from United Cutlery made in Taiwan have a place. United and their dealers sell many, many thousands of those knives. The people who buy them often go on to collect better quality, also true of those from India, Pakastan, and other nations with really cheap labor. all the best, A. G.
 
I definitely agree with A.G.'s comments, too; hope I didn't give the impression that I was trying to consign Windlass to the Unspeakable Trashheap of Junkdom. While I might purchase such merchandise and be willing to take what I get (as my demands on a knife are not that extreme, on average), Phil's comment that he "doesn't buy junk" led me to believe he was looking for a yay-or-nay on whether Windlass was up to his [presumably] usual standards of quality.
 
AG, I'm sure that United and Frost sell a bunch of knives, and that some of their buyers discover and move up to better an better quality knives. I was kind of wondering if collectors ever go the other way, and if they'll buy a lesser quality knife until they can get something like it in a higher quality knife?

I'll admit when I started this thread I was expecting a few laughs and some ribbing that I or anyone here would openly admit to considering buying anything that we knew to be less than the best quality. I was just trying to be open and honest that "Yes" I do look and at times think about buying something just for looks. The reason I mentioned Atlanta Cutlery is that unlike some of the Fantasy knives of other companies, Atlanta has some Bowie patterns that I really do like. Since I don't see any other manufacturers making a Searles Bowie then my only next choice would be to have one custom made. Sometimes I just need a knife.

I found another thread here at BFC, and it turns out someone else is looking at the same Searles Bowie from Atlanta Cutlery.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=165636

I'm going to hold off for a while. I want to see if Greg gets one. If he does and thinks it's okay I might be tempted to get one also. Even if he doesn't I know the next time I get that catalog I'll see that knife again and probably think about getting one. ;)
 
If I remember correctly, there was a thread in the ROS forum that had some favorable comments about the ACB's. Basically rated it as better than no bowie, better than the junk, but by far not best. Then along came the Ontario Helles Belles.
To bad that forum went down :(
 
Ebb, it's interesting you should suggest Ontario Helles Belles Bowie, several people have. Although I'm sure it's a quality knife, it's just not what I'm looking for. Now if there were a Searles style Bowie in that price range at that quality level, I'd own one by now.

The production Bowie I'm really looking forward to is the Camillus/Fisk Bowie, that is going to be a great knife. I love the style and I already have one on order. ;)
 
While I would never pay $100 ish for one Phil, do what ever feels right for you. Is it a nice display item or $100 that could be invested in a real one? Up to you.
 
PhilL,
Actually, I meant that the OHB took over the niche that the Atlanta Cutlery Bowies had previously filled :)
The only Ontario/Bagwell that does it for me is the Gambler, but then again I'm not a wood handle kinda guy.
Maybe post this in the Cane & stick forum at KF.c that JVC & JAK moderate?
 
I thought I should mention my own experience with Atlanta Cutlery/Museum Replicas. I live about an hour's drive from their showroom, and went there a couple of weeks ago looking for a dagger.
I bought a Renaissance Dagger with a twelve inch blade, and will be taking it back to them this week. The blade has a dip on one side, and the fuller on one side is off-center. The blade is also light and thin, and I would be afraid to drop it on a hard surface.

They offer sharpening for an extra fee. I told the clerk I wanted the dagger sharpened, and she went in back to ask about it. She came back and said the dagger could be sharpened, but they would not sharpen the knives advertised under the Atlanta Cutlery brand, because "they would not take it".

IMO their products aren't worth anywhere close to the prices they charge. If you can find one for $10 or $20 and need a wall hanger, go for it. Otherwise look elsewhere.
 
If you're going to spend $100 US on a factory knife, first take a look at http://www.akg.org.au/ - a bad exchange rate for us in Oz means there can be some bargains for you guys.
 
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