Please help me decide on a large blade.

R

R.H.Clark

Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
771
I'm wanting a large blade again.No real practical reason.I just like the romance of carrying a large blade.There are three I'm thinking about.I'll list the plus and minus sides of each.I would love to hear some opinions even though I'm sure everyone gets tired of these kinds of threads.

1.CS Laredo bowie
Plus- Looks,price,
minus-where it's made,not full tang,

2.Fallkniven NL1 Thor
About the only downside I see with this blade is at $350 I don't know if I'll really use it like I would a cheaper blade.

3.Browning Crowell Barker
I see this as a good choice.It should be tougher with the full tang than the CS but I still hate that's it made in Taiwan.

I guess one real question is will the Fallkniven be twice as nice as the Browning since it costs twice as much.I'm concerned about CQ issues the Browning may have with grind and heat treat considering where it's made.
 
R.H.Clark said:
I'm wanting a large blade again.No real practical reason.I just like the romance of carrying a large blade.There are three I'm thinking about.I'll list the plus and minus sides of each.I would love to hear some opinions even though I'm sure everyone gets tired of these kinds of threads.

1.CS Laredo bowie
Plus- Looks,price,
minus-where it's made,not full tang,

2.Fallkniven NL1 Thor
About the only downside I see with this blade is at $350 I don't know if I'll really use it like I would a cheaper blade.

3.Browning Crowell Barker
I see this as a good choice.It should be tougher with the full tang than the CS but I still hate that's it made in Taiwan.

I guess one real question is will the Fallkniven be twice as nice as the Browning since it costs twice as much.I'm concerned about CQ issues the Browning may have with grind and heat treat considering where it's made.
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I'd vote for #2:thumbup:...it's only money;)


about #3 et al...Taiwan produces pretty good stuff(approx.80%-20% good).It shouldn't be confused with Chinese crap(80%-20% bad)
 
My vote is for the Browning. One hell of a chopper. :thumbup:
Scott
 
When Scott Gossman makes a chopper recommendation, I'd say it's worth listening to!

I've got one that's not on your list, but I've very much liked my KaBar Heavy Bowie (I shuddered at the thought at first, too). It's also half as pricey as most that you listed.

But of the three listed, I think the Browning would make a very nice tool.
 
My vote is a 16" bonecutter khukuri from HI:thumbup:

sidebyside.jpg
 
I'd sooner get a Scrapyard Dogfather or Coldsteel Trailmaster if I was looking for a blade of that size while on a budget !
 
Browning Crowell / Barker. See the promotional vid. It chops and cuts supremely well.

I think the Thor is the better made knife, but I think the Browning is likely the better user and the best bang for your buck. If I could get past the Taiwan thing I'd have one. I wish I could but I'm stuck in an unreasonable state.
 
Browning in action wmv

It's about as rare as rocking horse dung to see a big stock factory blade that can cut like that, regardless of maker, price, country of manufacture.

....
Caveat: Although the host is clean from nasties you may get adverts. I dunno. I've got about 3 billion IP addresses banned from my machines and take several precautions client side to stop me ever seeing ads. So don't moan at me if you see something granny may not like.
 
For bang for the buck, I'd take the "Himalayan Imports khukuri" idea very seriously. Those knives have MUCH more character than any machine-made knife you're going to get instead.

Hard to go wrong with the Ka-Bar "large heavy" Bowie (Model 1277). They're good, surprisingly light, slice well (due to full flat grind), and are plenty tough, in my experience. Not bank-breaking, either.

I'm sure the Fallkniven is great, but so far out of my price range I've never even seen one. Downside is I bet it sinks in the lake just as fast as a cheaper knife, but you're out 300 bucks or whatever with the Fallkniven.

Browning: interesting knife. I'd love one. But expensive.

Other possibility: go onto eBay, find a full-tang, carbon-steel-bladed Bowie knife made in Solingen, Germany, by Edge or Edge Mark brand or one of the other identical companies. You can usually score a quite-decent knife in 1095 carbon steel, with an 8- or 10-inch blade, for maybe $50 or less.
 
Thanks guys
I've got the buying feaver but I going to try to hold out a little longer.I hear Bark River is still going to put out a 9" plus bowie this year.

I really like the looks of the Fallkniven but.....$$$

A khukuri just doesn't have the same romantic appeal for me.I know it's a great chopper but I just can't daydream about fighting bears and indians with one.

A Ka-Bar bowie would be a practical choice but I did want something less common.

I'll probably go with the Browning but I did want to hear your thoughts on the others.

Thanks for the input
Randy
 
I don't own any of the others but recently sold a Browning to a fellow forumite. It was incredibly sharp and made very well, just too big for me. You will like it!
 
hollowdweller said:
My vote is a 16" bonecutter khukuri from HI:thumbup:

sidebyside.jpg
Click to expand...

I'll see your 16" and raise you a 22". :D

IMG_4837.jpg


R.H.Clark said:
A khukuri just doesn't have the same romantic appeal for me.I know it's a great chopper but I just can't daydream about fighting bears and indians with one.
Click to expand...

No bears...zombies. :thumbup:

The Browning looks like a good knife. For the price I have been thinking of picking one up.
 
If you're looking for a big blade and are going to use it while you are in the woods, how about a Randall Smithsonian 12-11. Be just like Jim Bowie in the woods.:D If the Smithsonian is too big for you, how about a Randall 1-8 or 5-8, single hilt, thumb notches, stainless blade stag handle. Or you could always use a Tom Krein TK7.
bladerunner67
 
bladerunner67 said:
If you're looking for a big blade and are going to use it while you are in the woods, how about a Randall Smithsonian 12-11. Be just like Jim Bowie in the woods.:D If the Smithsonian is too big for you, how about a Randall 1-8 or 5-8, single hilt, thumb notches, stainless blade stag handle. Or you could always use a Tom Krein TK7.
bladerunner67
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If he cant afford a $350 knife, hows he going to afford one for $1000??? Or maybe by the time the 56 month wait is over he could have saved up?? :D
 
I am surprised no one mentioned the RtakII, although the first model did not have such a good reputation the second generation seems to have fixed the flaws the original was known for.
 
Yea,...$350 is about the limit I would want to spend.Even at that I might have trouble making it a real user blade.I don't want anything so expensive I'll be afraid to treat it rough.

I've thought about the RTAKII and a big plus is I beleive it is US made.I've heard however that the handle is rather large and the sheath could be a lot better.The thing is for just a few dollars more the Browning seems much more refined.

I've also thought about a RD9 or Mineral Mountain Bowie.While I haven't handled these blades I assume they also have less refinement.I want a blade with distal taper and a good grind not a sharpened pry bar.
 
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