Prather War Bowie

sasquatch1

sasquatch1

Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
459
Has anybody used the Prather war bowie or handled it? i'd like to know because i like the looks of it but would like to know how it handles and preforms.
 
Well, I've not used one, but I'm looking at it on the TOPS website. It's a good looking knife and has an integral guard which I'm rather fond of. What do you intend to use it for? It looks a *bit* on the heavy side for a fighter at 1/4" stock, but that's certainly personal preference, and it is a fighter first and foremost with that long clip and narrow tip. For utility purposes it would certainly beat having nothing, but wouldn't be my choice. Again, it's going to be heavy, but that weight is going to be very close to being centrally balanced due to the blade shape/geometry and not out front where you can make use of it in chopping. Also, the long clip again is going to greatly reduce your ability to baton/split with the knife both because it's hard to get a good solid hit on it and also because it will eat up any wooden baton in pretty short order; not to mention the fact that I'd be worried about the strength of the--again--narrow tip under repeated impact. Now, you may have no interest in chopping or batoning, but in that case I don't know why you'd want a 1/4" thick field blade.

Entirely up to you. I have several knives in my collection that fall into the "because it's cool" category and Prather War Bowie certainly fits in that. For legitimate use, fighting is what it's going to be good at (or hog hunting, but the stab is what it was designed for). If you want a large utility knife, there are more boring designs with simpler grinds that will easily surpass it. All of that said, and as I'm fond of bringing up, primitive man survived/thrived in the wild for literally tens of thousands of years with sharp rocks as his tools, and would have LOVED to get his hands on any steel knife. Thus, if you want it enough and decide to take it camping, you can probably make it work.
 
thanks for the overview, i planned on using it on campouts and in the woods. im the kind of person who uses all of my knives or i wont hold on to them. and while i'd love to go hog hunting with only a knife someday its not really in my near future. your right i would use it for chopping and probably batoning. they knife seems like it could take it TOPS makes tough stuff from what i hear.
 
Their stuff is tough, but their geometries generally leave something to be desired. Now, as far as their typical line goes, this one is likely cut cut better than many as it's a nearly-full height grind versus the saber grind that they usually do, but being a TOPS it's still going to be thick at the edge shoulder and will likely require a bit of reprofiling before it'll really cut well. I know it isn't nearly as cool looking, but I'm willing to bet the ESEE Junglas (http://www.eseeknives.com/junglas_machete.htm) would run circles around it for all uses other than fighting. Even being thinner stock, the added length and width towards the tip is going to give you more momentum out front, the straight spine will be approximately a million times better for batoning, and I know the factory edge geometry will be better. Until recently, both ESEE and TOPS knives were made by Rowen Manufacturing, before TOPS split off and went their own way. The materials are identical (steel, handle material, coating) and of equal quality, and the expense is pretty much the same. Just wanted to point it out, but if the TOPS rings your bell, get it and tell us how it does!
 
Thanks for the suggestion! I've been eyeing ESEE for a while too, im looking for a big multi use knife. so there is a lo of company's and makers to look at.
 
I liked the looks of it when I first saw it months ago. If I am going with an Integral I am going custom, or at least made by a maker here at bladeforms.

If the prather war bowie is what you are eying, and you want it multi-fuction, I would recommend you look at the Makers for Sale section of Bladeforums I am almost certain if you don't find a knife at least you can find a maker that works in a style you like. That Prather War Bowie is close to $300 I think.

You are also not alone in not keeping useful knives around, unused. I am much the same way except with my Randall knives.

EDIT: I also recently picked up an ESEE-6 knife. The handle is not nearly as comfortable as the fan base makes it sound. I had to put mine to a grinder for a few hours before I would use it at length. Other than that it is a nice size knife that works well, though the discomfort of the stock handle is not cool)
 
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Ergonomics are as subjective as beauty, as everybody's hands are different. I think the Busse Basic/Swamp Rat/Scrap Yard resiprine handles are nearly perfect for long term use, whiles others can't stand 'em.

As for cost, TOPS lists the Prather at about $180 retail, so if anyone paid $300 they needed to shop around a bit. ;)
+1 on the custom forums, some great stuff there at a variety of price points.
 
thanks for all the discussion guys, and yes i agree with your statement "Ergonomics are as subjective as beauty" i've been checking out some makers as well. its a so many knives not enough money to try them all at once ;)
 
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