Putting the 'ole bowie to work

[beckerhead]

I decided to dust off my Marine Raider Bowie for a little impromptu light testing. The 'ole lad came through just fine. No edge damage, chipping, rolling, etc. Still slices paper decently, and will (although uncomfortably now ) still shave a bit.

I scraped up an old seasoned limb and whacked it into around 40 pieces counting the ones that flew away at mach 2 .

Then I proceeded to cudgel through a nice slab of oak, blown down in the recent storm. It made about 8 or 9 medium splits, and I took a few down to kindling size just for good measure.

Here is an after shot of the blade, and my poor hickory baton sans bark.

And lastly, some paper curls before and after, not too bad for a cheap beater.

 

[Chris Pierce]

Was this with the factory edge?

 

[beckerhead]

Was this with the factory edge?

No, had I used the factory edge, I would have needed to substitute a tub of margarine and a stick of butter for the wood. I just dropped it a few degrees, and smoothed it out.

 

[pitdog]

Great stuff bro, what more can ya ask of a Camp knife !!!!

What with Mora's and Marine Raider Bowie's it makes you wonder why we spend all the cash we do on knives !!!!!

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Great stuff bro, what more can ya ask of a Camp knife !!!!

What with Mora's and Marine Raider Bowie's it makes you wonder why we spend all the cash we do on knives !!!!!

All right! I've had enough of this!!! Who are you? And what did you do with pitdog?

Doc

 

[pitdog]

All right! I've had enough of this!!! Who are you? And what did you do with pitdog?

Doc

LOL !!!!!

 

[bladefrienzy]

Don't ya just love it when a cheaper knife just plain works!

 

[Blood_Grooves]

Don't ya just love it when a cheaper knife just plain works!

Not when you just spent $200 knife, that works JUST as good!...

 

[beckerhead]

Not when you just spent $200 knife, that works JUST as good!...

"just" being the operative term. LOL

 

[Unsub]

Cheap knives are great and work 90% as well as a top notch one for much less money but a really good knife is still worth the money for that extra 10% you get with the best. They also take less hand finishing on the part of the owner. That said one of my favorite se ups is a CS Norse hawk and a Mora 511.

 

[coyotebc]

The reality is that many (perhaps most) $20 knives of today are of better steel then most knives made 50 years ago

 

[alco141]

i have been thinking about those raider bowies and doing a rehandle job as i am not as partial to the plastic handles, maybe micarta, bone or antler. i guess i better get one ordered soon.
alex

 

[beckerhead]

They are stick tang, and I don't know the actual profile. The stock handle is actually quite comfortable to me.

 

[zman308]

For around $50 it is a good camp chopper. I agree that the blade needs to be reprofiled. The handle is comfortable and it seems to have good balance.

 

[bladefrienzy]

I've been wanting one of their Cutlass models.

 

[beckerhead]

I've been wanting one of their Cutlass models.

I know Kabar has a cutlass model, but I haven't seen an Ontario model in a cutlass configuration. Link??

 

[bladefrienzy]

Oops, my bad. It's the meds talking, I promise.

 

[HORACE]

BH--What is the top kinife above the Marine Raider in your first picture?
I also have a Marine Raider and agree with all the positive statements and think I paid less than $40 for it a few years back.
WHATTA deal!
thanks
--ho

 

[banana-clip]

Thats one sharp knife. Definitley a nice camp knife.

 

[beckerhead]

BH--What is the top kinife above the Marine Raider in your first picture?
I also have a Marine Raider and agree with all the positive statements and think I paid less than $40 for it a few years back.
WHATTA deal!
thanks
--ho

If you are asking about the black object to the right of the Bowie? That is my sheath, with kit attached. Just a simple, multi-pouch camera bag, but it will hold a lot of gear.
And yes, these knives are a heck of a deal. Some folks have had issues with heat treat, but mine is A-OK.