svord tempsky bowie

kalama

kalama

Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
1,229
does anyone out there own a svord tempsky bowie,i am looking to get one,,but would like to see some handle pics an knife in hand pics,,please,,would like ones honest opinion on this knife,,i was also looking at the down under outback bowie,,i know this knife has some good an bad vibes on this site but i just want the performance opinions please,if anyone has used it,,an if anyone would like to sell or trade a tempsky or outback let me know,,,aloha
 
Hi there,
I might be willing to move my Outback bowie---Won't say anything more than that as this isn't a sale forum but I'll chuck you a PM.

I honestly haven't used it for much so it's pretty much new. I have, however, used an AWFUL lot of similarly sized knives so I can give you these impressions:

1) While a long way from custom-quality in terms of fit and finish, it's also a long way from custom price--at least a custom built the same way and taken to a mirror finish. There are some inclusions in the brass of the guard and various measurements that aren't quite exact from side to side if you look with a hyper-critical eye (which I'm incapable of not doing) but they wouldn't affect performance in the slightest and it still makes for a good looking knife. I've had people who are not knife people comment on it to the tune of, "That looks like the Dundee knife" so they obviously captured the aesthetic. And, while there are some cosmetic quibbles, I will say that my example, at least, seems to be very solidly put together.

2) I tend to avoid stainless steel in big heavy blades just from a durability standpoint. That said, 440C seems to be fairly tough for a high-carbon stainless when heat treated right, and the factory edge bevel (and primary grind) on this knife are definitely ground hefty so I'd think in normal big-knife use it would be absolutely fine. I don't mean to imply that it's dull--it'll shave hair easily--but the geometry leans towards the sharp hatchet and away from the straight razor. It's really only as you get into thinner geometries on a big knife like on competition cutters that you'll see the non-stainless tool and bearing steels pull away from stainless in terms of durability and overall performance.

3) This is a HEAVY knife. No distal taper and a fairly short tapered section out towards the point, it's definitely a front-heavy chopper/cleaver versus a fighter. I only bring that up as the knife in the Crocodile Dundee movies is shown being whirled around with great finesse and speed, but it's important to remember that at almost all times when you see it on screen, it was an aluminum knife. Only in a couple very brief scenes (once it's used to cut through a rope, and a couple others when driven into a semi-hard surface) is Paul Hogan actually holding onto a piece of steel.

4) The sheath doesn't rival the best custom leather benders but it's fairly well constructed and certainly more interesting than your average factory sheath. If I were actually going to walk around with the thing in the outdoors, I'd remove the little dangling bone pieces as they're magnificent noise makers slapping around on the knife, but that is very easily done.

I sent you a PM
 
The new Svord fixed blades are a great value for the money IMO, they come with a very sharp convex edge and are pretty tough knives(I haven't handled the bowie your talking about but the Pig sticker) I just think they haven't really been "discovered" yet.
 
i love to carry bowies in the field although i dont care for stainless on a big knife ,i do like the looks of the outback,cant find any post of members beating it up,so its performance is in question,plus i read there custormer service sucks..but i am willing to be the first person to really test it out..if i can get one..svord on the other hand are awesome blades i owned two,i need that tempsky...theres a boar running around with tempsky all over it...
 
...scrap that idea, and get a Western W49 on the "big auction site." You won't be sorry.
 
If you can find an old carbon one, those Westerns are great old knives.
 
4eb1b09e.jpg


Sheath looks good and leather is quite thick. The strap retains the bowie well and releasing the strap is easy.

9c081b0a.jpg


In hand the blade seems kinda large but is very light for the size. If one looks carefully one can see where the spine is tempered differently from the color. the handle is comfortable but the wood is nothing to shout about. I'd rehandle it in a different wood or micarta or even G10 someday. The guard is crazy thick and very solid.

e0ed409b.jpg


Spine is not too thick. You can check out specs in websites for accurate details. For me it is just right and too thick will result in it being to heavy cause this blade is kinda long and rather wide.

f6feab56.jpg


Tip is very strong. The reverse edge is sharpened for back cuts.

I have taken this blade chopping in tropical rainforests and it chops quite ok in dense tropical woods. The edge is hardened quite well as I've taken a bastard file to it to check the hardness. The tip stands to stabbing and prying when I tested it on the dead trees.

Hope this is helpful :)
 
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[video=youtube;5r4E2n83dmk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r4E2n83dmk[/video]

google is your friend .
 
i had some westerns in carbon an stainless,good knives...that handle is long ,,man i like it..i seen every vid on youtube im going to get one,,i am also in the process of getting the down under outback..i want to test both side by side,,,carbon vs stainless,,battle of the bowies
 
Cotherion said:
4eb1b09e.jpg


Sheath looks good and leather is quite thick. The strap retains the bowie well and releasing the strap is easy.

9c081b0a.jpg


In hand the blade seems kinda large but is very light for the size. If one looks carefully one can see where the spine is tempered differently from the color. the handle is comfortable but the wood is nothing to shout about. I'd rehandle it in a different wood or micarta or even G10 someday. The guard is crazy thick and very solid.

e0ed409b.jpg


Spine is not too thick. You can check out specs in websites for accurate details. For me it is just right and too thick will result in it being to heavy cause this blade is kinda long and rather wide.

f6feab56.jpg


Tip is very strong. The reverse edge is sharpened for back cuts.

I have taken this blade chopping in tropical rainforests and it chops quite ok in dense tropical woods. The edge is hardened quite well as I've taken a bastard file to it to check the hardness. The tip stands to stabbing and prying when I tested it on the dead trees.

Hope this is helpful :)
Click to expand...

Damn man! That is a big blade isn't it. More machete than bowie knife I reckon.
 
Yeah, edge is a bit too thick, I'll get it reground a bit. But it handles like a machete but with a sturdiness of a wood chopper. In short, me likee :)
 
Barman1 said:
Old thread bump but still relevant enough to throw a picture in I guess.
Old Gus was quite the renaissance man, I'm just getting into his journal.
And the knife does have quite the hatchet-like convex edge.
I'm working on refining it a little bit at a time.
ooTK88z.jpg
Click to expand...
the pic did not shown up to me .
but i can imagine.
hahah,thank you .
 
I see the picture... :D
I have the VTG in the mail.... It's even Bigger, I hope it is swingable? haha
 
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