The perfect custom Bowie - 12 inches - a Graill quest

DarkoMaledictus

DarkoMaledictus

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Jun 22, 2010
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148
Hey guys.

was looking to find the very best in bowie knives. Was looking for something in the 12 inch range with steel that is virtually indestructable (read Busse strengh ;)) and with a polish finish that will be somewhat resistant to rust (like infi steel (not a fan of coatings)).

Any recommendations on a custom or even semi custom knife that would fit the bill?

Saw some killer blades like this one:

orig.jpg


Yes it does look good and it is a custom, but I want a workhouse not a queen so no idea if this would fit the bill and from what I read this seemed to be a special once in a life time order. Also not looking to take a loan on the house ;). If something does fit the bill at a lower price I am opened to suggestions :)!

Anyway, any help would be appreciated fellow knife collectors.
 
Well if INFI fits the bill for the blade then maybe get something from the Busse Custom Shop.
 
12" blade or 12" overall?

What about handle material? Natural or synthetic?

Any rough idea of budget - under 500, 500 to 1k, 1k to 1500 etc?

How important is corrosion resistance? If it is highly important to you, you're pretty much limited to laminates or stainless steel.

How long are you prepared to wait for your knife to be made?

Are you planning on using this knife?

When you say "virtualy indestructable" I take it you mean when used as a knife, right? Not a sharpened hunk of steel designed to "survive" some absurd non knife-related application, right?

Roger

PS - that Foster / Broadwell collaboration is one of my all-time favs, but I would call it a subhilt fighter, not a bowie. Is the subhilt a feature you are looking for?
 
RogerP said:
12" blade or 12" overall?

What about handle material? Natural or synthetic?

Any rough idea of budget - under 500, 500 to 1k, 1k to 1500 etc?

How important is corrosion resistance? If it is highly important to you, you're pretty much limited to laminates or stainless steel.

How long are you prepared to wait for your knife to be made?

Are you planning on using this knife?

When you say "virtualy indestructable" I take it you mean when used as a knife, right? Not a sharpened hunk of steel designed to "survive" some absurd non knife-related application, right?

Roger

PS - that Foster / Broadwell collaboration is one of my all-time favs, but I would call it a subhilt fighter, not a bowie. Is the subhilt a feature you are looking for?
Click to expand...


-For 12'' I was talking about the blade.
-It will be a user, rarely used but for my survival trips I will definetly bring it along.
-Price range would be around 500$, maybe a bit more if it fits the bill 100%.
-Lapse time : No real timeline, so guess one year or less would be fine.
-When I say indestructible I just want it to compare to busse toughness. Noss did some excellent destruction test on a battle Mistress and if the bowie can be somewhat in the same ballpark I would be happy :).
-For rust, it doesn't need to be rust proof, probably my best bet would be INFI as it seems to be tough as nails and still resist rust a lot better than other high carbon steels.

...hmm might have to look at the custom busse shop, is there an official web site for that? Will they build you a knife with your specifications?

thanks for the replies guys!

Edit : Jerry from Busse was doing some bowies lately, but they are not the same as its beautifull Blue grass bowie...that thing is a real beauty :)!

here is a pic of it :

bussebluegrassbowie.jpg


Here is the newer Bowie design from Busse.
BCSBattlePappy2.jpg

Personally prefer the older one. Also the blade geometry looks a lot less similar to a bowie than the Blue Grass Bowie.

edit : About the subhilt fighter you are probably right, but I just found the pic on thread about the contenders for best bowie of the year 2009, so figured I would just slide with it :).
 
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RogerP said:
When you say "virtualy indestructable" I take it you mean when used as a knife, right? Not a sharpened hunk of steel designed to "survive" some absurd non knife-related application, right?
Click to expand...

DarkoMaledictus said:
-When I say indestructible I just want it to compare to busse toughness. Noss did some excellent destruction test on a battle Mistress and if the bowie can be somewhat in the same ballpark I would be happy :).
Click to expand...


I don't want to speak for Roger but when he said that I think he was referring to those kinds of "non knife-related" tests.

Ask in the Busse forum about the Custom Shop, I'm sure you'd get lots of answers and pics.
 
SBranson said:
I don't want to speak for Roger but when he said that I think he was referring to those kinds of "non knife-related" tests.

Ask in the Busse forum about the Custom Shop, I'm sure you'd get lots of answers and pics.
Click to expand...

Probably right, I will check on the Busse forum for more info! Thanks for the input, much appreciated!
 
I don't know what INFI steel looks like in terms of finish, so I can't make a recommendation based on that.

How does this Tad Lynch bowie grab you:

orig.jpg


Not as large as you are looking for (12" blade custom bowie will be hard to do for $500). It's a tough, stout bowie that's also got loads aof character and good looks. It's in your budget.

How important is a double guard? If you go for something like a camp knife or chopper with full tang and scales, that's one way to save some dollars.

Something like this Matt Gregory piece:

orig.jpg


For a bit up in price, I think this is an awesome BIG bowie by Mike Ruth:

orig.jpg


All of the above knives are carbon steel, however.

If INFI steel is your most important criterion, then a Busse maybe exactly what you need to get.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
I don't know what INFI steel looks like in terms of finish, so I can't make a recommendation based on that.

How does this Tad Lynch bowie grab you:

orig.jpg


Not as large as you are looking for (12" blade custom bowie will be hard to do for $500). It's a tough, stout bowie that's also got loads aof character and good looks. It's in your budget.

Roger
Click to expand...

Wow it is a beauty! How long is the blade on that one? 9'' 10''? Might be a good option! Will definitly put it on the list!

Just found his web site :
http://www.lynchknives.com

Anyway on looks alone this knife is inching its way home :)! Also the handle seems like its made of Iron wood! I worked with Iron wood on some Inlays I made for a balisong, in my opinion one of the best woods out there for knifemaking! :D

thanks for this great suggestion!
 
Going by recollection it's 9 - 9 1/2" in blade length. Handle is maple, but he can put whatever wood or synthetic you want on it. Ironwood would be a great choice. He does some great guardless choppers, too.

Check out David Wesner as well:

http://www.kelseycreekknifeworks.com/

Roger
 
Mr. Maledictus;

in my humble opinion, Your search for the "Grail" is exactly that. The search for something that has not been found.

There only a few bladesmiths, and I don't know of any factory, who can actually pull off a 12 inch bowie that is not just a knife shaped hunk of cro-bar. It is not easy to make a knife that big and have it balance with anything like grace. Also, the "survival" testing you mentioned, and the pictures of knives you seem to like indicate to me that you really want a "chopper, or "camp knife" that is shaped like a bowie or a fighter.
I don't know what INFI is, but I believe you are struggling with the age old issue that we all have: Stainless vs. Carbon. Stainless doesn't rust, but doesn't perform like carbon. You may have to accept that you are going to have to make that tough choice, or as Roger said, maybe go with a laminate. However, in your price range laminate is probably out, but so are MOST customs, and MOST factory knives that would fit your "bill".
Matt Lamey is maybe the closest I can think of in your price range who can make a knife that will perform like you need it to. Tad Lynch would be another excellent choice.

I looked at Busse custom knives at one point. I haven't checked their prices lately, but at the time they were asking $800. or better for something close to what you are looking for, and they were coated.

Best of luck.

Adam-
 
Matt Lamey makes an excellent bowie - going to be a bit north of $500 but not way north.

http://lameycustomknives.com/Site/Welcome.html

That DesRosier guy (and gal) make some pretty awesome knives as well. ;)

http://www.alaskablades.com/

Jason Knight is offering a VERY good deal on a custom chopper on his site as well. Hard to beat value for a full size Master Smith piece. Check out the Sooke Mountain Chopper:

http://www.jasonknightknives.com/

I'm with Adam on the blade length issue. There's not much a 12" blade can do that a 9-10" blade can't - and the benefits of portability, mass and balance favor the "smaller" blade. People like what they like though.

Roger
 
i looked into busse customs and at the time it was $100 per inch so you are looking at $1700+ for a 12" blade.

Just recently got a Lamey bowie with 11" blade that is as close to a grail bowie as i have found. Just an amazing fighting bowie. Check Matt's site for better pics than mine. A true master piece imo!
MARKS006-1.jpg


For a 12" blade that is balanced as a fighting bowie i would look to Bagwell as he is a master of that but these go well beyong your price limit. Here is my two Hell's Belles around the 11" mark.
003-3.jpg


I have a Busse Mr. Mofo with 8" blade that is a good utility fighting design that sometimes hits the exchange around your price limit. Might just fit the bill. Bottom of pic next to Fehrman Hoodhunter and Keating Crossada.
100_1650.jpg


My suggestion would be to either save to get what you really want or settle for something else within your budget. I'm sure there are many up and coming makers who can put one of your designs to steel for a fair price.
 
crossada said:
i looked into busse customs and at the time it was $100 per inch so you are looking at $1700+ for a 12" blade.

Just recently got a Lamey bowie with 11" blade that is as close to a grail bowie as i have found. Just an amazing fighting bowie. Check Matt's site for better pics than mine. A true master piece imo!
MARKS006-1.jpg


For a 12" blade that is balanced as a fighting bowie i would look to Bagwell as he is a master of that but these go well beyong your price limit. Here is my two Hell's Belles around the 11" mark.
003-3.jpg


I have a Busse Mr. Mofo with 8" blade that is a good utility fighting design that sometimes hits the exchange around your price limit. Might just fit the bill. Bottom of pic next to Fehrman Hoodhunter and Keating Crossada.
100_1650.jpg


My suggestion would be to either save to get what you really want or settle for something else within your budget. I'm sure there are many up and coming makers who can put one of your designs to steel for a fair price.
Click to expand...

Wow some nice blades you have there! About price max it can go beyound 500 easily if its what i'm searching for. But the 1700 price tag for a Busse custom seems a bit over my limit :rolleyes:
 
Trying to find the official site for Bill Bagwell but having problems finding it. Anyone has it handy?
 
RogerP said:
http://www.alaskablades.com/

Jason Knight is offering a VERY good deal on a custom chopper on his site as well. Hard to beat value for a full size Master Smith piece. Check out the Sooke Mountain Chopper:

http://www.jasonknightknives.com/
Click to expand...

I've had excellent experience using the original SMC from J. Knight which is a fair amount shorter than you say you're looking for. It's made from W2, which is extremely excellent in the most awesome of ways. It is hard to imagine that INFI is much different than W2, or any better. I'd put my SMC up against any INFI blade any day.
 
DarkoMaledictus said:
Trying to find the official site for Bill Bagwell but having problems finding it. Anyone has it handy?
Click to expand...
Bill does things the old fashioned way, by phone:D 1-903-938-0905

His blades will be running the same as a custom busse i'm afraid.
 
I do believe that this may be the grail you seek;

rhea.jpg


Lin Rhea is a true master in the art, who produces a peerless tool. Form must follow function from Lin's point of view. You can count on the fact that that which you cannot see in the construction of the knife is done to the utmost in terms of attention to detail and careful design.

You might pay slightly upwards of $1500 for a knife like this, and wait for a year or so, but I feel extremely confident that it is money well spent. Your progeny will see this beautiful tool as a wonderful investment, and will hopefully pass this on as a family heirloom.

Lin has been a competitive cutter and has achieved success. Therefore his knowledge of what a knife IS REALLY CAPABLE OF is in the top few percentile of knifemakers who actually test the crap out of their large knives.

Last but not least, Lin is a truly wonderful human being. An ethical, thoughtful and considerate man who loves to build knives for the long haul.

www.rheaknives.com
 
I can't mention any more than have already been mentioned that are in your price range

All I can say is that any of the makers mentioned here blades will feel much different than A Busse. Don't get me wrong I think Busse makes a great prouduction knife but some of these makers mentioned here are the best there are at balance and feel
 
JParanee said:
I can't mention any more than have already been mentioned that are in your price range

All I can say is that any of the makers mentioned here blades will feel much different than A Busse. Don't get me wrong I think Busse makes a great prouduction knife but some of these makers mentioned here are the best there are at balance and feel
Click to expand...

P.S. Welcome to the world of custom Bowie's it is an addiction and although I have what I consider to be some of the best Bowies in the world from makers like Bagwell, Fisk , Dean ,Knight , Foster and Lamey I am still always looking for the perfect Bowie
 
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