Traditional Bowie

Thanks guys!!! I have 4 Knives on my mind. Here they are.
1. Svord Von Tempsky Full Size Bowie. Im really thinking about this... the only problem is the size... will it travel comfortably on my belt.. and its a little big for what I need.
2. Svord Von Tempsky Ranger Bowie. Ok, I really like this one it look like a full tang Buck 119 special and it has a nice "rustic look to it.
3.Bark River Grasso Bolo I This blade is perfect for what I need an amazing chopper (From what I hear..).
4.Bark River Trail Buddy III This blade is also perfect! But it has an extra puncturing power of the Bowie blade. it also look more like a Bowie to me.

Let me know what you guys think.
:) Thanks.
 
The Full size Von Tempsky is a bit big. The 7 inch model is much easier to carry. I have both and would likely carry the smaller of the two. As far as the Bark River models I don't have either. If it doesn't have a guard I won't carry it any more. The Bark river A2 is nice, and they come pretty sharp. All are convex models but I really can't comment on knives I haven't held and carried and neither of those BRK models are familiar to me besides in pictures.

Good luck.
 
HuntingKnives said:
... it also look more like a Bowie to me.

Let me know what you guys think.
:) Thanks.
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If you're lucky you might be able to pick up one of the Big Bark River Custom Bowies.


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Bark River Knives - Rio Grande Bowie




Big Mike
 
I think Bear & Son makes a decent reproduction of the Western W49 bowie as well, called the Gold Rush Bowie, usually found for $80 - 90.
 
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This model from H&R is large, almost 15" OAL, but is very traditional with a full tang and bark ram's horn handles, about $100.

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aguijonmagico said:
Why nobody mentioned the Cold Steel bowies? Are they bad?
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I didn’t mention them because I didn’t think of them. I have no personal experience.

Some people swear by the carbon steel Trailmaster and the smaller Recon Scout. By report they chop above their weight.

The sharp transition from blade to tang is a stress riser. If either knife breaks, it will likely break there. But many have been used hard for years without breaking.

After a lot of use the Kraton handle will fail on you. I know that from another Cold Steel knife I owned.
 
Raymond1000 said:
I didn’t mention them because I didn’t think of them. I have no personal experience.

Some people swear by the carbon steel Trailmaster and the smaller Recon Scout.

...By report they chop above their weight.

The sharp transition from blade to tang is a stress riser. If either knife breaks, it will likely break there. But many have been used hard for years without breaking.

After a lot of use the Kraton handle will fail on you. I know that from another Cold Steel knife I owned.
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I have two of the Recon Scout blades, both with custom handles, one in Stag and one in IPE.

I do agree with Raymond1000 in his comment about their chopping ability.

I also dislike the Kraton handles, or any textured handle, especially on a chopper.


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Customized Recon Scout with IPE Saber Style Handle




Big Mike
 
Performance wise the Browning Crowell Barker is excellent for chopping. Not as traditional looking but a mean knife.

The Black jack BRKT made "Tac Ops" prototypes are still available, excellently made by BRK of A2 with their convex edge, and better than the 1095 regular production models of the same knife. 4", 6", and 8". Big and tough. The Blackjack model 13 is still available A2 steel, 5.5", and beautiful.

Queen makes some smaller type very traditional knives in D2 for good prices.

If you can find anything you like in Blind Horse knives ( O-1 at rc 60), or Koster ( 3V) I'll attest to the quality and performance of them.

Of all the knives I've mentioned the Svord 7 inch Von Tempsky is my choice as a traditional bowie. It's not the sleekest, nicest looking, thinnest blade for slicing, or lightest but it is brute tough, L6 steel and wouldn't look out of place in any real outdoors type setting. It is a bowie though, and not a specialized knife that's great at one thing, but so so at others. A Dozier skinning knife is an example of that. The Von Tempsky is a much more rugged, tougher, but thicker bladed knife that will never carve small items, or skin or cape game like a dedicated skinning knife. It could baton, be used as a fighter, even do some prying or slapping nails in using the flat to drive the nail in. More of a rough jack of all trades. A Ford pick up of knives.

Get it in the 11 inch model, or the 8 inch A2 Tac Ops proto if you want to chop wood.

I would not put the recon scout or trailmaster in the same class toughness wise as a Von Tempsky. I do have both.
 
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