wanting a bowie

S

spyderco_freak

Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
342
Hey I got about $120-$130 ish and I was wondering what knife I should get. I was thinking a might get a nice bowie. But I don't know what bowies are good or not.
 
Check out the Blackjack classics 1-5 and 1-7. More at the $150-175 price point but a great buy in my opinion.
 
You can buy 2 & almost 3 of these for that price:





1/4" thick, 1095 High Carbon steel. Made in America. I have pounded the snot out of mine & it laughs at me. Around $52 + shipping. Tip is SUPER sharp & pointy, it drew blood when i touched it. I did have to sharpen it when i got it, but no biggie to me. :D
 
heavyfoldersarebest said:
Becker BK9.
Click to expand...

Very good knife, though I dunno, when the average person thinks of a "bowie", they're likely not gonna think of something like the BK9, it just doesn't have the popular Bowie "image" to it IMO. Blame the movies and such, but I think when most people think of a "Bowie" knife, the image that comes to mind is something like the Ontario shown above or this for example:
CS39LLBT.jpg


Bk9 is awesome, and certainly worth buying, but if someone is looking for a Bowie, I suspect it's not gonna be quite what they're after.
 
There is an 1862 pattern Bowie on ebay currently at 71.00. Just look for it under AG Russell knives. Hope this helps.
 
You cant blame the movies, that's the type of knife Rezin had designed and Jim used in the Sandbar dual that made it famous.

Though if you are looking for the utility aspect of a Bowie knife and not the asthetics then I recommend KA-BAR LArge Heavy Bowie.

Place it along side that Ontario, the specs are the same just minus the guard, which I like, and I little less square around the tang junction. Well, it's a lot more rounded actually which could make for a stronger design.

Ps, I'm pretty suspectful that they both share the same designer but I dont know that for a fact.
 
Bear & Son Cutlery
14 3/8 " American Bowie Genuine India Stag Bone™
Model: 502
Sandvik 12C27M Stainless Steel Blade
502_1.png
 
stvpourciau said:
You cant blame the movies, that's the type of knife Rezin had designed and Jim used in the Sandbar dual that made it famous.
Click to expand...

Actually, that's not true. Original Bowies looked like this:
Fowlerkn.JPG


"The blade, as later described by Rezin Bowie, was 9.5 inches (24 cm) long, 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. It was straight-backed, described by witnessess as "a large butcher knife", and having no clip point nor any hand guard, with a simple riveted wood scale handle"
 
I've always admired the Scagle style Bowie. These are the pictures of the guy I bought this one from.



 
Here is a custom "Bowie" for $150. It may be sold though.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1085946-Bowie

In your price range if you want a Bowie-style/size knife for using, the Becker BK9 is a good one. The Ontario shown above is good too, based on reviews. That Cold Steel Laredo Bowie is a beauty, and it's been discussed and reviewed several times on BladeForums - a search should turn up a few reviews.
Something for looking at, traditional Bowie shape, that Bear looks nice but I've never been happy reviews of their steel though. You can even find Bear and Sons Bowie-sized knives with damascus (a very dark damascus) blades.

Boker had some large-ish knives in their Gaucho (made in Argentina) line.
 
DShiflet said:
Actually, that's not true. Original Bowies looked like this:
Fowlerkn.JPG


"The blade, as later described by Rezin Bowie, was 9.5 inches (24 cm) long, 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. It was straight-backed, described by witnessess as "a large butcher knife", and having no clip point nor any hand guard, with a simple riveted wood scale handle"
Click to expand...

Sort of. The Searles knife, which is similar to the one pictured, is certainly an early "Bowie" knife, but hardly has the "simple riveted wood scale handle" mentioned in the R. Bowie quote that you cited.

The Forrest knife does, however,

edwin_forrest.jpg


and it is believed to be the Sandbar knife....the "original" Bowie.
 
I got sidetracked by the hsitory from the question I was about ask.

What kind of Bowie?

Something that looks like an early Bowie?
Something that looks like a movie Bowie (with the guard and the clip and such)?
Or just a large knife like the BK9?
 
Thanks guys, I was aware if the blade details in the original Bowie but unaware that it lacked a guard.

Like my KA-BAR all the better now.

Guess I should be more aware if the details on our local history that I'm so darn proud of.

Soldier on O.P., sorry for the derail.

Check out the KA-BAR though. It's tough as nails, think the product number 1277? Not sure though, can't find it right now.

I'd put more money on it than the Ontario and less money than the BK9 but odds are none of them will break.
 
You can try to snag up an old Western W49 bowie. Looks very similar to the Ontario Marine Raider posted above but has a full tang and wood handles and I hear they are pretty tough knives. Also though it is a tad more than the price range you posted, you can also consider the Svord Von Tempsky bowie for around $200.
 
OP, what do you want to use the knife for? Its hard to suggest one without knowing its intended use.
 
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