What should a Bowie Knife be in 2026?

[Nate’s Knives]

 

[Mk-211]

Forgot about my Kizer little river bowie.

 

[SharpBits]

Forgot about my Kizer little river bowie.

View attachment 3185304

Nice lines. In-house design or is there a designer name attached?

 

[Mk-211]

Nice lines. In-house design or is there a designer name attached?

Kizer, Little River Bowie.

 

[jfk1110]

View attachment 3185150

That'll do it.....

 

[John A. Larsen]

I met Jim Keating at the Oregon Knife collector Show in Eugene, OR many years ago. He was in a lot of publications, and it always seemed he had a scowl in the photo, but he turned out to be a very friendly and easy to get along person. Nice to see he is still around. John

 

[argyle1812]

This is my ideal Bowie. I love a nice coffin handle

 

[jfk1110]

This is my ideal Bowie. I love a nice coffin handle

doug_kuster makes a nice blade....

 

[cbach8tw]

Have to post these again, but I think bigger than a practical bowie I mentioned in an earlier post. First three knives by AA Forge from early days when I found out about his work ( two Bowies and a trade knife), and then my Swamp Fox knives and a Idaho knifeworks Nessmuk, so two non Bowies, and my IKW Cumberland with the same Nessmuk again.

 

[ron finkbeiner jr]

What is the public opinion on Bladeforums about what a modern bowie knife should be in 2026?

Size? Use? Steel? Construction?

No wrong answers, share your removed, I'm not an expert.

 

[DeadboxHero]

17 inches total, thick spine, zero grind blade edge , twin quillions, curved handle. Rwl 34 damasteel perhaps?

Experts chime in please

Would RWL 34 be acceptable for a 11-12" blade bowie?

 

[SharpBits]

It should have better toughness and edge retention versus O1 or 1095 and those two steels are fairly common in Bowie knives. Of course I’m neither a steel expert nor a Bowie knife expert.

 

[Mk-211]

I didn't see this one posted, it's an older knife, still stands the test of time.

Blackjack Teton Bowie, kinda looks like a CS Trailmaster.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Experts chime in please

Would RWL 34 be acceptable for a 11-12" blade bowie?

Hardly an expert, but here goes.

With the appropriate form and attention to lines, and a respectful blend of superb satin finished features and mirror polish, could result in a blade of hot electric sex.

I’d use CPM-154 Fine Mesh, but you already know why, I’ll wager.

 

[Richard338]

Experts chime in please

Would RWL 34 be acceptable for a 11-12" blade bowie?

I could see it for a SF vest bowie. For a large bowie, the type of character I usually think of favors non stainless.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

I could see it for a SF vest bowie. For a large bowie, the type of character I usually think of favors non stainless.

Buster used 440c. Reckon CPM154/RWL34 ought to work out alright. I know where you’re going, but just providing a counter

 

[Richard338]

Buster used 440c. Reckon CPM154/RWL34 ought to work out alright. I know where you’re going, but just providing a counter

Good example. That would look great in cable damascus...

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Good example. That would look great in cable damascus...

Better yet - a complementary pair, one with ‘traditional’ fittings like cable and wrought iron, and another in modern materials like stainless and titanium.

 

[SharpBits]

Sounds like you two need a build off!