[Puncha]

I recently stopped by the largest hunting/tactical store in my country's capital city and the owner offerred me what he called a UK made bowie knife. It appears to be rather well made and is engraved with the words "J Adams Sheffield" at the base of the blade near the hilt.

It appears to be the 10" bladed bowie knife shown on the following webpage:

http://www.sheffieldknives.co.uk/acatalog/Hunting_Knives.html

Gentlemen, a few questions if I may.....

1) What is the reputation of this company?
2) Anyone here own their blades? Do your knives stand up to rough use?
3) The steel is merely graded as "carbon steel". While the shop owner says that it is NOT stainless, exactly what kind of steel is this?
4) In comparison to other established US cutlery houses, is this product a good buy if the price is right?

[Fosbery]

Yes, Sheffield make fine knives. If I remember rightly, most of their expensive knives, like those bowies, are handmade by professional knifemakers, hence the individual names on them - Sheffield commision the knives rather than manufacturing them (they do make some other knives though). I couldn't tell you what steel it is, but it should be good stuff. Better off asking one of the makers from Sheffield though, I think you can find one or two on British Blades:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/

[hso]

Keep in mind that while there may be companies named Sheffield it has little meaning. Sheffield is like Solingen, Maniago, Toledo and Seki in that they are knifemaking regions/cities where quality cutlers developed a trade that became respected world wide. Knives from any number of makers and companies in those cities were treated with great respect because the inferred guarantee of the quality.

If the knife feels "heavy" in the hand it is not a proper "Bowie". A large knife should be balanced anywhere from 3 fingers in front of the guard to right on the front face of the guard. It the balance point is much forward of that it feels "heavy" in the hand and is good for a boat anchor and little more.

At $340 you could get a good Bowie from a maker in the US that would have the proper feel.

[Puncha]

Does anyone else have inputs with regard to questions 1) to 4)?

[markk]

You might want to try asking at www.bladeforums.com (http://www.bladeforums.com).

[hso]

Puncha,

I've not dealt with the company nor the maker before, but I don't think the knife is a very good example of a bowie and it's shape leads me to believe that it would handle like a board instead of a knife. (Unless it is counterweighted by the pomel and that would add unneeded overall weight.)

Here's the contact information on the company. You could just ask them which steel they use and how they heat treat. If it feels good in the hand and you like the look of it you could get it if the heat treat and steel is good.
http://www.thomasglobal.com/main/doimage.asp?n=316324337347353362372387399
http://www.thomasglobal.com/main/doimage.asp?n=326336340352365378388397306
http://www.thomasglobal.com/main/doimage.asp?n=337349352368376380393304315
Contact person: Mrs Josie Tveton
J Adams Ltd
Phone: +44 (0) (114) 2723612 | Fax Number: +44 (0) (114) 2750290

[Puncha]

Have already checked with the company. They say that the bowie is made out of 80C carbon steel or 1080 steel.

Hso: It that some kind of tool steel?

They also say that heat treatment has been done such that the balde is at a rockwell hardness of 52. As I have seen many tactical knives heat treated to 57-60 rockwell hardness, how is a hardness of 52 for the purposes of:

1) Clearing brush?
2) Skinning game?
3) Authentic fighting knife?

[hso]

1080 is a simple tool steel with 0.8% carbon. Not great for knives without other hardening elements in it.

It will be easy to sharpen and would resist chipping if you chop with it, but I suspect the knife won't cut very well. Big knives like that can do both, but grind becomes critical (along with heat treat).

[liberty boy]

just as a sheffield lad allow me to put in a comendation for all our transatlantic friends on this forum , that sheffield is home to the finest and original stainless steel manufacture in the world. Indeed our local football (soccer) team are called the blades.