Bowie Knives

[Vonderek]

Does anyone here have an hands-on experience with the knives offered by Atlanta cutlery? I have always found their Bowies to be attractive and well-priced but have never ordered one since they are made in Pakistan or India IIRC.

 

[Soap]

Thanks for the tip on the Pumas guys; I ordered one this afternoon!

 

[Patrick_Henry]

I second the question on Atlanta Cutlery. I've heard of them but know nothing of their quality...

 

[hso]

Atlanta Cutlery: I have owned several Atlanta Cutlery pieces. Some items are excellent and some are sub par.

Puma: What an outstanding deal these days, but it's so good it makes me wonder if these Pumas are made in Germany, Italy or even China. Anyone ordering one of the Pumas please let us know how it's marked.

Bowies: Anything from the Western "fantasy" bowie to the old Sheffield bowies to the, probably more accurate, bowies that look to come from Mediterranean dirk lineage gets called a "Bowie". Truth be told, the accounts of the time describe the knife used in the famous Sandbar Fight is of a "large butcher's knife", but what does a news paper trying to describe a knife used against desperate odds in the midst of treachery use except a description it's readers can quickly grasp? We don't and won't ever exactly know what Jim Bowie's knife looked like, but we do know that it fired the imaginations of millions and inspired a whole industry supplying "Bowies" to those excited by the tale. We only can say that a large knife with a sharpened clip point and cross guard that is fast in the hand of the wielder can describe a bowie knife. If you want to study Bowies, get a copy of Knife World and order a couple of the books on them.

 

[Vonderek]

Puma: What an outstanding deal these days, but it's so good it makes me wonder if these Pumas are made in Germany, Italy or even China. Anyone ordering one of the Pumas please let us know how it's marked.

I own the Puma Bowie in discussion. I think I paid around $60 or so from a knife store on eBay. It measues 11.75" overall with a handle of 4" (which is a little short for my hand). Included is a very nice leather sheath.

The markings on the blade include the Puma logo as well as the following:

116396 Handmade
PUMA ORIGINAL BOWIE
GERMANY 105/RC

On the opposite side of the blade is a small punch mark where hardness was tested. As I understand it, all Puma knives have the mark.

 

[eliphalet]

Puma: What an outstanding deal these days, but it's so good it makes me wonder if these Pumas are made in Germany, Italy or even China. Anyone ordering one of the Pumas please let us know how it's marked.

The ad in Sportsman's Guide says "German Solingen Stainless Steel", so I would think made in Germany. Will be interesting to hear from a buyer.

I "rescued" one from a second hand store about 20 years ago for 30 bucks and thought that was a good deal even at that time, even though it had been sharpened. left in the sheath where it sweated and doesn't have a perfect finish. It was made in 1969 according to the numbers stamped in the guard. I have used it on a few game but it is too long for my preference gutting a critter and returned to a old Buck 110 made with 440C for my deer and elk hunting.

 

[Vonderek]

The ad in Sportsman's Guide says "German Solingen Stainless Steel", so I would think made in Germany. Will be interesting to hear from a buyer.

eliphalet, look above your post. Mine is the same knife sold in Sportsmans Guide.

 

[jhansman]

This Linder might fit the bill for you:


Runs about $110, genuine stag and brass. Very nice...

 

[loud-mouth shnook]

I read someplace that the gear from Becker Knife and Tool are going back into production. At one time, I was looking for a "working" bowie, meaning tough and utilitarian. A BK&T BK-9 "Combat Bowie" cost me about $70.00. A brickwall-strong 9" blade that I've since batonned nearly a half cord of firewood with through the years along with a lot of other things. Kind of halfway between a knife and a hatchet, utility wise. For that kind of money, I just absolutely can't say enough about the BK&T's. I tried a buddy's Swamp Rat for awhile and it was every bit as good but was also about 300% more costly.

Good luck with whatever you decide upon.