Austin97
member
I need a new Bowie for skinning, taking on hikes, etc. What should I get that's under $100?
I am looking for a good Bowie.
- Thread starter Austin97
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A "good" bowie that is going to be more than a POS wall-hanger is going to cost more than $100. One good enough to actually use for dressing a deer is certainly going to be more.
So, if you want a good knife for dressing a deer, there are many more designs better than what people call a "bowie". You can get a clip point fixed blade that will do the job for under a C-note.
Can you post a picture of what you think a "bowie" is supposed to look like? There are so many different images in different people's minds about this that we have to ask what it is that you're expecting it to look like.
This is a "bowie"
But so is this
and this
and this
and this
and even this
A "good" bowie that is going to be more than a POS wall-hanger is going to cost more than $100. One good enough to actually use for dressing a deer is certainly going to be more.
So, if you want a good knife for dressing a deer, there are many more designs better than what people call a "bowie". You can get a clip point fixed blade that will do the job for under a C-note.
Can you post a picture of what you think a "bowie" is supposed to look like? There are so many different images in different people's minds about this that we have to ask what it is that you're expecting it to look like.
This is a "bowie"
But so is this
and even this
Last edited:
May I suggest something like this Becker Campanion is what you're looking for.
exxarkun78
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- Jan 24, 2011
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factory second recon scout bowie from cold steel or a c.a.s. hanwei outrider bowie if u want to go for more a classic look though the hanwei is a bit more than 100 bucks .. tactical knives did a write up on it a few years back and it was very well reviewed
factory second recon scout bowie from cold steel or a c.a.s. hanwei outrider bowie if u want to go for more a classic look though the hanwei is a bit more than 100 bucks .. tactical knives did a write up on it a few years back and it was very well reviewed
Austin97
member
I already have a ka-bar. Just looking for something else I can beat up.
dprice3844444
member
cold steel some are available on amazon.com
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=605310
Cold Steel Trail Master Bowie (basic version now discontinued but still for sale):
http://www.ak47accessories.com/Prod...&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=BingShopping
$140 shipped
Cold Steel Trail Master Bowie (basic version now discontinued but still for sale):
http://www.ak47accessories.com/Prod...&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=BingShopping
$140 shipped
baronthered
Member
Smith and wesson search and rescue. Traded my BIL one of those crappy five dollar macetes for it a few years ago. It's fairly large and not too heavy and I couldn't tell you how many deer I've cleaned with it. Stays good and sharp too. I actually went and bought a couple more because I like the first one so well. gave one to my buddy and still have the other. Course I'm a knife nut anyway. Something bout steel in my hand. Maybe I read the Conan stories too much when I was little?
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ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Hands
May I suggest that if you're planning to use it for skinning, a Bowie (a full-sized one, anyway) would seem to imply rather large hands.
Skinning isn't a "hacking" job, and requires decent control of the point and edge of the blade. I believe you'll find that people who do any serious amount of skinning will generally prefer a blade in the four to five inch range.
I know guys on both ends of that scale, some preferring a three-inch blade, some preferring six-inch, but most of the guys of my acquaintance who do field dressing and skinning seem to prefer that four-to-five inch area for length.
I bought a few Bowies when I was trying to figure out what would work in my hands for handling game and so on, and I discovered I just don't have the hands, wrists, or forearms for a Bowie (or anything that large and heavy).
I have found that I can handle a four-inch knife a whole lot better, and I'm pretty much okay with a five-inch. Around six inches things start to get awkward for any kind of intricate work.
What hso said above is right on the money. You might luck out and find a decent used Bowie for under a hundred, but generally not.
There's a whole range of knives out there that are well suited to outdoor and hunting applications that, while not small, are certainly not "Bowie" sized.
Becker, Ontario, ESEE, all good stuff. Buck has a whole range of fixed blades specifically designed for hunting. There are some truly impressive blades in that selection. The Buck Pathfinder [5 inches], Special [6 inches], Vanguard [4 inches] are all under $100, and then there's the new ErgoHunter series starting at $85 and up.
If you just have to have a big knife, then the Buck Special is a good starting point. In that same category is the ESEE-6 (a superb all-round pattern, though personally I'd take the ESEE-4), the Ontario Ranger Bush series (blades from 4 inches to 9 inches, I'll take the 4, thanks) , and of course the Becker series (4, 5, 7, and 9 inch blades).
These are all excellent outdoor knives, though my advice of using a shorter blade for hunting still stands.
And then . . .
. . . there are the Scandinavian knives.
Browse around Ragnar's Forge (www.ragweedforge.com) and have a look at the wide range of outdoor, woodcraft, and hunting knives. There's a lot of traditional stuff there that's evolved over generations of living rough and hunting caribou. You could do a lot worse than a Scandinavian knife. If your first impression is that they're too cheap to be serious, let me assure you that this is not the case. And besides, if you look, you'll find the more expensive ones there, too.
But, a Bowie? As a general purpose outdoor knife?
You kinda need to be a big guy to make that work.
I'm just not that guy.
May I suggest that if you're planning to use it for skinning, a Bowie (a full-sized one, anyway) would seem to imply rather large hands.
Skinning isn't a "hacking" job, and requires decent control of the point and edge of the blade. I believe you'll find that people who do any serious amount of skinning will generally prefer a blade in the four to five inch range.
I know guys on both ends of that scale, some preferring a three-inch blade, some preferring six-inch, but most of the guys of my acquaintance who do field dressing and skinning seem to prefer that four-to-five inch area for length.
I bought a few Bowies when I was trying to figure out what would work in my hands for handling game and so on, and I discovered I just don't have the hands, wrists, or forearms for a Bowie (or anything that large and heavy).
I have found that I can handle a four-inch knife a whole lot better, and I'm pretty much okay with a five-inch. Around six inches things start to get awkward for any kind of intricate work.
What hso said above is right on the money. You might luck out and find a decent used Bowie for under a hundred, but generally not.
There's a whole range of knives out there that are well suited to outdoor and hunting applications that, while not small, are certainly not "Bowie" sized.
Becker, Ontario, ESEE, all good stuff. Buck has a whole range of fixed blades specifically designed for hunting. There are some truly impressive blades in that selection. The Buck Pathfinder [5 inches], Special [6 inches], Vanguard [4 inches] are all under $100, and then there's the new ErgoHunter series starting at $85 and up.
If you just have to have a big knife, then the Buck Special is a good starting point. In that same category is the ESEE-6 (a superb all-round pattern, though personally I'd take the ESEE-4), the Ontario Ranger Bush series (blades from 4 inches to 9 inches, I'll take the 4, thanks) , and of course the Becker series (4, 5, 7, and 9 inch blades).
These are all excellent outdoor knives, though my advice of using a shorter blade for hunting still stands.
And then . . .
. . . there are the Scandinavian knives.
Browse around Ragnar's Forge (www.ragweedforge.com) and have a look at the wide range of outdoor, woodcraft, and hunting knives. There's a lot of traditional stuff there that's evolved over generations of living rough and hunting caribou. You could do a lot worse than a Scandinavian knife. If your first impression is that they're too cheap to be serious, let me assure you that this is not the case. And besides, if you look, you'll find the more expensive ones there, too.
But, a Bowie? As a general purpose outdoor knife?
You kinda need to be a big guy to make that work.
I'm just not that guy.
ugaarguy
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2006
- Messages
- 13,828
Let me echo what Arfin Greebly and a few others have stated.
I've skinned a few farm raised pigs, and a Bowie is not what I'd want to use for skinning any game. You already have a KaBar, which is a perfectly functional bowie / big field knife. You may wish to focus on getting a good skinning knife.
When I think of a skinner, I think of a shorter more precise knife. From experience there are three other major things I look for. First, the handle needs have good grip when wet from blood & sweat. Second, I like a semi-short blade with a good belly, or sweeping curve to make precise cuts. Third, it needs to hold an edge well, so you don't have sharpen it during the job; and/or it needs to take an edge easily so it's back to good sharpness after a few quick passes on a stone.
Thanks to a good friend's generosity I was able to get a true handmade neck knife with carbon steel blade, and Micarta handle scales. If I had to skin an animal right now it's what I'd reach for. This little Kershaw looks similar, and if the handles are too slick G10 is easy to rough up with a quick wet sanding. I can't comment on the edge holding since I don't own one. As an example of something that has a relatively short blade with a good bit of belly, this Benchmade manufactured Lone Wolf design illustrates the form.
I've skinned a few farm raised pigs, and a Bowie is not what I'd want to use for skinning any game. You already have a KaBar, which is a perfectly functional bowie / big field knife. You may wish to focus on getting a good skinning knife.
When I think of a skinner, I think of a shorter more precise knife. From experience there are three other major things I look for. First, the handle needs have good grip when wet from blood & sweat. Second, I like a semi-short blade with a good belly, or sweeping curve to make precise cuts. Third, it needs to hold an edge well, so you don't have sharpen it during the job; and/or it needs to take an edge easily so it's back to good sharpness after a few quick passes on a stone.
Thanks to a good friend's generosity I was able to get a true handmade neck knife with carbon steel blade, and Micarta handle scales. If I had to skin an animal right now it's what I'd reach for. This little Kershaw looks similar, and if the handles are too slick G10 is easy to rough up with a quick wet sanding. I can't comment on the edge holding since I don't own one. As an example of something that has a relatively short blade with a good bit of belly, this Benchmade manufactured Lone Wolf design illustrates the form.
Find a Trailmaster or the Becker and you'll have something you can beat the daylights out of and be happy.
The bowie knife was designed in a time period of single shot and undependable firearms as a fighting knife. It was the backup to your firearm. In it's accepted form it does this very well. If you study the trappers, mountain men, and buffalo hunters you will reference many other knives that were used for skinning and camp chores. The Russel Green river in several different patterns was common and popular. By all means get a bowie knife. They are part of american history and cool. Just don't cripple yourself with a tool that doesn't fit the job. You'll be less than satisfied.
Good Hunting,
ts
Good Hunting,
ts
dprice3844444
member
amazon.com
T.R.
Member
BUCK model 119 is a good choice.
Steel Warrior builds a bigger and heavier bowie.
TR
Steel Warrior builds a bigger and heavier bowie.
TR
22-rimfire
Member
You might want to take a look at Cold Steel and SOG products. They might be a bit more than $100, but they are reasonably good knives. Choose the ones with Japanese steel.
I would choose something other than a "bowie" knife for hunting. But for hiking, they are just fine. I view the Bowie as more of a fighting knife, but any knife can be used for skinning. It is a question of how well it works for you.
I would choose something other than a "bowie" knife for hunting. But for hiking, they are just fine. I view the Bowie as more of a fighting knife, but any knife can be used for skinning. It is a question of how well it works for you.
Armored farmer
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