Mass produced bowie knives

[kannonfyre]

What do you guys think of the cold steel laredo bowie?

Is it a good knife? Are there better mass produced bowies out there?

How historically authentic is the laredo bowie? (in terms of design features, not steel type)

 

[JShirley]

If you have the better part of $200, I would probably go for an Ontario Bagwell Bowie.

 

[RyanM]

Don't know about historical authenticity and stuff, but Cold Steel tends to make stuff that's on the high end of average in quality, the high end of high in price, and the very high end of very high in hype.

The only bowie knife I want is a Himalayan Imports Cherokee Rose.

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/new.html Scroll down some to see it.

 

[hso]

The Ontarios and Cold Steels are both good.

Historical accuracy? Pffft! That's an odd concept considering there were dozens of "bowie" types before the 1900s and no one knows (though plenty of people who weren't alive when Jim Bowie was still drawing breath will act like they do) what the "real" bowie knife actually looked like.

 

[Mike Sastre]

"The Ontarios and Cold Steels are both good."

I'll give you an amen on that one, but suitability will depend on intended use. If you want a fighter only, go with the Ontario, but get one quick 'cause they've been discontinued. If you want an "all around general use" Bowie that still fights well, go with the Laredo. If price and concealablity aren't an issue, check out the CS Natchez - very well balanced for its size.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Both Mikes are right. Figure out what it's for and you'll have a better idea of what suits you.
(Not that you don't know what your purpose for the knife is . . . just that we don't.)

 

[PRM]

Cold Steel makes great knives - historical, Nope!!! - originals and new production knives had similar lengths and both have cutting edges, after that most part ways. Want something close to original, build your own starting with a hand forged blade. Dixie Gun Works has a lot of options there. I have even made several out of large files - take the temper out and shape them on a grinder, using other files, and then sanding and buffing the final product, last, re-tempering. You get to choose the type of guard and handles. Makes them more personal. Depends on what you want. New knives have advantages in the types of steel and synthetic handles. Primitive is a personal thing.

 

[jhansman]

If you're willing to go non-U.S. (NOT Chinese), Linder makes this Bowie:

 

[whiskey]

I have a Linder Stag Handle bowie and it is a nice knive. Well worth the price. It is made to work and look good doing so.

 

[kannonfyre]

I know that I am straying into semi-custom territory here....

but does anyone know anything about mineral mountain hatchet works?

www.mineralmountain.com/k19.htm

I'm considering their K-19 bowie as an option. How would this knife measure up to a CS laredo bowie?

BTW, I need a blade to fulfil the camp knife role as well as serve as a last ditch hand weapon vs feral animals.

 

[Todd A]

Don't own one, but how about...

http://www.knifeworks.com/casebowieknifeblacksynthetichandle-1.aspx

 

[hso]

Mineral Mountain makes great knives.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

http://homepage.mac.com/dbrock76/Personal18.html

 

[JShirley]

The HI Cherokee Rose is great if you want a dedicated fighter. I personally want a tool/weapon. I got rid of my Cherokee Rose without ever cutting anything other than air, because it seemed a bit delicate. My Crow, on the other hand...it's the bowie I was always looking for!

Sorry I forgot to mention it, but you can get a Himalayan Imports Crow for probably $175 or less, shipped to you in Taiwan.

 

[SeekHer]

Don't forget Boker or Puma...

A.G. Russell has the Fox and other brands for reasonable money...

Have you seen the new Wrangler series--excellent style and material...

Anyone who says they have an "authentic" bowie is a liar, pure and simple as the knife that Rezin made for his brother is lost to us although there is a Mexican knife that is supposed to have come from the Alamo battle but whether it was Jim's or someone elses is a matter of speculation and also if it came from the Alamo is up for grabs...

Today a bowie refers to a large, usually clip bladed knife with dual quillons but there is also the Smith style, the Searles style, the San Francisco style and of course the Sheffield and about a half dozen more...

Samples of collection:


Tom Hancok SF or Calif. pattern


David Anders Sheffield – metal sheath


David Anders Sheffield


Harvey J Dean Searles pattern


Harvey J Dean Samuel Bell pattern


Harvey J Dean Dogleg pattern Sheffield pattern


S.W. Bladecraft Modern style

One important note--The Russell Green River knife that you see advertised is not authentic to PRE 1840 events as the company didn't start up to 1845 and was more prevalent as a later period trade knife and a buffalo hunters knife...The design is a simple Sheffield butcher knife that the HBCo started carrying in the late 1700s...

As to the original question: the style of knife is period correct to the late 18th and the 19th centuries but Cold Steel has a problem of overpricing a lot of their blades...They wanted something for the Cowboy Action shooter to carry on their belt so they stuck a wooden coffin handle on a trailmaster...I have an older Trailmaster with stag handles that works well for Mountain Man events and F&I & Rev War re-enactments and even better for CAS...

None of those pictured above are less then $500 and the Cold Steel is $170 but if you want cheap then try some of the Indian made knives at Smokey Mtn Knifeworks or Atlanta Cutlery or Museam Replica...

Western Cutlery made a nice bowie at one time.

+1 on the Ontario bowies.