PLAY The Bowie and Big Knife thread (lots of pictures)

1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
Dozdoats posted a picture of his new bowie knife and it seemed like an interesting topic.
Post ones you have or want to have. Click to expand the small images below.
I have collected a few knives that were interesting over the years.

I have Becker BK7 and BK9 knives. These are Kabar-made Beckers which are in current production although mine are about 10 years old.
These are 2" tall, 1095 carbon steel, 3/16" thick blades with high, flat grinds and full tangs.
Utilitarian and durable at roughly $100 each currently.
https://www.kabar.com/products/BK7 (7" blade)
BK7.jpg
https://www.kabar.com/products/BK9 (9" blade)
bk9.jpg




This looks interesting. Kabar Jarosz Turok
It's a 6.25" 1095 carbon steel blade designed by Jarosz and produced by Kabar. About $75.
It looks comfortable with the overall top curve.
jarosz turok.jpg

Another one that looks interesting is from the Cold Steel Drop Forged line.
It's a 9.5" bowie made from AUS-10A steel and is one solid piece of steel except for the handle slabs.
Normally $85-90, it's on sale for $72 at the link below.
www.midwayusa.com

Cold Steel Drop Forged Bowie Fixed Blade Knife 9.5 Bowie Polished

The Cold Steel Drop Forged Bowie Fixed Blade Knife is an addition to Cold Steel's Drop Forged line of knives. It has a total length of 14 inches and...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
DF 95.jpg
 
Caplock50

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Here's 2 pictures of the 'Bowie' knife I made. The blade is part of a small car leaf spring. the handle is part of a sledgehammer handle. And the 'bolts' holding it to the blade are the bolts that hold a toilet to the floor. Its 'over-all' length is about 16 inches. Oh, and the 'hand guard' is just a piece of scrap-iron.
Homemade Bowie Blade.jpgHomemade Bowie Handle.jpg
 
China Connection

China Connection

TB Fanatic
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RAIDER BOWIE MOUNTAIN MAN THROWING KNIFE
$89.00
Mountain man style throwing knife made from 1095 steel. 3/16" thick, 13" blade length. Comes with leather handle scales standard but other options are available at an extra cost. Available in polished, acid etched, forged, or blued finishes.
*In stock.
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
Caplock50 said:
Here's 2 pictures of the 'Bowie' knife I made. The blade is part of a small car leaf spring. the handle is part of a sledgehammer handle. And the 'bolts' holding it to the blade are the bolts that hold a toilet to the floor. Its 'over-all' length is about 16 inches. Oh, and the 'hand guard' is just a piece of scrap-iron.
View attachment 276895View attachment 276896
Click to expand...
I'd like to make something similar to that. Leaf spring is good 5160 steel. It's been the start of many knives and swords.
 
naegling62

naegling62

Veteran Member
Dbad has been getting kukri house to make a lot of his designs of Bowie knives. Fairly primitive looking hand made knives but they are awesome looking.
 
T

Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
I made the top throwing knife on my CNC plasma cutter in 3/16" steel, hand ground edge.

I hand ground the middle one in 1095 steel, brass handle pins, G10 Fiberglass handle covered in epoxy.

A buddy started the bottom blade blank, I finished it and made the handle in black linen and copper tube.

I am much better at making knife grinding machines than the actual knives but they will cut and hold an edge. My homemade knife grinding machines work well. I should sell them again but FedX and USPS bent them when I shipped them.

3 knives.JPGDSC04836.JPG
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Caplock50

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
1911user said:
I'd like to make something similar to that. Leaf spring is good 5160 steel. It's been the start of many knives and swords.
Click to expand...

It usually takes me a long time to grind it down into the shape I want though. You see I want to keep the steel's 'temper'. As it is, it's 'stout' enough to hold a 'good' edge for a long time...but is flexible enough to bend without me having to worry about it breaking. I've read that some people will de-temper it; then shape it and 'dress' it; and then re-temper it. Lol, that's just far too much 'work' when it's already ready to be used. Just take your time when grinding so you don't over heat the steel and remove the temper...and 'all is well'.
 
K

KFhunter

Veteran Member
I have a F. DICK pig sticker looks a lot like that fairbairn skykes dagger, it sure slides into a hog easy....first time I did it I was shocked how easy


Missing the bonker on the endcap though
 
Caplock50

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Thinwater said:
I made the top throwing knife on my CNC plasma cutter in 3/16" steel, hand ground edge.

I hand ground the middle one in 1095 steel, brass handle pins, G10 Fiberglass handle covered in epoxy.

A buddy started the bottom blade blank, I finished it and made the handle in black linen and copper tube.

I am much better at making knife grinding machines than the actual knives but they will cut and hold an edge. My homemade knife grinding machines work well. I should sell them again but FedX and USPS bent them when I shipped them.

View attachment 276920View attachment 276921
View attachment 276923View attachment 276924View attachment 276925
Click to expand...

Lol, I took my 'prepper life' to the max. I can now make almost anything out of almost nothing...to slaughter an old saying.

When 'TEOTWAWKI' happens, there will be 'usable' scrap laying around everywhere...but no machines to 'work' it with. At least as I see it. So...hand files and 'muscle-powered' drills and grinders are what I used to make mine with. And my 'Bowie' is now about 25 years old.

Oh and the scabbard I made for it is a piece of plastic water pipe I halfway 'melted' in my oven and then flattened. I used a piece of a seat-belt from a car for the 'loop' to go around my pants belt. Used an old welding rod stub bent into an elongated loop to fasten the piece of car seat belt to the piece of plastic pipe.

But...man, I do so love your work!
 
AlfaMan

AlfaMan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've got my dad's knife-made out of a Model T car spring. Still ridiculously sharp. Hard to sharpen but holds it for forever.
And I've got the one he gave me when I was 3, another sheath knife.

And the one I've had for forever-a 8 1/2" inch Bowie with bone handles, 440 stainless steel blade. I've actually shaved with it.

Wife has a ruthlessly sharp straight razor in her purse, along wit a Leatherman multi tool.

LOVE the knife pics!
 
rob0126

rob0126

Veteran Member
Bought this one years ago. Still looks brand new.

71dCW370vEL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


I have an appreciation for serrated knives.
 
Red Baron

Red Baron

Paleo-Conservative
_______________
My biggest "Rambo" knife is an original Cold Steel Carbon V Recon Tanto made in the USA. 7" blade, 1/4" spine. I really like the neoprene checkered grip.

Turns out it is excellant for batoning (splitting) firly large logs when we are camping.

Fuzzy picture,

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Caplock50

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
I've got 2 more knives I'll post pictures of. The first is one made from a 'paint scraper', a tool that looks a lot like one of those small pry bars(crowbar). The next is a butcher knife made from an old file I use in the Kitchen whenever I have meat to cut up.
Knife from a Paint Scraper.jpg
Knife from a File.jpg
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
I've had a cold steel SRK for many years now. It is my go-to knife for trips unless I just can't take it (rare).
I keep a DMT coarse/fine 4" diamond stone rubber banded to the knife sheath.
It's the older AUS-8 steel version. 6" long clip point blade 3/16" thick.
The newer ones are made from SK-5 steel and the blades are hollow-ground; they slice better but have less edge strength.
The older ones were a flat grind. The sheath is secure and versatile.
It can be attached several ways or configured for inside the waistband carry for concealment if needed.
www.coldsteel.com

SRK (SK-5)

Survival & Rescue operations demand a versatile knife able to withstand the most extreme conditions. Simply put, the Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knif
www.coldsteel.com www.coldsteel.com
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15 years ago, I purchased this bushcraft knife from a custom knifemaker.
4" scandi-grind blade, 1/8" thick 1095 steel with osage orange scales.
It came with a dark leather pouch sheath and a small block of the same wood to make a matching ferro rod.
Osage Woodlore Scandi.jpg
 
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Caplock50

Caplock50

I am the Winter Warrior
Here's a little something my Dad taught me I think ya'll will find 'interesting'..."If it'll dull a knife; it'll also sharpen a knife". Cut a lot of wood or leather and you'll dull your knife. 'Strop' your knife on a leather belt, you'll sharpen it. Use a small 'slab' of wood like a whetrock and you'll also sharpen your knife. A piece of an old brick can also 'rough-sharpen' your knife.

And while 'stropping' your knife, roll it over on the back of the blade instead of rolling it on the blade. And the smoother the object you're stropping it on, the smoother the cutting edge will be.
 
Nowski

Nowski

Let's Go Brandon!
I dont have any homemade knifes, and I only have 3 large knifes,
all of which I have used out in the woods. At one time I did a lot
of bushcraft, and of course a large knife with at least a 4-5 inch blade,
and flat spine is needed.

Here is a pic of my 3 knifes.

The one of the right is a Kabar, like the ones that were used during WWII.
It has a full tang coated blade, with serrations, and a leather sheath.

The middle one is a Mora Bushcraft Black. It has a 3/4 tang coated blade,
and I ordered a Kydex sheath, with attachment points. It has a ferro rod,
fire starting material, and a metal box, that can hold items that would be
useful while doing bushcraft.

The one on the left is a Pathfinder School Knife Shop Scorpion.
It has a full tang flat spine 4140 blade, and a scout style leather sheath.
My understanding, is that this is their copy of the Mora Bushcraft Black.
It is identical in blade shape, and it fits perfectly, into the the Kydex sheath.
This has become my favorite knife, it is very easy to get it razor sharp.

I do not do much bushcraft now, however if I was going out into the woods,
and the weather was predicted to rain, I most likely would take the Mora,
as it has a coated blade, a non-wooden handle, and Kydex sheath.

Please be safe everyone.

Regards to all.

Nowski

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ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
I have a stupid amount of blades of all lengths. At one point I finally got to the point I started designing them. I haven’t got off my ass and started making them. Instead, I found a great maker who took custom work and would work with my designs (they don’t do custom like this any more, unfortunately)

I spec’ed out a pair of Bowies for the wife and I as our backwoods blades.

5B64C0E6-647D-408A-84A0-1BB18854A5F3.jpeg
mine

0BB5685B-FFDD-49BE-AF2C-6BE3B9C69276.jpeg

the wife’s (about an inch shorter)

then I did the same thing for our dive knives
they are thick as hell (1/4”), full tang, and bead blasted solid naval bronze scales.

239A1F77-B8A4-48B7-9471-9D67EA71FFBD.jpegF458D52C-F00F-4B3A-85A6-25C03D9C2175.jpeg
 
AlaskaSue

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
I like big knives and I cannot lie….pic of the little zombie cutter my brother brought me (with garden knife near to compare). Shades of Kathy and her Zombie stories…and yep, I’ve used it a bunch this year.

My older brother gave me an excellent knife he made but I squirreled it away. Want to dig it out of the conex now. I wish I had that skill to create knives Sigh…I’m still trying to master the knots he wants me to learn :)

Love what you all shared. I do like my knives…..
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sy32478

sy32478

Veteran Member
I have and recommend the Becker knives. Can chop down a tree and shave the hair off you are like nobodies business. There is one in the emergency pack in each vehicle we own and it has been useful and saved a potentially long / expensive repair on the way to Thanksgiving a few years back. Although I can't imagine what the passers by on the interstate thought as I directed my wife and kids away from the busy road while while working on the van with the sheep-scaring knife.
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
I have 3 other Becker blades. One more large one and 2 smaller ones. I became interested in Becker knives about 15 years ago and purchased a few of the classic designs. The BK16 was a recent purchase. I don't like the new paint on the blades.

BK5 - Becker Magnum Camp Knife (discontinued)
8" upswept blade of 1095 steel; a fighter design that works well in a kitchen or at a campsite.
31kpTAGnHqL._AC_.jpg

BK14 - Becker Eskabar - 3.25" blade, 1095 steel. I've added minimal micarta grips, just big enough to hold comfortably.
It's a nice, smaller knife. Easily pocketable with the factory sheath.
51BGPWG8ALS._AC_SL1500_.jpg

BK16 - Becker short drop point - 4-3/8" blade 1095 steel.
A very general purpose smaller blade. It's also Ethan Becker's favorite knife and one of the last he has designed.
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N

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
Have to dig out my brush beater. cheap Pakistani phantasy Bowie. Cheap by the way it sharpens, labeled Paki, but it WORKS for brush up to a couple of inches across.

(Of course, I was a dozen years younger then)
 
1911user

1911user

Veteran Member
I don't need it, but have thought about one of these more than once. A practical (i.e. not traditional) wakisashi for $125.
31" overall, with roughly 20" 1060 carbon steel blade and a 2-handed grip.
The blade is full tang and the handle riveted on like a modern knife.
This is ninja-length sword would be great to have in an apocalypse. :xpnd:
There is a longer practical katana version as well for $150.
The amazon link goes to both versions. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076T8CBJK/
I left the real picture large, click to expand.
51w903cEabL._AC_SL1400_.jpg
 
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K

KFhunter

Veteran Member
I started watching TWD again, now I want that damm sword again..

Then I started watching altered carbon, now I want it even more lol

I had no idea, but watch a naked sword fight, that was interesting
 
D

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
1911user said:
A short sword could be very practical, so long as everyone else has ran out of ammo..
Click to expand...

Back in the Dark Ages when I still had a job, my boss decided he wanted to expend some training funds on more action guy stuff and less academic stuff. So he lined up a couple of knife instructors of the Fillipino persuasion. Interest among the students was not high, so as not to embarrass the visiting professors with a half empty classroom, he asked (!) some of the staff to attend as well.

So I went. It was a good class. But the captain was not satisfied at the lack of student participation and decided to try a known name.

He lined up Bill Bagwell ....

Now that class I really wanted to get to, but it was SRO.
I heard that the brass wanted to classify Bagwell's POI (program of instruction). I also was told one of the students in that class out of 5th Group later got himself cut off in a cave system in A'stan with a batch of Taliban, expended his basic load for his M-4 and M9 and had to resort to his Bowie.

Don't think it was a war story but have no proof....
 
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Thinwater

Firearms Manufacturer
The top blade is a hand made, forged, chopping tool a good friend brought me back from the Philippines. It would take an arm clean off. It will shave you. The handmade wooden sheath is above it.

The two on the left under the big blade is a Dawson skinning knife and a Japanese Karambit.
The three under the big blade on the right are a Case slab side hunter, a Buck 119 that I have owned for 30 years and a handmade knife by a FL company called "Rebel Blades" All are razor sharp.

knives.JPG
 
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