Best Bowie knives

Frankly, unless you are going to look at expensive handmades, I think you should consider Fallkniven. www.fallkniven.com

When you select "English" and see the main models display, select NL1 and NL2.Look hard at them. They balance beautifully in the hand.

I think one or the other is what you may want. Here is a large pic of the NL-2: http://www.fallkniven.com/bilder/nothernlight/stor-nl2.jpg

Fallkniven knives aren't cheap, but they do the job, and look good as well.

You have the advantage that a university performs stress tests on them, and they are very strong. The Swedish Air Force issues their F-1 model as a pilot survival knife. They have also passed USAF and USN survival knife tests and are authorized for unit purchase. (F-1 and S-1 with the black blade option.)

If you want a more practical size for most use than the big NL series, but still basic Bowie lines, see the S-1 and the A-1.

Lone Star
P.S. If you have limited funds, get a Buck Model 119.

Can't beat the Western Bowie. I've had mine since about 1969...got if for Christmas like Ralphie and his BB gun. "The best Christmas gift I ever received or ever would receive". Big, sharp, balanced, sturdy, and priced for a normal budget...maybe $125 bucks these days?

Western is out of business, and their knives were of average quality.

I was afraid of that...Western out of business. I am sure happy with mine...it is sharp as a razor and holds an edge like crazy.

I make bowies in my 7" Super Camp and 6" Fighters. Here's a Super Camp with stag that I just made:

If price is a concern, you can get some nice bowie knives from Atlanta Cutlery. The bowies they make are handforged in India by Windlass Steelcrafts. The quality ranges from good to excellent. They aren't masterpieces handcrafted by artisans, but Atlanta Cutlery has a dozen different patterns available and none of them is priced over $100.

Here is one, the 1850 coffin hilt:



A.G. Russell sells a couple of bowies, also. You can check his website, you can search under the term "bowie" and come up with some good stuff, including the Bill Bagwell bowies made by Ontario Cutlery.

In the end, you get what you pay for. If you wish to pay $5000 for a handcrafted bowie made of damascus steel, made by a Master Smith of the American Bladesmith Society, you certainly can do so. Not all of us have that much spare cash.

I always liked Mike Wise. Hand forged just like in the old days. Top quality work and he is a super nice guy. Very reasonably priced.

http://www.angelfire.com/my/wisecustomknives/

I have a few of his blades and have never been disapointed by them.
Will

Mine are $250 with "regular" handle materials, +$100 for stag or giraffe bone. I finished one last night (Super Camp) with killer spalted maple handles, $275 for that one but no sheath has been made yet. Custom leather sheaths run $50 extra.

Also, I am not too fond with most Cold Steel products, but if their bowies are really fantastic, let me know.

I don't know much about knives, but someone has a review of Cold Steel's bowie knife on youtube that might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msToNcByErw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC-R6MeJ3-A&feature=channel

Here, a reviewer who can't even pronounce the names of the knives he reviews covers Fallkniven's A-1. He just turns it in his hand, but you can see the knife, here in the optional black blade version, with the Kydex sheath that is no longer offered. It has been replaced with a Zytel sheath A leather sheath is still offered.

I think this guy is not as informed as he'd like us to think he is. A man who can't even pronounce names like Fallkniven and Camillus shouldn't be reviewing knives. But Nutn' Fancy is a prolific reviewer of outdoors products.

For the record,
"Fallkniven" is pronounced, "FELL-ka-neeven". I can't reproduce it here, but the "a" has an umlaut over it, changing the pronunciati0n to an "e" sound in Swedish. I have this information directly from Peter Hjortberger, the company president.

"Camillus" is pronounced as, "Ca-MILL-us." He says "CAM-uh-lis."

He said that he managed to chip the blade on a Fallkniven A-2 by hitting it on a rock. Well, whoop-de-doo! You can chip almost ANY blade by hitting the edge against a rock. All it takes is enough force, at the wrong angle. The Fallkniven knives have been extensively tested by the Technical University of Lulea (in Sweden) and by US military evaluators, and tbey came through with flying colors. The only reason why the A-1 isn't listed for unit purchase is that it's too big for the sheath on US aircrewmens' vests. I think it's an outstanding knife for military or survival purposes. It has been extensively used by Norwegian Marines, and is a favorite private purchase knife with them. I believe these men are also the ones who requested the A-2 model, which they use to check for mines in Afghanistan.

Don't understimate the Buck Special, their Model 119, either. It's an excellent knife, at a reasonable price. It is the favorite knife of the Canadian guy who has a survival program on Discovery TV. His is the valid survival program. (The former SAS man who stays in hotels and creates unneccesary trials for himself has a knife designed for him. It's quite probably a fine knife, but the reputation of his show detracts from its image.)

Look at this video to see the Fallkniven knife, but I distrust the reviewer's comments at times.

Lone Star

Additionaal Fallkniven reviews:

S-1 Forest Knife: (Different reviewer)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emX89JQ9_kk&NR=1

A-1 chopping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdDwLcSRaNU&feature=related

S-1 and Frost knife:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHW9IUjaiJM&feature=related

burnse , If you asked me first, I ask you first whatcha going to do with it?

You can get a Bowie with a 5 inch long blade, or a 15 inch long blade, and I mean just the blade.

What kind of steel?

Safe queen? User? If so what for?

If you buy a silly stainless blade and it is 5 inches long and you take it to pre 1840 VOO to show it off, the Buck Skinners will laugh at you!

In the other hand if you bring a 15 inch carbon steel blade to the local SWAT gathering they will laugh at you for that monster?

Just the word Bowie means about a million things to the same number of people.

The supposed historical blade, sometimes sold, that is supposed to be a reproduction of the 'Sand Bar' knife probably isn't, not that I wish to be involved with any endless debate. The fact is on that; No One Knows..

I've used a Himalayan Imports kukri before and found it to be a damned fine tool. Slightly crude, imperfect to be sure, but a really enjoyable knife that worked, was tough, held an edge well...

If the crow is anything like, it'd be plenty good enough....

J

lotta nice bowies here and to think I still carry my old Buck bowie

Here are two of the bowies that Ontario Cutlery makes, designed by bowie authority Bill Bagwell. A.G. Russell sells them for $144.95 (check to see if they are in stock). The larger of the two sounds like what you describe, these are very light and quick in the hand, yet attractive enough to serve in the wall-hanger role.