Good Bowie/Hunting knife - The Firearms Forum

.38domination · 06-23-2012, 02:38 PM

I'm in the market for a good bowie/hunting knife again and was wondering what knives you all have or what ones you guys like. I'm leaning toward a Colt with an 11 1/2 inch blade with a wood and brass handel.

RJay · 06-23-2012, 06:18 PM

I've seen the Colts advertised in SMKW catalogs they sure look nice, but I have no ideal of the steel the chinese use in the less expensive knifes. On their better knives it seems to be OK. IMO a bowie knife makes a lousy hunting knife, to big to do anything with. I know there are those who say they can skin a squirrel with one, but not me. In my experience a good hunting knife has a 4 inch blade ( give or take a 1/2 inch ), a good point to pierce the hide, and enough belly to do the skinning. You should be able to use the same knife for slicing food, shaving wood to start the fire and the hundred other things you use a knife for. The bowie (Again IMO) is almost useless for any of those chores. In all my times in the woods I only carried a bowie one time before I retired it. A thick bladed bowie is almost useless for any camping chores other than cutting brush and even then a good hatchet or tomahawk is better. I know that doesn't answer your question about which bowie is better but there you have it.

76Highboy · 06-23-2012, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

I've seen the Colts advertised in SMKW catalogs they sure look nice, but I have no ideal of the steel the chinese use in the less expensive knifes. On their better knives it seems to be OK. IMO a bowie knife makes a lousy hunting knife, to big to do anything with. I know there are those who say they can skin a squirrel with one, but not me. In my experience a good hunting knife has a 4 inch blade ( give or take a 1/2 inch ), a good point to pierce the hide, and enough belly to do the skinning. You should be able to use the same knife for slicing food, shaving wood to start the fire and the hundred other things you use a knife for. The bowie (Again IMO) is almost useless for any of those chores. In all my times in the woods I only carried a bowie one time before I retired it. A thick bladed bowie is almost useless for any camping chores other than cutting brush and even then a good hatchet or tomahawk is better. I know that doesn't answer your question about which bowie is better but there you have it.

Well said.

ms6852 · 07-06-2012, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

Well said.

+2

Hawg · 07-07-2012, 03:13 AM

+3 I like a big ol heavy Bowie hafted in antler...........for show. It goes well with my custom Hawken and Buffalo possibles bag. For a real hunting/skinning knife tho I like a three inch thin blade and really prefer a modern soft grip that doesn't get slick with blood like wood or antler does.

carver · 07-07-2012, 08:57 AM

This is mine:

Old Grump · 07-07-2012, 09:12 AM

Everybody that I know who used to carry Bowie's, combat knives and/or bayonets into the wood learned quickly that they were heavy and of limited use. I have carried a Case or Schrade folder and a buck 4 1/2" skinning knife since the 70's and have yet to need anything bigger. In my camp I have a whet stone, a file, a saw, bone saw and an axe but not to carry around with me. If you need a big hacking knife carry a machete or a khukuri but keep your hunting knife to a more reasonable size. At the end of the day you will appreciate not having to carry the extra weight and you will have a knife on you that is actually useful for field dressing deer, dove, squirrels or cleaning fish.

Zhurh · 07-08-2012, 11:55 AM

Had a 8 inch Bowie made a few years back, modern damascus I guess you'd call it. I use it all the time out hunting, from chopping, cutting, to cutting necks of caribou flailing around on the ground; luv the Bowie. I never noticed the weight factor, but mostly hunting off 4 wheeler & snowmachine.

carver · 07-08-2012, 12:02 PM

Another that has not had a problem with the weight of the knife. The weight problem I have is having to carry all the other tools that are needed for the camp sight. The Bowie will just about do it all, no other tools needed. It will chop wood, drive tent stakes, sking a critter, cut meat, or bones, and I can eat with it! it's one the best SD knives out there, and was designed to do the job that all the other tools do. Does the Bowie come in as the best tool at any of these individual tasks? No, but try chopping fire wood with a 4" blade, or drive tent stakes with one!

Big_Bullet · 08-12-2012, 06:52 PM

Glock 81. Pure genius design, with a saw back spine that won't cut you if you slip but is very useful for sawing branches. I've chopped down 3" diameter trees with it to clear a shooting lane for bow hunting, and it stayed sharp. The sheath design is the best I have ever seen. The sheath alone is worth the thirty dollar price tag of the knife and sheath. It's one piece of molded polymer, that can fasten onto a belt without undoing your belt, which makes it ideal for carrying upside down on the webbing of my tree climbing harness so I can access it quickly in case a big kitty wants to eat me, since I can’t legally carry a gun while bow hunting.

BB

06-23-2012, 02:38 PM	#1
.38domination Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Okeana, Ohio Posts: 17	Good Bowie/Hunting knife I'm in the market for a good bowie/hunting knife again and was wondering what knives you all have or what ones you guys like. I'm leaning toward a Colt with an 11 1/2 inch blade with a wood and brass handel. __________________ If guns cause crime then mine must be defective. -->

06-23-2012, 06:18 PM	#2
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,486	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife I've seen the Colts advertised in SMKW catalogs they sure look nice, but I have no ideal of the steel the chinese use in the less expensive knifes. On their better knives it seems to be OK. IMO a bowie knife makes a lousy hunting knife, to big to do anything with. I know there are those who say they can skin a squirrel with one, but not me. In my experience a good hunting knife has a 4 inch blade ( give or take a 1/2 inch ), a good point to pierce the hide, and enough belly to do the skinning. You should be able to use the same knife for slicing food, shaving wood to start the fire and the hundred other things you use a knife for. The bowie (Again IMO) is almost useless for any of those chores. In all my times in the woods I only carried a bowie one time before I retired it. A thick bladed bowie is almost useless for any camping chores other than cutting brush and even then a good hatchet or tomahawk is better. I know that doesn't answer your question about which bowie is better but there you have it. __________________ RonJames

07-07-2012, 03:13 AM	#5
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,555	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife +3 I like a big ol heavy Bowie hafted in antler...........for show. It goes well with my custom Hawken and Buffalo possibles bag. For a real hunting/skinning knife tho I like a three inch thin blade and really prefer a modern soft grip that doesn't get slick with blood like wood or antler does.

07-07-2012, 08:57 AM	#6
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,236	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife This is mine: Attached Images __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

07-07-2012, 09:12 AM	#7
Old Grump Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Little hut in the woods near Blue River Wisconsin Posts: 2,286	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife Everybody that I know who used to carry Bowie's, combat knives and/or bayonets into the wood learned quickly that they were heavy and of limited use. I have carried a Case or Schrade folder and a buck 4 1/2" skinning knife since the 70's and have yet to need anything bigger. In my camp I have a whet stone, a file, a saw, bone saw and an axe but not to carry around with me. If you need a big hacking knife carry a machete or a khukuri but keep your hunting knife to a more reasonable size. At the end of the day you will appreciate not having to carry the extra weight and you will have a knife on you that is actually useful for field dressing deer, dove, squirrels or cleaning fish. __________________ "When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."~~- Thomas Jefferson Roman Catholic, Life Member of American Legion, VFW, Wisconsin Libertarian party, Wi-FORCE, WGO, NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAFand CCRKBA

07-08-2012, 11:55 AM	#8
Zhurh Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Upper Yukon, Alaska Posts: 1,809	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife Had a 8 inch Bowie made a few years back, modern damascus I guess you'd call it. I use it all the time out hunting, from chopping, cutting, to cutting necks of caribou flailing around on the ground; luv the Bowie. I never noticed the weight factor, but mostly hunting off 4 wheeler & snowmachine.

07-08-2012, 12:02 PM	#9
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,236	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife Another that has not had a problem with the weight of the knife. The weight problem I have is having to carry all the other tools that are needed for the camp sight. The Bowie will just about do it all, no other tools needed. It will chop wood, drive tent stakes, sking a critter, cut meat, or bones, and I can eat with it! it's one the best SD knives out there, and was designed to do the job that all the other tools do. Does the Bowie come in as the best tool at any of these individual tasks? No, but try chopping fire wood with a 4" blade, or drive tent stakes with one! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

08-12-2012, 06:52 PM	#10
Big_Bullet Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	Re: Good Bowie/Hunting knife Glock 81. Pure genius design, with a saw back spine that won't cut you if you slip but is very useful for sawing branches. I've chopped down 3" diameter trees with it to clear a shooting lane for bow hunting, and it stayed sharp. The sheath design is the best I have ever seen. The sheath alone is worth the thirty dollar price tag of the knife and sheath. It's one piece of molded polymer, that can fasten onto a belt without undoing your belt, which makes it ideal for carrying upside down on the webbing of my tree climbing harness so I can access it quickly in case a big kitty wants to eat me, since I can’t legally carry a gun while bow hunting. BB