Not wanting a chicom.

Check out the Maserin, made in Italy. I have one in the Orange G10, just that I love Orange!

https://www.amazon.com/Maserin...n%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-2

Mine:

Thanks Utsig, not seeing the orange. Looks good.

My first thought was a Cold Steel like the one I have stuck back somewhere. Good Steel, nice wood etc. Then I check prices on what they go for now, HOLY MOLEY! I need to dig mine out and frame it or something......

I've played around with some Hand Forged, Magazine Front page, show winning Bowie knives and several in-between that and the Cold Steel Bowie. They all have one thing in Common......

Nobody ever actually uses them anymore.

Cool to own and admire, not so good to actually use. I kinda like your original question because it included the "what could be better". If you ask that question a lot of answers are going to include knives that aren't large Bowie knives. More power to you if you can afford a GREAT Bowie knife (My best friend can, I can't. He has the Devon Thomas Bowie that won a major knife show, I just got to play with it.). There might be some fun, decent Bowie's for under $200 but not really good ones.

So for What could be better for under $200 we might need to start a new thread! There are quite a few very nice large knives available for under $200.........

https://www.amazon.com/White-R...71388698&sr=8-9&th=1

For just over $200 I'd probably go for something like this. Superb Steel, one of the best ever and a far more useful sized knife........


Please feel free to disagree, The fun is in the honest discussions.

If you REALLY want to try a Bowie that will work, isn't a junk Chinese Show piece and still won't break the bank this one might be worthy of a try:

https://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-...%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-16

I don't have this knife but both Ka-Bar and Becker are reputable names and 1095 is VERY reputable steel..........

If you just want to TRY a Bowie with decent steel and heat treat you can't go too far wrong with Cold Steels:

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-St...%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-11

Not top end but still a decent knife with known steel and heat treat instead of who knows what....


Anyway, Fun Question. Let us know if what you might have ended up with. Hope I helped, if not at least I tried! :-). ..............DJ

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
Thanks Utsig, not seeing the orange. Looks good.

I got mine from here, still in stock:

https://www.knifecenter.com/it...black-leather-sheath

Gryphon M35
Made in Japan

When I purchased mine it was $100

Ontario SP5 Survival Bowie

Made in USA $60

Spyderco Street Bowie
Made in Japan
$125 or so

Thank you guys. Some really good options you came up with. I appreciate it. djp, I disagree in terms of being a useful knife. Maybe if you live in the concrete jungle. Otherwise absolutely useful.

About 40 years ago I was running a forklift unloading semi trucks regularly. I remember a driver popped out of his truck with a large bowie on his hip. Dude hand long hair and wore a tank top. Kind of shocked me when I saw the size of his knife. Cool dude as it turned out

I haven’t seen the ESEE Junglas mentioned, and they are available under $200. The original is overkill for me, but a Junglas II is on my “want” list.

Not necessarily suggesting them as a source, but Smoky Mountain Knife Works has both models in stock. If you’re looking for a Bowie for hard use they’re a winner.

Are you wanting a Bowie knife or just a large knife?

For a large Bowieish knife, on the used market: Nutnfancy review of the Scrap Yard Military Regulator.


Give him your wallet.

What for?

He’s got a knife…

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
djp, I disagree in terms of being a useful knife. Maybe if you live in the concrete jungle. Otherwise absolutely useful.

Hunting, Out on the farm or making firewood for the wood stove I personally find a 4" knife and/or a hatchet, axe, saw or splitting Maul be more useful and practical than a big knife (And I have quite a few big knives) but hey there's more than one way to skin a cat, Right?

What do you actually use a big 10" bowie knife for?

If you have one handy lots of tasks for a bowie.
Chopping, hacking, carving. Not everyone lives or goes into the back country. But definitely a useful knife. If your are into bushcraft it would be considered a required asset. Also could be used in self defense or a large game processing knife. That is just for starters. Much depends on the knife itself as well.

quote:

Originally posted by djpaintles:
https://www.amazon.com/White-R...71388698&sr=8-9&th=1

For just over $200 I'd probably go for something like this. Superb Steel, one of the best ever and a far more useful sized knife........


Please feel free to disagree, The fun is in the honest discussions.

Dammit. Why did I click on that link?

Closest thing I have is a Buck 124 frontiersman. US made, decent steel. It’s a big big and unwieldy I’d take a buck 119 or esee 4/5 ahead of it.

Cold Steel OSS knife $55 Amazon.