The Quintessential Fighting Knife: The Top 5 Best Bowie Knives
1. Ontario Knife Company 8684 SP10 Spec Plus Marie Raider Bowie
The OKC Marine Raider Bowie Knife is made from 1095 Carbon Steel, features a black with a matte finish and traditional clip point eng. The knife also features a 5.25″ long grooved Kraton handle making it more durable as a field knife than other knives that feature a wooden handle. The handle also features a convenient lanyard hole for attaching a retention line if you’re into that. The blade has an overall length of 15-inches and usually retails for around $85 although it does go on sale from time to time for about $60 or so.
2. United Cutlery USMC Marine Force Recon Bowie Knife
Affordable and dedicated to the United States Marine Corps, the United Cutlery Bowie knife has an overall length of 16-1/2″ and a total blade length of 11-1/2″. The blade is made from AUS-6 Stainless steel for corrosion resistance and comes complete with an overmolded rubber grip handle and lanyard loop. Finally, this Bowie’s blade features partial serrations towards the rear and features some pretty aggressive jimping along the spine of the knife.
3. Cold Steel Marauder Bowie Knife
Cold Steel has a long-lasting reputation for making some very affordable and high-quality knives that are useful for everyman. While the Cold Steel Marauder looks plain, the blade is made from AUS8A stainless steel, features a Kray-Ex handle complete with a finger guard for an added layer of safety when slicing or stabbing. The blade’s material also lends itself well to being sharpened at home so you shouldn’t have to worry about long laborious sharpening sessions if you maintain this blade. Currently, this blade is on sale for $84.99 as opposed to its normal near $130 asking price.
4. KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife
While it could be argued that the KA-BAR Infantry knife is in a class all of its own, it still technically meets the requirements set out to qualify as a bowie knife. Made from 1095 Cro-van steel and featuring a 7-inch blade, the KA-BAR Fighting knife features all the classic lines that you’d come to expect from an old fighting knife and even comes complete with a leather sheath with an embossed USMC logo.
5. Buck Knives 119 Special Bowie Knife
Buck Knives is another great name in the knife-making industry and their Bowie Knife is no exception to their awesome reputation. The blade is made from 420HC stainless steel and features excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. Meanwhile, the traditional black phenolic handle features subtle palm swells and finger grooves for giving you a solid grip on the knife while doing fine detail work or attempting to pierce thick hide. Best of all, the Buck Knives 119 is made right here in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty.
What are Bowie Knives good for besides fighting?
While we are far removed from our frequent knife fighting days here in the USA, the Bowie knife still has a lot of good uses for modern owners. The primary use you’ll find for a bowie knife is for the field-dressing wild game right after a kill. The Bowie knife is particularly well suited for this as it features a fine clip point blade which is great for precision work, yet still has a long and broad blade for skinning work. Bowie Knifes are also somewhat of a collector’s item and many people will buy them just to have them as part of their growing collection. They are also apparently great for use in crocodile hunting.
Are Bowie Knives Legal to own?
Laws vary from state to state but generally it is legal to own and carry a bowie knife in public in most states. Many states have outright banned the Bowie along with many other types of blades like switchblades and ballistic knives are illegal to conceal in certain states (like Virginia). So if you’re planning on carrying one of these afield with you, you should check your local laws and regulations before doing so.
Where did the Bowie Knife Come from?
Despite being the state knife of Texas, the Bowie knife actually originates from Arkansas and was made by Rezin Bowie, Brother of James (Jim) Bowie in 1830. The knife itself was given to James Bowie who we mentioned earlier in this article and this is where the blade would gain its legendary name and reputation from. Jim Bowie was in several engagements with his Bowie knife and used it to great effect even after being shot and stabbed during several fights. Jim Bowie would later go on to die gloriously at the Alimo along with his fellow soldiers. Although Santa Ana briefly considered burying Bowie out of respect for his legendary status, he later recanted this thought and had his body placed on the funeral pyre with the other defenders of the Alamo.
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