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Post by Larry Jordan on Apr 9, 2011 18:28:43 GMT
Cold Steel Natchez Bowie (now in SK5!) I love browsing the Cold Steel catalog, planning what to get next. I don't have infinite resources and try to create a purchase plan that blends realistic considerations with an eye towards experimentation. Nestled among the excellently presented product pics and descriptions are what I call the impossibly big ticket items--custom and high-end production knives which elevate the entire line of products. (I think this is a marketing approach Smith & Wesson exploited for its revolver sales). When I first saw the Natchez Bowie, I held my breadth. The Natchez Bowie has an 11.75" blade in VG-1 San Mai III steel, exquisite handle and ample guard but has the obscene catalog price of $699.99! That's crazy. Resellers might drop the price to $400, but this is still a half-of-month's rent, the bulk of the price of a gen3 glock or a Hanwei Musashi on sale. I've often lamented how I'd wished the knife were made out of less expensive materials, but still preserve its design. This morning I discovered that CS is now offering the Natchez made out of its high carbon SK5 steel and have dropped the price $410! Knifecenter has it for under $200 ($173.95 for pre-order). It comes with what looks like a secure-ex sheath. I'd prefer a leather sheath with belt stud as on the premier model, but I can try to find an aftermarket sheath (CS might sell the leather versions with stud separately) or have one custom made. Now, that's a[n affordable] knife.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Apr 9, 2011 18:46:01 GMT
I like big mean knives and I like bowie knives, combining the two is a sure-win for me. Here's something for ya, Larry ; www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... wie+SK%2D5 164,95 $ on pre-order at Kult of Athena. Did I just take you a few bucks closer to taking the plunge ?
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Post by Dave Kelly on Apr 9, 2011 19:27:19 GMT
:x Hey! Don't post crap like this. This isn't a sword. I just a big, mean, pretty, humongous, bodacious, shiney K-nife. ( ME WANT, ME WANT, ME WANT, ME WANT. )
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Post by MOK on Apr 9, 2011 21:39:13 GMT
I CAN HAS NATCHEZ BOWIE?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2011 16:09:12 GMT
I'm chomping at the bit to get one of these, too. I've handled the SMIII version, and I think I may have glimpsed a prototype of the SK5 Natchez at the parking lot sale this year, but the knife table was too crowded and I was more interested in other items.
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Talon
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Post by Talon on Jun 9, 2011 18:14:04 GMT
i've been arguing with myself on wether to get the natchez or the fallkniven thor for a couple of years, both have been too expensive for me to take the plunge,and if im honest i prefer the fallkniven,but at that price it's definately hard to pass up shame im flat broke this month
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Post by bloodwraith on Jul 21, 2011 9:46:44 GMT
Now I'm not saying the natchez bowie is bad, but for the retail price I'd rather have one of Barry Dawson's blades. Do CS honestly think that their product is worth that kind of price? Or is there some other thinking behind their prices?
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Post by Student of Sword on Jul 21, 2011 10:24:50 GMT
I have to agree with Bloodwraith. It is a production knife! In term of price/value, I rather get the one below from Dan Keffeler, CPM3V steel to boot. I have not ask him how much. But Dan made me katana blade with beautiful habaki for $1,400.00. So I seriously doubt that the bowie below is very expensive.
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Post by bloodwraith on Jul 21, 2011 10:42:49 GMT
Ah man! I do not need more blades to add to my list of wants, I already have too many, lower priced and gorgeous but that bowie has some beautiful lines, though I prefer the more recognisable bowie shape to that type but that piece is stunning. Too bad his site doesn't have more of his knives and blades. I'd be interested to know what you thought of the katana blade. Feel free to PM me as we are currently in the knife forum.
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Post by Student of Sword on Jul 21, 2011 10:49:57 GMT
Bloodwraith I am deployed right now, so I won't see the blade until I come home at the end of the year. Check out this thread on SFI: www.swordforum.com/forums/showth ... ashira-set . That is not my sword but it will give you an idea what Dan can do. Speaking of more bowie. You can get pretty good custom bowies on Robertson Custom Cutlery. Here are a few examples, some of them even had hamon and burl handles. The Lynch bowie can be had for $475.00. Check out the other custom makers as well. www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/lynchbowie.htmOther makers who do bowies: www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/mbowie.shtmlPS: Another places to go for bowies is American Bladesmith Society. They have a list of Journeyman Smith that make beautiful bowies. Of course, if one has money, there is a list of master smith as well. Journeyman Smith: www.americanbladesmith.com/index ... group_id=6 Master Smith: www.americanbladesmith.com/index ... group_id=5
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Post by bloodwraith on Jul 21, 2011 13:36:14 GMT
Ah I see, come home safe and thanks for the links
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Jul 22, 2011 2:59:49 GMT
I think the San Mai 3 is overpriced. For 300-400 $ you can get a nice custom knife. For a bit more you can get a decent custom bowie knife. I have saved and checked many different custom knives makers and nearly every single one of the them make large custom bowies for more than 400 $ (450 to 700 $, usually).
On the other hand, I think the cheaper SK-5 Cold Steel Natchez Bowie is a nice deal. For less than 200 $ you can get a nice-looking large bowie knife. Although we might not all like Cold Steel, they do have a reputation for making good, strong knives.
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Post by Student of Sword on Jul 23, 2011 17:42:37 GMT
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Jul 23, 2011 18:05:12 GMT
Hello Student !
I really like the three first knives. I love their blade shape and their handles. On the other hand, I don't like the three last knives. Their handles don't look right to me, although I like the blade shape of the last knife shown in your links.... Oooooh that 164,95 $ Bowie is begging me to take the plunge ... It is in-stock and I have some money to spend .... MUST... RE....SIST !!!
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Post by Student of Sword on Jul 24, 2011 17:42:09 GMT
Seb, Hanwei make bowies as well, under the Rock Creek Brand. The hand are stag or wood, none of the synthetic stuff. They are in fact made out of HWS-1 steel. The same steel as the Bugei Old Pine, Hanwei Lion Dog, and Hanwei Shinto 25th Anniversary. Even at MSRP, they are cheaper than Cold Steel. www.casiberia.com/prod_List.aspx?cat=6103You can get them at at paulchenhanweiswords.com/grizzly ... knife.aspx . My favorite is this one : paulchenhanweiswords.com/grizzly ... knife.aspx ,for $131.10 Unfortunately, from what you shown us you like. The blade profile probably does not fit your taste.
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Jul 24, 2011 18:32:45 GMT
Seems like a nice bowie there. If it's made by Hanwei, I think it should be a fairly well-made product. BTW you're right, the blade shape isn't exactly to my liking, but that's just my personnal taste I already knew about Rock Creek but didn't know that they also made this bowie. Thanks for the info Student !
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Post by Student of Sword on Jul 25, 2011 7:21:12 GMT
I think that your blade profile preference is truer to the original bowie. Of course, there is a historical debate on what the original bowie supposed to look like.
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Post by Student of Sword on Aug 1, 2011 15:28:37 GMT
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Sébastien
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Post by Sébastien on Aug 1, 2011 20:39:58 GMT
Nice sites man, I just added them to my list of custom knife makers ... You should see that list... My screen is too short, I have to scroll up n down to see it all.
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Post by Student of Sword on Aug 2, 2011 4:30:11 GMT
Seb,
Should we have a customed knives maker sticky thread?
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