Cable Tang?? Whats up, and will my Natchez Bowie save my....

T

tikkidaddy

Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
285
Bacon, or fall apart like some hollow handled "survival knife"?
EDIT: To save confusion, I realize the CSNB isn't an SRK or TM, I was just asking about its performance in stated application.
Also, the Natchez Bowie definitely needs a safer, well made sheath, w/ "normal" retention etc. ESPECIALLY for the more expensive San Mai version.

If you EVER drop this knife youll understand!

Point down, THUNNKK! into a laminate floor, and stood there, looking at me. NO damage whatsoever, except to my....shorts!
 
Last edited:
They are great looking blades but from my experience I don't think this is the balde for you if it comes down to saving your bacon.... There are lots of clips/pics showing the broken handle. Granted these are from people using the knife in manner other then that expected of the design. This is not a woods knife..this is a fighting knife...If you want to process wood for fire or shelter or skin a dear or open a can of food I would suggest something different then the Natchez Bowie.
 
I absolutely agree...while I reserve shelter building and other normal survival tasks for a CSTM, or SRK, or the like, since the Natchez Bowie is labled as a "fighting knife", will it hold up in a "knife fight", i.e. techniques taught in the "Warriors Edge" DVD series??...

Alot of knives are labled "survival" knife nowdays due to the new craze..."Zombie prep" bunker building, TV concrete castle thing, and the most they can "survive" is a walk out into the backyard!

That means the user probably WILL NOT SURVIVE.

The "hollow handle" junk knife Rambo type has been replaced by hollow steel. Nuff said on the survival end o' the stick.

CS advertises the Natchez as a fighting knife. I guess the best equivelent is what Ive always said, "The best knife fight is the one you never get into in the first dam*ed place!" So the Natchez would perform above expectations there for sure! Just asking...
 
I really wouldn't want to use it in a knife fight either...the long reach is negated by the weight and the weakness in the handle...there are smaller,faster blades that would prove more effective....

In my opinion the best knife to bring to a knife fight would be a gun....just think of the sword fighter in the indiana jones movie that starts swinging his sword..Indian pulls out his gun and bang..fight over..nuff said
 
A cable tang is used by some custom knife makers and is more expensive to produce than a full tang. The point is to absorb shock, since the handle materials used in the Natchez are not very good at that. The cable tang also affects the balance of the knife.
 
Hi guys. Sorry I am late to the party here. We have been so busy with the Cold Steel Challenge, and we are now in the middle of filming our new Sword Proof video.

The cable tang in our Laredo and Natchez Bowie knives is used primarily as a shock distributor. The cable acts almost like a guitar string and sends shock out the end of the pommel, rather than into the handle and subsequintly the hand. This promotes longer life in the handle, and makes it less likely that the user will take shock directly into his hand, allowing him to maintain a more secure grip. Since these are primarily designed as fighting bowies, a secure grip is extrelemy important. If you have watched Lynn's video on using the bowie's handguard for defense, then you can see how much shock this knife may take in a combat situation.

It also makes the knife a little blade heavy, which moves the "sweet spot" of the knife further fvorward and gives it greater impact.

Manufacturing the knife with the cable tang is a more expensive process than simply making the knife with a full tang, so this is done with intent and design. It is definately not a cost-saving effort. We have never seen a cable tang break under normal usage.

And no Mr. Finkenstein, they are not just wall-hangers.
 
Thanks guys....
Hey Newfie, my wife wants a Husky/Newfie mix pup! Beautiful Animal. :)!! Yes, a G21 is goin' to the knife fight!

My thanks to our moderator for chiming in. Of course LT and CS would produce knives that will perform above par, and I believe that LT would consider it an affront (sp?) to his station as a martial artist if the Natchez wouldn't "cut the mustard" so to speak.

I have alot of questions about the Natchez as far as the handle goes, like how is that exactly rigged up to be so strong? It looks like lateral force on the handle would really skrew it up.
But my family ancestry is from Cajun country, and be they Cajuns in LA or MS, well....lets just say theyve been in a bar fight or two. So the Natchez tuggs at my heart strings like gumbo and Tabasco! Can't help dat!
 
I won't buy a cable tang knife. Maybe that is just a bias on my part. I will buy hidden tang designs, that go the length of the handle.

If CS ever releases the Naches with a through tang, or near full length hidden tang, I would consider it.

Realistically, I don't need a "fighting" bowie, but I sure like the looks.

I have a few big choppers now, so it is likely a moot point.
 
I won't buy a cable tang knife either. They just don't inspire much confidence. If I could get a Laredo and Natchez bowie with full tangs and Micarta grips, made of A-2, I'm all over both. As it is now, the big Khukri is my "go to" combat and hard use knife. The best combat knife, in my opinion, is one with an M1A attached to the end of it.
 
The natchez and laredo are plenty strong. I have used both and never had any breakages. I think the "strength" of knives is always an overstated unneeded concern by the vast majority . I have been able to baton 5 inch diameter logs with the g10 espada xl and it is a folder. I know that may be considered abuse but I wanted to test it out. What makes someone think certain knives are so weak? Weak for what exactly?
 
Well personally, I think this whole batoning issue has become an expression of the idea that "mine is bigger than yours".


Bladesports?....If someone wasn't watching a CS video and thought it up, Id be really suprised.

Id love to be physically able to participate, BTW. The point is that men, in general turn ANYTHING into a competitive sport.

Nothing wrong w/ it, just a historical fact, guys.

I can get to the idea of splitting wood for survival because nothings' dry...you can't get a burn on...but splittin' cordwood just to prove a point?

If a company wants to find out just how much it takes to skrew their product up, there are lots of ways to do it, or you can send one to KnifeTestsNoss. He will be happy to "do your knife ugly" free of charge!

"Strong enough for what?" is a relative term. Depends on which relative it is, and if they bathed before showing up for Christmas dinner LOL :). Same w/ knives.
Honest knifemakers who make good stuff don't need the BS "endorsement" of guys tryin' to get free steel.

"Strong enuf" to me might mean "get me out of a negative situation I didn't put myself into", or "strong enuf to hold up a pickup truck".

If it meets the standard you set for it youre sold.
 
Last edited:
What exactly is a "cable tang"?? Is it the same as a through tang with the pommel screwed on? And how tough exactly are the Natchez Bowies ( are the SK-5 ones as tough as the San Mai ones?) I have the San Mai version but it will NEVER be used (unless I have to fight a bowie duel-unlikely) But, I am planning on getting the SK-5 model to just have, I LOVE the looks, but it could be lighter. I own a Carbon V Trailmaster (want another) and many others. I keep a SK-5 Laredo, as a "defense" blade.
 
A cable tang is (as it's name suggests) a cable. It works like a guitar string, vibrating to disperse shock. This stops the shock from running through the handle and into your hand.
I've never seen a cable tang fail.
The cable tang also changes the balance point of the knife. It's designed as a fighting knife so balance is very important
 
I guess it all comes down to one question: How is the actual blade connected to the cable that serves as the tang?

Ive always seen the "cable tang" idea as a way for knife mfgrs. to save money on steel. JMHO.

It follows that San Mai is more costly to use than "regular" steel, and if youre makin' 150,000 Natchez Bowies, that "savings" is alotta steel, and alotta cash to boot.

Ive used my Laredo in Carbon V on a few occasions, and I feel sure that the handle will stay put.

It would be more attractive if it were full tang, black micarta handles, nickel silver pins and guard. Does that make her a bad knife?? No.

Would that make her a better knife?? Im not so sure...my San Mai Laredo is perfect as far as Im concerned. Here again, Im not "knocking" CS for this manufacturing method, Im just being honest.
 
The cable-tang process is actually more expensive than a standard full tang (or a push tang).
The cable makes the handle lighter, giving the blade more weight - actually making it a little more lively in the hand and adjusting the balance point.
It also distributes shock through the handle. This is particularly useful as the Natchez handle material is hard - It's easier on your hands as well as the handle material.
These design choices were made to make the Natchez a faster, more lively and more effective fighting knife.
It's a specialized tool.
However, as I said before, I've seen the Natchez take some tremendous abuse - we actually shot our new Proof videos a few weeks ago and I saw that knife go through hell.
We test everything to breaking point and that cable tang just didn't break. I have every confidence in it's durability.
CAN it be broken? For sure. I'm pretty sure anyone can eventually break anything :D
I just haven't seen it happen...
 
Oh sure, Ive got a copy of every CS "PROOF" vid thats ever been made. You know, like the old days when the TM was shown going thru 9" of hemp rope...Yeah, that long!

I use them as a "sell point" for Cold Steel. Friends see a knife, eyes pop out, show them the vid, then theyre pickin' up both their lower jaw and eyes off the floor! LOL!!

Do I "work" for Cold Steel? Yes. and in over 20 years Ive never been paid a single dime. Ive never received a gift for doing so. Hell, I worry more about CS's reputation than alot of folks Ive dealt w/ who are dealers, or directly associated.

Thats why the Natchez interests me so much. Ive seen vids where relatively lightweight work caused catastrophic failure.

I mean come on, is the mighty TM a slab sided, full tang knife?
No. But you can bet your "begonias" that 99.99% of the time, it'll "git-er-done".

I just want to see the cable tang versions in the fighter dept have that kind of success.

Because, after all, you can contact Lon Humphery, and he'll build you a version of this knife that is most likely impossible to break, but youll pay big money for it.

There are custom makers who have taken the "CS challenge" quite serious. Nobody has stepped up yet.
 
The SM3's have a rod instead I believe. I have zero concern in regards to the tang. I have seen Nepalese kuks with tangs that look like toothpicks, and they perform flawlessly.

That being said, if you judge a knife by how well you can sledge hammer it through steel I beams, then this knife probably won't make your cut.

I have a Natchez Bowie in SM3 from ColdSteel.com (I hear that CS cherry picks their own inventory from shipments, and send the rest to distributors) and I have to say, that only the Fallkniven NL series is as flawless as the NB. You have to hold and handle one to appreciate it. It justifies the price IMO.
 
Last edited:
Ive got some HIMIMP khukuri that have the so called "rat-tail" tang, and buffalo horn handles.

Those damn things are among the "hardest use" knives Ive seen in over 30 years.

Nothing comes close to a HIMIMP khukuri as far as toughness goes, that Ive seen anyway, except a properly heat-treated, properly tempered Carbon V Trailmaster.

I don't expect a knife like the CSNB to be that tough, rather sturdy enuf to handle "emergency" knife routines, if its my "only knife", and it wont be. But also tough to actually survive the rigors of knife combat techniques as suggested in CS knife fight training videos.

But I admit I would've been happier if my first HIMIMP was a Chirrwa Ang Kola, instead of the standard model.
 
One hammer strike will destroy a wooden handle, and not just on a Natchez. That is what happens when you see a broken wooden Laredo or Natchez handle, someone has struck it with a hammer/baton purposefully. Users like this benefit from the "full" tang. That is, a tang that is visible with slab handle scale setup. However, if that knife has wooden slabs, they will splinter as well from hammer strikes. Micarta on the other hand, does not splinter. That does not mean one should purchase a Laredo or Natchez with micarta handles and perform similar acts of abuse.

Like CS mod has said, more pieces in construction = more cost, not less. I have never seen or had a micarta handle fail. I have a wooden one split on me. Just not during use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top