Recommendation? CS Wild West Bowie vs. CS 1917 Frontier Bowie?

S

SanLuisObispo

Joined
Nov 14, 2020
Messages
369
Both from CS. The CS Wild West Bowie

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Styled like the iconic big blades featured in Western TV shows and movies, our Wild West Bowie is a noteworthy American classic. The blade is made from 1090 Carbon Steel. It is a long wide blade with weight forward balance and is saber ground and fortified with a false edge to assure maximum cutting, chopping, and piercing power. The handle has a classic profile, featuring Malaysian Sal Wood scales attached to the full tang with brass screws, and it has the characteristic “S” patterned brass hand guard to protect your fingers and enhance its defensive potential. The Wild West Bowie is kitted with a traditional black leather sheath that features a brass swivel belt loop and leather leg strap.
Weight: 23.1 oz.
Thick: 4.75 mm
Blade: 10 3/4"
Handle: 5 1/4"
Steel: 1090
Carbon
Overall: 16"


or the CS 1917 Frontier Bowie?

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The Frontier Bowie features a wide, sharp blade with a generous clip and fuller. Blade from 1085 High Carbon Steel, it is heat treated to a hard spring temper and beautifully blued to a lustrous finish. The Frontier Bowie’s big “S” shaped guard offers excellent hand protection while the slim, flat profile of the modified pistol grip handle resists twisting in your hand, and keeps your edge alignment true. The Frontier Bowie comes complete with a high quality leather sheath with a blued steel throat and chape.
Weight: 23.8 oz.
Thick: 1/4"
Blade: 12 1/4"
Handle: 5 3/8"
Steel: 1085 High Carbon
Overall: 17 5/8"
 
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I have the bottom one. its a ridiculous sized blade and way to heavy to carry. I still like it just cause. I haven't purchased the top one yet. I would prefer it due to its western w49 looks.
 
I bought a WW Bowie when they first hit the market for a little over $50 on a promotional sale. It went right back. Everything about it was cheesy, from the fit and looseness of the guard to the grind to cosmetic flaws in the handle. And it had a dull blade. Maybe I just got a bad one. I'm a Bowie knife fan and own quite a few, but I don't miss the WW Bowie at all.
 
johnnywizzo said:
I bought a WW Bowie when they first hit the market for a little over $50 on a promotional sale. It went right back. Everything about it was cheesy, from the fit and looseness of the guard to the grind to cosmetic flaws in the handle. And it had a dull blade. Maybe I just got a bad one. I'm a Bowie knife fan and own quite a few, but I don't miss the WW Bowie at all.
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Thanks for the first hand feedback...
 
johnnywizzo said:
I bought a WW Bowie when they first hit the market for a little over $50 on a promotional sale. It went right back. Everything about it was cheesy, from the fit and looseness of the guard to the grind to cosmetic flaws in the handle. And it had a dull blade. Maybe I just got a bad one. I'm a Bowie knife fan and own quite a few, but I don't miss the WW Bowie at all.
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That's too bad. That doesn't sound like the C.S. quality that I am used to (Marauder etc.). I almost got one but the huge angled guard was a major turn off. I decided that I didn't want to go through the hassle of modifying the guard, so my next choice was the Condor Undertaker.
 
upnorth said:
That's too bad. That doesn't sound like the C.S. quality that I am used to (Marauder etc.). I almost got one but the huge angled guard was a major turn off. I decided that I didn't want to go through the hassle of modifying the guard, so my next choice was the Condor Undertaker.
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How do you like your Marauder?
 
jbmonkey said:
I have the bottom one. its a ridiculous sized blade and way to heavy to carry. I still like it just cause. I haven't purchased the top one yet. I would prefer it due to its western w49 looks.
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They're both about the same weight. However, the 1917 sheath might add more weight.
 
I have the 1917 Frontier, not the WW. The 1917 seemed more useful. Neither of them are very useful as outdoor knives. The 1917 has a vastly better sheath, and it's tough as nails. The grip isn't the greatest, but it works with gloves. Honestly, I'm not sure what possessed me to buy it! If the WW Bowie came with a better sheath (no gigantic dangler), and a straight cross guard, instead of a very exaggerated old style S guard, I would have bought the WW. Both are made by Windlass in India. Cold Steel buys them, and puts their label on them. That's why they come with hit or miss fit and finish. That said, all the videos I watched, indicated that the 1917 came with better fit and finish. Except for not being hair popping sharp, my 1917 came with excellent fit and finish. It seems the WW Bowie is more hit or miss.

It's tough to find a true full tang, carbon steel Bowie these days. Case and Bear & Son are stainless steel, although the Case may have more high carbon. Even though I like the blade style, I'm not big on the Bark River Bowies, due to the hidden tangs. The Work Tuff Bowies are very nice, but they lack hand guards. The only real "working" Bowie out there, is the Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie in 1075. That knife is a beast. I'm glad I bought one before OKC went out of business. The remaining stock, and resellers have gotten nightly expensive these days. Honestly, if you want a full tang Bowie, with high carbon and the old school W49 look, the cheap SZCO is probably the best out there. You'll have to sand down the handle yourself, sharpen it, and remove any rust. You can also just keep sending it back to Amazon, until you get one that without rust. Don't be fooled by the low price. That knife will do some serious work (not like a real carbon steel Bowie, but better than Case or Bear & Son).
 
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