Joker Bowie

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Now that's a knoife!

I know, right? I need to spend less time on here, I keep finding things I never knew I needed.

 

[Dav1]

OrangeblueOrangeblue, was looking for a smaller Bowie as a camp Knife 6-7" being my sweet spot. The TOPs knives are much more expensive over here in the UK and I was looking traditional. I considered the Buck which is indeed about 40 dollars cheaper than the Joker but just don't like the handle, blade and steel excellent for 420hc although it's still a consideration!

It's not so much the money side of things more wanted to try a Joker knife and didn't want a "bushcraft" knife and fancied a smaller traditional style Bowie knife, although here in the UK we are somewhat more limited particularly re good custom makers.

 

[Deino]

Vangedal Danish scout knife is made of 1.4116, and some guy on YouTube chop the heck out of it without issue and even got to recommendation to other chopped with the only downside being the size. Much like how 420HC was looked at as barely enough for budget, suddenly get a new view after some test were conducted.

Joker knives are getting expensive though.

 

[KenHash]

I have a Finn Hawk in 4116 that I find to be exceptionally "chippy." Basic de-barking and whittling left the edge with a number of small chips with the rest still being reasonably sharp, so they made it too brittle in the heat treat or it's just not tough enough for that grind. It was Cold Steel pre GSM, so you'd think that a knife good for "hours of hard use" would have done better, but it wasn't worth the money to send it back and it's not worth the time to fix such a brittle edge. It's hard to compare budget beaters with higher end knives, but I'm not sure how much better you can make 4116 versus just using a slightly better grade of steel--even AUS8 treated me better.

Around 2010 or thereabouts I picked up a CS Finn Bear with Krupp 4116 to use as a beater knife. Within a month the edge had so many chips in it that it was ridiculous. Back then CS had their own forum and I complained about it. The CS moderator sent me a new replacement free of charge. Of course it was just a$15 knife then. I am certain it was a poor heat treat because my Wustoff and Henckels cooking knives I've used for over 20 years have never chipped. But I have since then avoided 4116 in outdoor knives.

 

[Dav1]

Looks like the good folk here have stopped me buying a knife I was comparing the steel to my various kitchen knives in 5cr15mov, which I find to be quite tough (one of my prerequisites for most outdoor blades). I may still go for a Buck but don't like the handles or might get one good maker I've found in the UK to make me a custom 6-7" Bowie in 80crv2 which is a favourite steel.

 

[TC]

I love these as very traditional looking, I've no problem with the steel used (1.4116 iirc) similiar to 420hc? As for a traditional larger blade it's absolutely fine ime.

Does anyone have any experience with a Joker Bowie, FnF, steel etc...?

Take a look perhaps at the Puma Tucson and Phoenix bowies. They have similar styling IMO. Never owned either, though, so can't comment on how they hold up.

 

[dogstar]

Looks like the good folk here have stopped me buying a knife I was comparing the steel to my various kitchen knives in 5cr15mov, which I find to be quite tough (one of my prerequisites for most outdoor blades). I may still go for a Buck but don't like the handles or might get one good maker I've found in the UK to make me a custom 6-7" Bowie in 80crv2 which is a favourite steel.

Whatever you end up choosing, have fun with it!

 

[Dav1]

D dogstar thankyou!

 

[rlewpolar]

Even though it’s not exactly what you asked about, I never miss an opportunity to recommend this knife, the Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist. It’s very Bowie like (almost exactly the same size and shape as my Cold Steel Recon Scout which is a bona fide Bowie knife). Anyway, the Survivalist is a one piece drop forged 52100 slab of steel. Super tough, great edge retention, scary sharp and literally unbreakable. You can find it on Amazon all day long for about $80. I have 10 Joker knives here and they are all excellent but they are the Bushcraft type. I’d skip that Joker Bowie and give this Cold Steel some serious consideration

DROP FORGED SURVIVALIST

The Survivalist is the largest of our Monolithic knives. It's long, wide, 52100 High Carbon blade (inspired by our ever-popular Recon Scout) is designed for

www.coldsteel.com

 

[dogstar]

Even though it’s not exactly what you asked about, I never miss an opportunity to recommend this knife, the Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist. It’s very Bowie like (almost exactly the same size and shape as my Cold Steel Recon Scout which is a bona fide Bowie knife). Anyway, the Survivalist is a one piece drop forged 52100 slab of steel. Super tough, great edge retention, scary sharp and literally unbreakable. You can find it on Amazon all day long for about $80. I have 10 Joker knives here and they are all excellent but they are the Bushcraft type. I’d skip that Joker Bowie and give this Cold Steel some serious consideration

DROP FORGED SURVIVALIST

The Survivalist is the largest of our Monolithic knives. It's long, wide, 52100 High Carbon blade (inspired by our ever-popular Recon Scout) is designed for

www.coldsteel.com

Those are heavy, though.

 

[rlewpolar]

Those are heavy, though.

I don’t know, doesn’t feel any heavier than my comparable Esee 6 knives for example. And compared to the Esee 5, the Survivalist is a downright featherweight . For it’s size, the weight feels very reasonable to me when carrying on the belt. But it depends if the OP was looking for something lightweight which this definitely isn’t

 

[dogstar]

I don’t know, doesn’t feel any heavier than my comparable Esee 6 knives for example. And compared to the Esee 5, the Survivalist is a downright featherweight . For it’s size, the weight feels very reasonable to me when carrying on the belt. But it depends if the OP was looking for something lightweight which this definitely isn’t

I got tired of carrying heavy gear once I aged over 40. I think the CS drop forged knives are virtually indestructible, FWIW.

 

[Man with no name]

 

[rustinxcohle]

The Down Under Knives Walkabout in 440C that ChrisLee mentioned is only about $10 more than the Joker and looks nicely made.

Unfortunatly it isn't. You get a stout, usable blade with this or the outback, for sure. But don't look too close at the fit and finish, it's really bad for the prices they go for. Over the years I got 3 walkabouts and 4 outbacks, I only kept one outback. It is still bad, uneven guard, grinds, svedge. I planed on even everything out myself, because I really like the design, but wouldn't buy another one for sure.

Joker's fit and finish is quiet nice in general. I got the bowie with the stag handle, it is a good comparison to the buck 119, but Bucks 420hc holds up much longer in my expierience.

 

[19-3ben]

Does anyone remember, there use to be that guy who would come on here and prattle on about how DUK were the best knives ever and his favorite brand, but he'd never actually owned or even seen one?

Also, do I remember there's a thing about DUK knives being very shady about where they are made? I vaguely remember some kind of QRMSTR-type controversy about that.

Edit to add: and just to keep things on track, I have no idea what Joker's F&F was like a few years ago when you bought those, but I bought this Joker Ursus recently, and was very very impressed for the price.

 

[rlewpolar]

Does anyone remember, there use to be that guy who would come on here and prattle on about how DUK were the best knives ever and his favorite brand, but he'd never actually owned or even seen one?

Also, do I remember there's a thing about DUK knives being very shady about where they are made? I vaguely remember some kind of QRMSTR-type controversy about that.

Edit to add: and just to keep things on track, I have no idea what Joker's F&F was like a few years ago when you bought those, but I bought this Joker Ursus recently, and was very very impressed for the price.

View attachment 2160465

I also recently bought a Joker Ursus. Man, what a beautiful and refined tank. I keep waiting for Joker prices to double or triple but they are holding so far. Amazing quality

 

[Dav1]

I've got the cold steel survivalist and yes a decent blade but thanks for the suggestion rlewpolar!

Will be trying out a Condor Belgian Bowie, a little larger than I wanted but like the blade shape, 1075 will be a dependable choice for hard use and I don't have a Condor blade.

 

[Alone]

I also recently bought a Joker Ursus. Man, what a beautiful and refined tank. I keep waiting for Joker prices to double or triple but they are holding so far. Amazing quality

I know the OP already picked his poison. However, I wanted to add...


Just judging from my nightly "window shopping", the Joker prices seem to already be (*slowly) on the ascent. I think they're starting to ride the wave of a few YouTube reviewers who've been quite happy with 'em.

I scored one of their Nessmuks because they offered it in what is proving to be a pretty tough steel. (*Sandvik 14C28N) The fit & finish is very nice, and I've been really happy with it...

 

[Dav1]

Alone still want to try a Joker Knife and yes will probably go with a blade in 14c28n (a favourite steel). It amazes me that they continue to use what seems a sub par steel 1.4116 for a larger blade when they are making knives with 14c28n and 12c27 (both great steels). Prices could still be reasonable as seen with their blades which use this steel. I'm guessing their production runs for the bowies are set with the current steel due to them making them for other companies? Shame as they've lost my custom for numerous knives.

 

[rustinxcohle]

Does anyone remember, there use to be that guy who would come on here and prattle on about how DUK were the best knives ever and his favorite brand, but he'd never actually owned or even seen one?

Yes, I remember this mess. If this was some kind of brilliant marketing idea, it wasn't planned out to the last details

Also, do I remember there's a thing about DUK knives being very shady about where they are made? I vaguely remember some kind of QRMSTR-type controversy about that.

They are made in pakistan I think. Better quality than most pakistan garbage, but still bad. DUK don't want the customer to know where they are made it appears.

I scored one of their Nessmuks

Thank you for the pictures, now I want one too