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The Bowie knife is an iconic piece of American history, carving its way through the wild west and beyond. The Bowie is known as a robust tool and fighting knife used by frontiersmen all throughout the Southwest since the 1800s. Its popularity has declined over the years as knife making has evolved, but the famous blade shape has stood the test of time, being adapted to fit smaller folding knives, EDC fixed blades, and some of the most widely used military service tools in the world. A Bowie knife might be the only “true” American blade style. So let’s take a look at some of the best brands that have made the Bowie knife what it is today.
Key Takeaways
- Ka-Bar Knives makes the most famous Bowie knife of all time for a reason; therefore, they are my choice for the best bowie knife brand overall.
- The best modern Bowie knife brand is TOPS Knives.
- The brand that makes the most historically accurate Bowie knives is Cold Steel.
Top Picks
- Ka-Bar Knives: USMC Full-Size Fixed Blade
- TOPS Knives: Longhorn Bowie Fixed Blade
- Cold Steel Knives: 1917 Frontier Bowie Fixed Blade
Ka-Bar Knives: USMC Full-Size Fixed Blade
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The Ka-Bar USMC fixed blade is probably the most iconic knife in the world. It has served as the standard issue knife for the United States Marine Corp. for more than 50 years and gained worldwide recognition for its use during WWII and the Vietnam War. To this day, this knife is flying off the shelves because of the recent growing interest in Bowie knives. The USMC fixed blade is manufactured using 1095 steel. This is a sturdy, reliable, and time-tested steel that favors toughness and durability over everything else. The edge retention isn't as good as other more modern tool steels. But considering the price, it performs extremely well for hard-use and everyday tasks. The handle is wrapped with resin-hardened leather, which is comfortable in hand and pretty durable. The feeling you get when you hold a significant artifact from U.S. history is really special, and the fact that you can buy a newly produced modernized version of that knife is even better. Because of the rich history and the fantastic build quality, I chose the Ka-Bar, and specifically the USMC Full-Sized Fixed Blade as the Best Overall Bowie Knife and Bowie knife brand.
TOPS Knives: Longhorn Bowie Fixed Blade
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TOPS Knives make some of the best fixed blades on the market, right in the heart of Idaho. They focus on building some of the toughest, most durable knives you can find. They are designed to take a beating day-in-and-day-out. The Longhorn Bowie is a prime example of what TOPS does best. This knife is made from a solid chunk of 1095 steel, coming in at a whopping ¼” thick. There’s almost nothing that could break this blade. The thing I love most about this knife is how it takes an iconic design from the past and brings it into the future with its new profile, modern materials, and crazy good machining. This is exactly what you’d expect a Bowie knife to look like in 2024. The Longhorn Bowie is a knife that would make anyone proud to own, especially Texans. Though I gave Ka-Bar the nod for best overall Bowie knife, I still prefer this option from TOPS if I wanted a hard-use tool rather than a collector’s piece. That’s why I’m naming the Longhorn Bowie the Best Modern Bowie Knife
Cold Steel Knives: 1917 Frontier Bowie Fixed Blade
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We’ve talked about two great Bowie knives so far, one of which is an extremely famous design harkening back to the 1940s. But the Bowie knife has been around a lot longer than 80 years. If you’re looking for a new production Bowie knife that resembles the original thin, but made with modern materials and attention to detail, then the Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie is exactly what you’re looking for. Although the name implies that this design is from 1917, I think this closely resembles the Bowie knife design that started it all in the 1800s in the American West. This knife is huge! And definitely not for the casual everyday carry culture we’ve come to know today. This knife is made for the wild. Its 12+ inch blade and aggressive hand guard set this knife apart as a solid weapon intended to be wielded by outlaws and cowboys. Not only that, the Frontier Bowie has a sharpened double edge on the front of the blade – just how its inventor Jim Bowie intended. When you buy the 1917 Frontier Bowie, not only are you getting a great piece of American history, but you're also getting an insanely durable, well machined, and crazy tough cutting tool that will handle anything you throw at it.
How To Choose The Best Bowie Knife
Novelty or Utility
The Bowie knife market isn't the largest segment of the knife industry, but there are two basic types of Bowie knives you can find: those that are meant to be more novelty items and those that are made to work. Decide what matters more to you. Both serve a purpose, but I definitely wouldn’t want to use a cheaper, heavier, and overly stylized version of a knife when I have more robust, modern interpretation at my disposal. The choice is yours.
Price Point
Price point is a big consideration here. If you do decide that you want a show piece rather than a usable tool, probably don't go with the latter, as these knives are more expensive because of their higher quality, more expensive materials.
Material Choice
Materials do matter if you are buying a knife to be used in harsh environments (as the Bowie was intended). Most of these newly produced Bowie knives utilize 1095 steel; some other knives are made from the sturdy D2 steel as well. 1095 is generally regarded as an extremely tough, durable steel that somewhat lacks edge retention ability. D2 is the inverse of this, favoring edge retention over toughness. Either one of these two steels would be a fantastic option; it just comes down to how you intend to use the knife.
Why Trust Us
I have worked in the knife industry full-time for four years now and have had the opportunity to handle, test, and compare thousands of knives from basically every maker. I have extensive hands-on experience with so many great and not so great knives, which has allowed me to develop some pretty well informed preferences and opinions on mankind's oldest tool.
FAQ
Question: Who makes the original Bowie knife?
Answer: This is up for debate as there was never an official source manufacturer of the Bowie knife. However, there are a few brands that have taken the Bowie knife pattern and done some really amazing things with it, like Ka-Bar and their USMC standard-issue fixed blade.
Question: What is the most famous bowie knife?
Answer: Easily the Ka-Bar USMC fixed blade is the most famous Bowie knife ever produced, with most likely production numbers reaching towards the millions. It is most famous for its widespread use during World War II and the Vietnam War.
