Bear and Son Damascus Bowie/Hunting Knife. Do these hold and edge?

[Just Duke]

Bear and Son Damascus Bowie/Hunting Knife. Do these hold and edge? http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/ind...egory=DAMASCUS
I do know the steel for these is forged by Alabama Damascus. http://www.alabamadamascussteel.com/servlet/StoreFront
Hopefully these are better than the Schrade or Buck knives I used to have.

[Houndog]

Duke,
I've got one of their pocket knives and it's the WORST *** I've ever owned! It sharpens easily, but won't hold an edge and the hinges are already sloppy loose. The knife is less than 1 year old. I replaced it with a Queen made from D2 tool steel and couldn't be more satisfied. MAYBE your experience will be better.

[Just Duke]

Duke,
I've got one of their pocket knives and it's the WORST *** I've ever owned! It sharpens easily, but won't hold an edge and the hinges are already sloppy loose. The knife is less than 1 year old. I replaced it with a Queen made from D2 tool steel and couldn't be more satisfied. MAYBE your experience will be better.

I have heard this same thing about the net on the folders. My question is about the Bowie style knives bu thanks for your response though.

[Just Duke]

[Boerrancher]

I have a good friend who makes Damascus knives and sells them. He hates Damascus for knives but makes and sells them because people ask for them and buy them. Damascus steel is great for swords. It makes them strong, flexible, and tough. For knives on the other hand, each wavy line and space represents a hard and soft spot. In a working hunting knife this makes them impossible to maintain even sharpness on the cutting edge and even harder to sharpen. If you want it for a pretty to hang on the wall or carry around to show your buddies, that is fine. If you are thinking of buying it to have a good hunting knife that will stay sharp and work well in the field, forget it.

Best wishes,

Joe

[Jim]

Duke, The knife below is not a Bowie design, but it is a Bear. Case makes a similar design and I had been looking for one to skin 'coons with. I found this one at the local hardware store and it was only a little over $20, so I bought it.

It ain't no Buck or Gerber, but it is American made. It gets the job done for me, I could afford it, it's fairly easy to sharpen and seems to hold an edge. I've skinned out three with it so far and it's still sharp.

I would put it in the 'middle of the road' category of quality.

[Just Duke]

I have a good friend who makes Damascus knives and sells them. He hates Damascus for knives but makes and sells them because people ask for them and buy them. Damascus steel is great for swords. It makes them strong, flexible, and tough. For knives on the other hand, each wavy line and space represents a hard and soft spot. In a working hunting knife this makes them impossible to maintain even sharpness on the cutting edge and even harder to sharpen. If you want it for a pretty to hang on the wall or carry around to show your buddies, that is fine. If you are thinking of buying it to have a good hunting knife that will stay sharp and work well in the field, forget it.

Best wishes,

Joe

Thanks for reply Joe. Only problem there just are not any reasonably priced Bowie's out that most guys can afford. Some told me to have a custom one done. Even If I could swing the price for one it would end up like the Sharps I bought or the M-14 I refinished. Neither left the house. I need a working mans knife. The other knives Bear & Son carries are Stainless Steel Bowie's. Not sure about those. All I know is all the Buck knives I bought in the 70's you could not get a decent edge on and were eventually sold off. I'm not a big stainless fan. So anyway I'm looking at two or three for myself
( I loose stuff) but anytime I get some sort of an outdoors type product Barbie runs in and looks in the bag like some puppy or something asking "Where's mine"? Including her house guest. Now.....
I prefer the older knives styles. Somewhere in my caverns I have several of the Strider knives I bought in my tactical days but have no interest in them anymore. Oh and I would like to say at least Bear & Son answers their phone which is more than I can say for the other knife company mentioned and never ever even got a returned phone call to this day.

[Just Duke]

Duke, The knife below is not a Bowie design, but it is a Bear. Case makes a similar design and I had been looking for one to skin 'coons with. I found this one at the local hardware store and it was only a little over $20, so I bought it.

It ain't no Buck or Gerber, but it is American made. It gets the job done for me, I could afford it, it's fairly easy to sharpen and seems to hold an edge. I've skinned out three with it so far and it's still sharp.

I would put it in the 'middle of the road' category of quality.

Wow! that looks just the the Schrades I used to have. Actually I had a huge Vintage Schrade collection I gave to Barbie to sell and start her saddle shop.

[1bluehorse]

Wow! that looks just the the Schrades I used to have. Actually I had a huge Vintage Schrade collection I gave to Barbie to sell and start her saddle shop.

Saddle shop!!! Where DO you live.....Bring yourself and better half, a couple ponies, on over, we'll head out the back gate and I'll show you some pretty nice country....70,000 acres up over the Simcoes toward White Swan (bout 50 miles) nothin between here and there cept, trees, meadows, a few springs, and assorted critters..

[jcwit]

Here you go, make your own.

http://www.knifemaking.com/category-s/332.htm

[Blacksmith]

I was going to suggest you make your own also. If you knew somebody who had some scrap leather you could make leather handles, instructions can be Googled.

I am old fashioned but I prefer carbon steel to hold an edge, if you take care of them and keep them clean rust is not a problem.

Some carbon steel blanks in order of my personal choice of brand:
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_783

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_465

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_381

Here are some stainless blanks they are pre-ground and hardened:
http://usaknifemaker.com/kit-knives-...fe-blanks.html

More blanks:
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=119_299

http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchan...de=841-200-000

http://www.knifeandgun.com/SearchRes...show=20&page=1

Have fun!

[Gliden07]

I bought a handmade knife at a Gun Show in Indiana 3 or 4 years ago. It was just steel but the guy Forged all his blades himself. The knife with the Sheath was only $55 bucks!! I didn't need it but I loved it so I bought it!! I was trying to find the card with the Gentleman's name on it but I can't find the darn thing!! But this thing keeps an edge!! If I find the info I'll post it.

[Just Duke]

Saddle shop!!! Where DO you live.....Bring yourself and better half, a couple ponies, on over, we'll head out the back gate and I'll show you some pretty nice country....70,000 acres up over the Simcoes toward White Swan (bout 50 miles) nothin between here and there cept, trees, meadows, a few springs, and assorted critters..

Are you out far enough toward Pendleton your in the rain shadow?

[Beau Cassidy]

The best one I have ever had for holding an edge was a Dozier. It skinned 2 elk, a mule deer, and probably 4 or 5 whitetails before needing sharpening.

[Just Duke]

I was going to suggest you make your own also. If you knew somebody who had some scrap leather you could make leather handles, instructions can be Googled.

I am old fashioned but I prefer carbon steel to hold an edge, if you take care of them and keep them clean rust is not a problem.

Some carbon steel blanks in order of my personal choice of brand:
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_783

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_465

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index...th=119_299_381

Here are some stainless blanks they are pre-ground and hardened:
http://usaknifemaker.com/kit-knives-...fe-blanks.html

More blanks:
http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/index.php?cPath=119_299

http://www.crazycrow.com/mm5/merchan...de=841-200-000

http://www.knifeandgun.com/SearchRes...show=20&page=1

Have fun!

Well I tried that but I'm half blind now. I have to purchase them but thanks for the thought and the links.

[Just Duke]

Can we move this to the new knife section?

[starmac]

A Texan friend of mine that works summers up here had a local guy here make him 2 bowies (damascus), summer before last. I don't know how well they would hold up for any kind of work knife, but they were beautiful pieces. Iirc they cost him 150 and 175 for the two he had built.

[jbc]

A little late on the reply but I will second the queen d2 knives, bargain priced for a 100% USA made knife and they are made about 30 miles from me in Titusville Pa. Damascus is nice to look at but not well suited for a working knife. Keep an eye on ebay and occasionally you can snatch one up for a really good price. This thread reminded me that i need to take a ride to the factory and see what they have new in their showroom.

[larryp]

Another good all american made damascus knife is those made by Silver Stag. I have a damascus Bowie by them and it does well for butchering and skinning.http://silverstag.com/store/index.cf...&category_ID=2 Their new camp knife looks really promising.