Cold SteelBlack Bear Bowie Machete Blade 17-3/4" Long, Black, 12", One Size

I was immediately impressed with the sheer size of the thing, having never owned a true Bowie style knife before. Just about every other type though, including an original Buck Master (close to a Bowie style blade but thicker than this one), a Gerber Mark II combat, original Spyderco and so many others I have lost count! This one is mean looking in flat black, and comes very sharp. One surprise was that the back half blade was also extremely sharp! The whole thing is very solid and tight, although the blade is not thick enough at about 1/8th" to be used as a machete, which is okay. The handle is not tacky at all, and is a hard plastic with little grip, so this would be one weak point I would have to say. The sheath is such that it was be worn on the right or left side, as it is not shaped to the blade. Seems very snug and made well though. This is a great deal on a very large knife, if that is your preference.

I got this to go off trail hiking. I encounter a lot of limbs and vines. I haven't tried it for that yet but it seems as if it's extra sturdy. The grip isn't the best but it's decent. It's too slick for me so I wrapped it. I'll also use a lanyard.The blade is the star of the show. It's massive and razor sharp. You hold it and it brings a smile to your face. You could use this for self defense, camp tasks or hiking. A must buy!

For the price this knife is good. Quality control must be lacking in South Africa as the knife blade was very ragged. Actually the worst blade edge I have ever received on any of my 70 or so knives going back to the mid-80's. However, the good news is I was easily and pretty quickly able to sharpen it up very nicely and it's now smooth and quite sharp. The handle is excellent. It's large and grippy and guard is large and gives a nice sense of comfort and control. So if your ok with the possibility of having to touch up the blade a bit then I recommend this knife. Also remember it is not an expensive knife and in my honest opinion you definitely get what you pay for plus quite a bit more.

UODATE; Cold Steel stopped producing this South African made 1055 carbon steel machete Bowie for a few years..Now that it's available again, you're foolish not to buy one. It would be difficult to find a more versatile knife/machete comboI actually sent this knife back after buying it, and then purchased it again from another retailer, because returning it was seriously stupid. I had to purchase it from another retailer, because it was out of stock at Amazon, and Cold Steel discontinued it. I hope they bring it back someday, but they probably won't. I own a lot of fixed blade knives, many of which cost 6-8 times as much as this knife. For some inexplicable reason, this machete knife remains my favorite fixed blade. You won't be disappointed. The handle is slippery, so put some grip tape on it, or heat shrink grip like I did. This knife can clear small branches on a trail. It can also kill an angry black bear, or some drunken hillbilly, who has a knife that's smaller than your awesome 12" Bowie machete blade, which isalso sharpened on the back swedge of the clip point for extra devastation. I've seen a few of these still being sold on lesser known websites. Go ahead and play up to $40 for it. You won't regret it.

What's the other one? The CS Bowie machete. I have two of each. I took the handle off of one of each - a much easier job on the bowie machete - and wrapped the full tangs left after a little reshaping with paracord. Very comfortable grips if you like doing a little modding. Incidentally, the Black Bear handle comes off much easier if you soften the hard plastic with a heat gun. The other Black handle was stippled with woodburning pen to alleviate the slickness and give it some grip. The machete has a rubberized checkered grip and doesn't need anything done, really. It comes off easily with a sharp knife or razor blade. Both blades are about 12 inches long, about 3mm thick and will take a wicked sharp edge. I bought these primarily to be fighting bowies as I don't do woodcraft - I hate camping. We've spent the last five thousand years perfecting indoors so why the hell does anyone willing want to spend the night outdoors with mosquitoes? LOL! Seriously, though, I do collect big bowies and have close to two dozen but think these would be my first - Black Bear because of the guard - and second choices in a fight. Both are long, light and balanced well for both chops, slashes and stabs. And if you lose it or destroy it through extreme abuse, it's cheap enough that you won't be broken hearted and you can replace it easily enough as long as they are in production.

Sharpens fairly quickly and holds the sharpness ok but you really have to babysit the front point of the knife. The point either chips right off or gets really dull fairly quick but 99.9% chance it will just chip right off upon contact. I had a few of these so far and they've all been exactly the same. Good little bushwacker to wack through small vines in the forest/jungle but that's about it. All cold steel knives are on the lower quality side. Even their $130 frontier bowie, lets just say I returned that too. If you're looking for a survival knife just pick another brand/company. These are for kids living in basements.

Great Big Beasty Bowie. Not a fan of the grip but made it easily more my style with some leather piping wrap. Has the heft of a light machete but still Bowie sized. If you had to stand and deliver against a charging bear, you'd still get mauled but I'd bet the bear would regret charging, too. Typically good quality Cold Steel blade. Scabbard is sturdy and well made. Great value.

Major league knife. It is an okay machete and a woodland beast. Chop wood, brush and split firewood with ease and in a pinch kill a bear or a boar.