Quality 'Crocodile Dundee' like Bowie knife?

[Outback in Idaho]

  Am looking for a quality Bowie knife that is similar in looks to the Crocodile Dundee knife. Had read that a gent named John Bowring, an Australian gunsmith, had made a few of the knives yet none were ever offered for sale.


 
  Guess about any decent made Bowie Knife might due the trick as I don't know of any genuine Australian knife makers - and the shipping would be ridiculous. Any recommendations?

[SAK Guy]

Closest replica without custom....

http://www.downunderknives.com/

Read the mixed reviews on google

Tons of US sellers...including:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=DUKCD

The list of dealers world wide
http://www.downunderknives.com/where

[dks]

Downunder knives makes/sells the outback which is about $200 440C steel.

There was a proper review/test in BladeForums a few years ago and it did well.



Some other makers also make similar models, but they are mainly customs or a lot more expensive

It was basically designed to be like the knife Dundee was using



I have had one for a few years, but do not really use it.

[dks]

what SAkGuy said 

[dks]

found my impressions:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,26278.0.html

[ColoSwiss]

Recall reading some place that the original Crocodile Dundee knife was a Spanish Aitor.

Knife Center carries a few of them. Have the Oso Negro. Appears to be solidly built, but have never used it. Aitor makes knives for the Spanish Army.

http://www.knifecenter.com/brand/363/aitor

[SAK Guy]

Always thought the Aitor knives were cool!

[dks]

This seems to agree with what I read and remember..

http://www.ultimatesurvivalknife.net/what-type-of-knife-did-crocodile-dundee-use/

http://knives2survive.blogspot.com/2012/09/knives-in-movies-1-crocodile-dundee.html

(also, see the references at the end of the above linked document)

What Type of Knife did Crocodile Dundee Use?

During the eighties actor Paul Hogan played an Australian character known as Mick “Crocodile” Dundee who is bushman that falls in love with a woman from New York. In the film, Crocodile Dundee utters a famous movie line that states: “That’s not a knife. This is a knife.” Dundee was referring to the large sized knife that he usually carries around with him. He was being confronted by a group of knife wielding hoodlums when he spoke this line. The knife that it is used in both Crocodile Dundee films is considered a hunting or Bowie knife.

The Dundee knife was created by an Australian gunsmith named John Bowring. He was approached by the studio that produced Crocodile Dundee film and asked to make an original knife for the Dundee character. Bowring agreed and produced the famous Dundee knife.

Bowie knifes have an appearance similar to a short sword. The blade on his knife is between 6 and 10 in inches long and it is at least 2 inches wide. All Bowie knives have a brass guard which is used to deflect an attacker’s blows. The end of the brass guard is typically created in an upward position. The blade tip of a Bowie knife is big, sharp and very imposing. Most people use a Bowie knife as a weapon or as a survival tool. This type of knife was issued in the past to soldiers but now it’s more commonly used out in the wild. The handle of a Bowie knife is typically made out of wood.

The Crocodile Dundee knife has some minor changes to it which gives it a different look from a Bowie knife. The Dundee knife has a half of a brass guard which is facing downward instead of pointing up. The blade of the Dundee knife has a deep groove in it and the handle isn’t wooden. The materials for the handle are made out of twine or leather strands.

People who earn their living in the wild think that the Crocodile Dundee knife is the ultimate survival knife. Many experts agree that the Crocodile Dundee knife would be suitable for outdoor use. The blades on the knives are made out of stainless steel and are very durable in the water. The knives are heavy enough to cut branches and practical for hunting. The knife can be formed into a spear and used for situations that call for lashing objects. Sparking fires and skinning animals are two other benefits that this type of blade offers to owners. When a person goes camping into a wild and not at designated camping site the Dundee knife could be a practical tool for them to use against wildlife. Since the knife is molded after a Bowie it too can also be used for combative situations, though most people do not use this type of knife for that purpose.

When Bowring created the Dundee knives he only made two original models and many replicas. In the movie the original knives were used for close up shots and the replicas were used for combat sequences. After the films were completed Paul Hogan and another person received the original knives with the promise to never put them up for sale. Hogan has supposedly honored his commitment and still retains the original Crocodile Dundee knife.

The Dundee knife was also used in the second film featuring Crocodile Dundee and it too created a huge demand from audiences and fans. The Crocodile Dundee knife isn’t manufactured by any company though Bowring makes the knives available for customers. A lot of knife enthusiasts were amazed by Dundee’s knife and wanted one for their own collections. However, many of them realized that the knives were not mass produced by any particular company. Since the Dundee knives are rare they’re very valuable and hard to obtain. They’re also expensive and owners could charge a person thousands of dollars if they decided to sell one of these knives.

Many Dundee knife owners try to hold onto their knives because of their craftsmanship. They also try their best not to use their Dundee knife since would cause the item to depreciate. It has been almost 30 years since Crocodile Dundee was popular Bowring probably no longer makes this type of knife available for the public since it has been nearly 30 years since Crocodile Dundee was a popular movie.

[AimlessWanderer]

For large bowie style knives, I'd personally start looking at the Spanish knifemakers such as Andujar and Muela. I've had good experience with both of those. There are a few knife makers in Sheffield that make bowies by hand, but they stick to carbon steels which I'm now moving away from.

[ColoSwiss]

DKS,

Thanks for the info on the Crocodile Dundee knife.   

Most early Bowies had more of a saber point, rather than the extreme clip seen on later knives. Basically they were short swords intended for fighting. While they would work as a heavy camp knife, they were poorly designed for skinning game.

Bernard Levine has an interesting chapter on Bowies in his book, 'Levine's Guide to Knives' (4th ed).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife

[dks]

I do like my Outback knife 

I do also like the fact that there is that veil of mystery over the actual Dundee knife.. 

I like Bowie style (and really we can only talk about the general style) knives and have a few, but have little use for them..

I just mainly like to look at them...

Rough Rider has a few low cost, decent quality ones too, for anybody wanting to get into the "look"

[shibafu]

There is also a Linder "Crocodile Hunter" that's quite similar and a cheaper alternative.

[dks]

the linder and the outback seem close in price on amazon.com
I like the stacked leather on the outback


The RR are about $30

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xbowie+rough+rider.TRS0&_nkw=bowie+rough+rider&_sacat=0

[shibafu]

the linder and the outback seem close in price on amazon.com

Not as cheap as I thought I recalled!

[Outback in Idaho]

  Perhaps I should be looking for a quality Bowie knife instead.. and made by a company or person that knows knives and doesn't use cheap materials.

  Was looking at KA-BAR which I thought would make decent knives, but their Bowies & machetes are made in taiwan. What the smurf?

  With a Bowie one had hunt small game, construct shelter that can last longer than a few days, chop wood without having to carry a hatchet, gut game, stab a bear with if needed, etc.

  Went with a friend to pick huckleberries last night. Was hoping to make some $$$ and found out there's m ore work entailed in picking huckleberries than I thought. Anyhow the guy's chihuahua decided to go find a friend, and teasing it I suppose to come follow me. Well, after a few of his ventures he was luring a bear back to me, about my sized. The dog came climbing all over me looking for protection, and here I have a ReCharge & Tread on me.. 
  Luckily for me the bear was more curious and not wanting a chihuahua snack. Whacked my hiking staff on a wooden stump and the bear went the other direction - chihuahua the other. Staff is broke, but still usable. Worthless dog. If the bear would of come for me or had of come back I don't think a ReCharge was going to help much.

  Am thinking seriously of getting a bigger bladed knife even if it means a couple extra pounds. Might have to carry it on a back or shoulder sling. Can't carry a gun without a hunting license.

[Dr Gonzo]

Svord Von Tempsky Bowie

[SteveC]

  Perhaps I should be looking for a quality Bowie knife instead.. and made by a company or person that knows knives and doesn't use cheap materials.

  Was looking at KA-BAR which I thought would make decent knives, but their Bowies & machetes are made in taiwan. What the smurf?

  With a Bowie one had hunt small game, construct shelter that can last longer than a few days, chop wood without having to carry a hatchet, gut game, stab a bear with if needed, etc.

  Went with a friend to pick huckleberries last night. Was hoping to make some $$$ and found out there's m ore work entailed in picking huckleberries than I thought. Anyhow the guy's chihuahua decided to go find a friend, and teasing it I suppose to come follow me. Well, after a few of his ventures he was luring a bear back to me, about my sized. The dog came climbing all over me looking for protection, and here I have a ReCharge & Tread on me.. 
  Luckily for me the bear was more curious and not wanting a chihuahua snack. Whacked my hiking staff on a wooden stump and the bear went the other direction - chihuahua the other. Staff is broke, but still usable. Worthless dog. If the bear would of come for me or had of come back I don't think a ReCharge was going to help much.

  Am thinking seriously of getting a bigger bladed knife even if it means a couple extra pounds. Might have to carry it on a back or shoulder sling. Can't carry a gun without a hunting license.

Look for a Camillus fighting knife on E-bay ( Same pattern as the Kabar). I used mine as my main camping, hiking all around knife when I lived in the mountains of Colorado.

Or they have NOS here 
http://www.armynavysales.com/products/camillus-usmc-combat-knife/

[SteveC]

They also have an Ontario model of the same knife Made in US for $50.00


http://www.armynavysales.com/products/ontario-usmc-combat-knife/

And Kabars made in the US check this one out



Designed in cooperation with the highly-trained folks at S.E.I.G.E. (Strategic Edge Impact Global Enterprise) of Rochester, NY, the newest additions to the always impressive leather handled KA-BAR line include the "Big Brother" - a 9-3/8 inch blade designed for a lifetime of hard work and constant use. Made in the USA The Big Brother features an epoxy powder coated high carbon steel 9 3/8” blade with a serrated top edge and a leather handle for a no-slip grip. 14 3/8” overall. Comes with a leather sheath. Please note, due to state regulations KA-BAR cannot ship the Big Brother knives to CA or MA.

[Gareth]

Jim, not to knock the idea of buying another knife, but wouldn't you be better buying pepper spray or the like?  I can't imagine for a second that having a knife fight with a bear is going to work out well.

[AimlessWanderer]

[ColoSwiss]

Jim, not to knock the idea of buying another knife, but wouldn't you be better buying pepper spray or the like?  I can't imagine for a second that having a knife fight with a bear is going to work out well.

Getting in a fight with a bear is a definite no-no. Its stronger than you and has a lot more "knives". National Park Rangers carry 'bear spray' (high power pepper spray) to ward off bears.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_spray

[Outback in Idaho]

Jim, not to knock the idea of buying another knife, but wouldn't you be better buying pepper spray or the like?  I can't imagine for a second that having a knife fight with a bear is going to work out well.

  And/or get a bigger dog to take with me, one that will stand its ground and not go looking for trouble.

[Gareth]

Jim, not to knock the idea of buying another knife, but wouldn't you be better buying pepper spray or the like?  I can't imagine for a second that having a knife fight with a bear is going to work out well.

  And/or get a bigger dog to take with me, one that will stand its ground and not go looking for trouble.

Yes, a dog that brings you a bear seems like trouble.  A cat normally just brings you a dead bird.

[SAK Guy]

Jim, not to knock the idea of buying another knife, but wouldn't you be better buying pepper spray or the like?  I can't imagine for a second that having a knife fight with a bear is going to work out well.

Shhhhhh......he needs a reason to buy a big bowie!!!!!!!!! Like the time I justified an AR-15 purchase to my wife by pointing out the high probability of being set upon by a rogue mutant biker gang when we went to the lake.....

[ColoSwiss]

If you are looking for a good heavy-duty knife you might check out the Ontario Quartermaster. Its a copy of the WWII quartermaster knife used for opening crates. The heavy pommel could also be used to reclose them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ONTARIO-6310-P-3-ARMY-QUARTERMASTER-KNIFE-USA-MINT-IN-BOX-WITH-SHEATH-SALE-/131385977056?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e9736e8e0

[ColoSwiss]

I have several Bowie-style knives, but tend go more for a dagger type blade. A slightly different form of mall-ninja-itis.   

[SAK Guy]

Hey I have some Swiss bayonets (and the commando knives made from them) too.

[ColoSwiss]

Hey I have some Swiss bayonets (and the commando knives made from them) too.

 

[SAK Guy]

Hey I have some Swiss bayonets (and the commando knives made from them) too.

 

Let me look around on a big ext drive.....they were lost 2 laptops back but I think they were backed up on the external....maybe. Otherwise. I'll have to find them in some trunks tomorrow and reshoot. They were made by Wenger (I think) using their leftover Swiss bayonet blades. I got one from Felinevet off ebay years ago. He ran out and I found 2 more somewhere.  Let me look.....

[ColoSwiss]

Hey I have some Swiss bayonets (and the commando knives made from them) too.

 

Let me look around on a big ext drive.....they were lost 2 laptops back but I think they were backed up on the external....maybe. Otherwise. I'll have to find them in some trunks tomorrow and reshoot. They were made by Wenger (I think) using their leftover Swiss bayonet blades. I got one from Felinevet off ebay years ago. He ran out and I found 2 more somewhere.  Let me look.....

The 'Swiss Commando' knives were made in Germany using surplus Swiss bayonets and new handles. After they finished them the German company found out the knives could not be reimported back into Switzerland due to Swiss knife laws. So they were sold elsewhere as genuine Swiss surplus (at least the blades were). Some of them were further modified to produce the Swiss BBQ fork. Great for fending off hungry bears from your BBQ.