Reviews and Ratings for Cold Steel 36MK Drop Forged Bowie Fixed Blade Knife 9.5" 52100 Carbon Steel, Faux Stag Handles, Secure-Ex Sheath

(5 reviews)

4.4 out of 5 stars

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Cold Steel 36MK Drop Forged Bowie Fixed Blade Knife 9.5 inch 52100 Carbon Steel, Faux Stag Handles, Secure-Ex Sheath

Price: $83.95

Save $56.04 (40%) Off Retail

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Jim
Pennsylvania and Florida

Feb 15, 2022

Pros: Blade Sharpness, Weight, Overall Quality, Materials, Handle Material

Cons: None

Initial impressions

I haven't had a chance to do any serious work with this yet, but my initial impressions may have some merit. First of all, it feels surprisingly lighter than my other large Bowies, may take a bit of getting used to, in a good way. It is very well balanced and quick handling. I have average sized hands, but with a touch of arthritis, and thus the grip feels just a little small or " loose", could be a problem in cold or wet conditions for me. That said, I think most folks will have little to no problem. Probably the best way to describe it is to say it is a big knife that feels and handles like a somewhat smaller one. The edge came very sharp as is, a quick touch of the strop made it REALLY sharp - I don't think anyone except a purist will have any issue with the factory edge - I sure didn't. The grind was even and symmetrical for its entire length. The sheath is very good - excellent retention even without the strap, absolutely no rattle. Removal takes a bit of a firm tug ( which I prefer ) and with very little "pop" sound. I'd be hard pressed to think of a better value in the large knife arena - all indications are that this will hold its own with much more expensive blades - big kudos to Cold Steel and KC ! I'll likely be trying some of the other Drop Forged offerings.

Chad
Chula Vista, Ca

Nov 23, 2023

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Finish, Handle Material, Materials, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Weight

Cons: None

Good blade for the money

This is a good Bowie, especially at the sale price. It’s smaller and lighter than I expected considering the drop forged 1 piece construction. The handle is small, almost dainty. The pistol grip angle presents the blade leading forward with a natural neutral hand position, the way a fencing saber does. It’s definitely a fighter rather than a woods chopper. The blade is lightweight and flat ground for nimble slicing rather than hacking. The 52100 steel is tough enough if you wanted to use it in the woods though, and you could easily wrap the handle with paracord for shock absorption. The faux stag scales are nicer than I thought they would be, and they are easy to remove so you could use them as templates to makes your own out of micarta or horn if you’ve got those crafty skills. The sheath is very functional, but if you prefer a more traditional look the simple blade shape and flat nature of the drop forged construction makes this knife a prime candidate for a homemade leather sheath project.

Robert
Bellevue, Ne

Apr 18, 2021

Pros: Overall Quality, Blade Material, Sheath/Scabbard, Materials, Finish, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Greatest one piece big Bowie ever!

Of course, it may be the only big one piece Bowie. It's the only one I'm aware of, anyway. Seriously, this is one great Bowie. A larger version of the six inch blade, it came shaving sharp. The sheath is very, very secure even without the keeper and doesn't rattle at all. The scales serve to fill the hand and make it more ergonomic that the smaller one. The black coating is smooth but I doubt it will stand up to much use. My only criticism is that the clip is not sharpened at all - come on, Cold Steel, you know better than that. A proper Bowie needs to be able to back cut. Oh, well, neither was the smaller ones clip and I was able to sharpen that on a belt sander. Now, Cold Steel needs to make an XL drop forged Bowie - 11 1/2 inch blade with 1/2 inch choil, SHARPENED CLIP, and 5 1/2 to 6 inch handle with the faux stag grips - that would be a perfect Bowie.

Matt S.
Capital Area, NY

Feb 15, 2022

Pros: Blade Sharpness, Weight

Cons: Sheath/Scabbard

Big solid fighter

This knife is a fighting blade, plain and simple. One with remarkable substance. The overall design is robust and sturdy but the distribution of the weight predominantly balanced in the handle makes the blade lively. The ample grip is shaped so that the blade is angled forward allowing for easy thrusting and “snap cuts” from the wrist. The blade is shaving sharp out of the box and has a decent amount of mass at the spine. The only issue I have encountered is with the sheath. It is typical of the style that cold steel provides with many of their knives and it holds the knife securely without much rattle. Only this particular item has some sort of tacky substance inside of it that sticks to the blade like rubber cement. Apart from the “goo” inside of the sheath, this knife is a great product for anyone who needs a or appreciates a good fighting knife.

Jeff
,

Apr 26, 2023

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Sheath/Scabbard

Cons: Blade Sharpness

Metal Club

Cool shape, feels good in the hand, surprisingly agile, but...so dull it might as well be a club. Some day I may put a real edge on this and be able to use it, but, for now, it is just a toy to amuse me.