Overview
Our sharpening service will provide a good serviceable edge on the blade. The result is typically “very sharp” with a small secondary bevel and a bit of an “apple seed” profile. The resulting edge is somewhat dependent on the particular blade. Some blades will take and hold sharper edges than others and the thickness of the blade will determine how wide the bevel will need to be. We adjust the angle of the edge to suit the specific blade and attempt to get as close to a bevel-less edge as possible without marring the surface of the blade.
The Sharpening Process
The sharpening service is done with a belt sander. The process involves many passes with sanding belts of various grits. The blades are rested between passes to prevent them from becoming hot and damaging their temper. By default we will sharpen as much of the blade as possible including any false edges if appropriate. If you have a different preference, feel free to make that request in the special instructions at check out. We can sharpen only the last half or third of an edge, for example. Our sword sharpening expert has personally sharpened several thousand swords at this point, so will provide you with a professional service.
What the Service is Not
The resulting edge will be “sword sharp” not razor sharp. Our goal is to provide you with a usable edge for cutting practice that will hold up to some use and not require constant re-sharpening. In other words, we intend to provide you with a serviceable weapon, not a personal grooming implement. The service will not provide a completely bevel-less edge. To create that type of edge will necessarily scratch up the blade surface and we lack the machinery and time to provide a full re-polishing of a blade’s surface. A service of that nature would be significantly more expensive as a great deal more time would be required. We do not offer this type of service at this time.
Disclaimer
We make no guarantee that the resulting edge will meet with your expectations. Every blade is different and some will take and hold a sharper edge than others, due to the blade material, heat treatment or geometry. Some customers can also have incorrect assumptions about sword sharpness and improper expectations as a result. All we can say for sure is that the resulting edge will be sharper than the default edge, in most cases, significantly so. We can not provide any refunds for the service once it has been completed, so consider it to be provided “as is”. That being said, if you are unhappy with the product for any reason, we do still allow you to return the item for a full refund, including the sharpening costs under our normal return policy. This does not apply to special sharpening requests, for example if we sharpen something specially for you that does not normally list that option on our site. The vast majority of our customers are happy with the results of the service, so as long as you keep the above mentioned in mind, we are confident you will be pleased with the results as well.
Ryan G. –
A better bowie will be hard to find This blade is one of the finest I own. It is a tad heavy, but still moves with a liveliness that is unexpected from a blade with such heft. Being full tang, and at least 1/4″ thick with a thick steel hand guard this is a substantial knife by anyone’s standard. You will be pleased with the sheath as well as it of a sturdy wood core with a tough leather cover and has both a stud for tucking it in a waist band as well as a loop for fitting it to a belt. The only caution I would offer with this item is to be aware that it is Huge. Being larger than most bowies, and far more affordable than anything else you will find that even approaches its quality. It is high carbon steel and must therefore be cared for properly, but it’s blued finish does a good job but will still require the care any high quality steel deserves.
Shaun W. –
My first Cold Steel Product! Just received my frontier bowie and I admit that I was afraid it wasn’t going to be the greatest review considering other reviews on the knife, but now that I have one I can certainly say it’s beautiful, not heavy as you’d think, one solid tough piece! So if your fishing around for this knife buy it here on KOA you won’t be sorry.
Shonen (verified owner) –
A fine survival and fighting knife. While not as nimble as other fighting knives, this Bowie knife is meant to be wielded like a sabre. And while the edge isn’t the sharpest, it works and can be worked around thanks to KoA’s sharpening service. Holding isn’t the greatest but it works. Scabbard is amazing and requires and surprising amount of force to drop it upside down. Very durable, Cold Steel is know for that and I accidentally stabbed a brick while doing some gardening and the brick took all the damage. The only downside is the like of “personally” so to speak, being it’s more of a tool rather than a live blade. It’d still trust a weekend in the woods with it
I.S. –
I’ve always been a fan of the martial versatility and long edges provided by swords, the chopping power and durability of axes and machetes, and the convenience and dexterity of smaller knives. Those interests lead me to wanting a bowie knife, a tool I felt could provide all of the above. And as high as those hopes were, I must say, I was not disappointed!
This knife has the hand-feel you’d expect from a short sword, where wearing it at your hip and drawing it forward handed like a saber just “feels right”. It’s thick cross guard sits firmly in place to keep my hand from slipping up the blade during cuts and thrusts, and while I don’t use this in any sparring, I can imagine this guard could take a beating if it was used as a parrying blade alongside a larger primary weapon. While it doesn’t have a proper pommel, it does have a functional forward facing curl to it’s handle, similar to a kopis style blade that stops it from slipping out of my hand, and enables pommel strikes against the exposed tang. Between that, how well it has held the edge I first put on it, and how well it has performed in bottle and cloth cuts alike, I’d say it passes the (very) short sword test!
It also boasts the chopping power of a small hatchet. It’s thick tang and wide blade profile make me confident that it will take whatever rough tasks I throw it’s way in stride without warping, bending, or snapping. It keeps up with my hatchet at carving, can fair comparably when it comes to splitting, and offers the long edge of a machete to clear more small targets in fewer swings for path clearing and branch removal. Axe and machete tests, check!
That toughness and size aside, the wide thumb choil also allows it to do more delicate work, such as de-burring rough wood cuts, carving fine detail, peeling fruits or vegetables, slicing thread or opening packages, and more. It’s curve may not be as helpful as that of a chef’s knife, but it can chop and slice for small tasks in a pinch. Also, while it is certainly no pocket knife, it is shorter than most machetes or swords, and even some axes and hatchets, making it convenient to carry and use in more situations. Knife test, check!
Overall, everything I expected from getting a bowie knife, and beautifully put together and presented in an equally functional sheath and belt loop. Great work, Cold Steel!
Erick –
Incredibly dull out of the box. Disappointing edge angle when compared to my Western brand bowie knife. I bought this as I didn’t want to beat up my old 70+ year old knife.
It’s worse in every way unfortunately.
Left this and my western in the garage right next to each other for the last 6 months (moved and unpacking was slow). My western looks new still, but the cold Steel is covered in rust. Blade to screws, it’s just a wreck. Soaked in vinegar to remove the rust and it also took off the black surface as well.