Sharpest knife and Bowie knives

My sharpest knife at present (I actually stropped it a bit after all of my tests just for the heck of it as it was already dangerously sharp LOL!) is my newly acquired Bowie from Linder knives in Solingen Germany. The Rehwappen Patterl Bowie 2. 

Feathering even seasoned Hazel was no problem with this blade

"Deer Brand" that thick solid brass guard is press fit onto the tang.

If you are new to this company (I certainly was not that long ago), I've reviewed a few of their knives and they are great.

Anyway, the Rehwappen  (Pronounced: Re Vap en ) Platterl Bowie 2  really rocks as a classic designed knife. (Of course for the real aficionados of the "original" Bowie knife design, it's not the same of course as seen here in this (great) movie:

From "The Most Dangerous Game" a movie which any self respecting survivalist must see at least once!

From "The Most Dangerous Game" a movie which any self respecting survivalist must see at least once! (Publicity still)

With the bird beak handle as seen in the above 2 images. That design of knife was like the "Butcher's knife" of Jim Bowie's time.


BUT more like the later versions of what a Bowie knife came to be looking like what we see below:

Made in Solingen Germany  by Linder under their Rehwappen Patterl Bowie 2 ie "Deer Brand"

The above Bowie 2 at 8 inches is a beast but a beast that is easily controlled due to its simple, yet functional design. I really like how Linder are trying to reduce the impact on rainforest timbers by offering up this version with Plum wood scales too. Plum wood for those who don't know is a very very hard wood. I've made fish spear heads from it (wild plum) and even after plunging them into a sandy river bed, they remained unbroken. Yes, the color is not that of those beautiful dark rainforest timbers (which BTW are not from plantations of course) but then I don't have to feel guilty (if one does) about chopping trees down for the sake of a knife handle.

De-boning and then butchering wasn't a problem as there are no hotspots on the simple but effective grip and the geometry enabled ease of cutting.

 I started the fire by striking a steel against the tip of the spine.

At home around camp Rehwappen Platterl Bowie 2 Made in Germany

The Rehwappen Patterl Bowie 2 is a full tang knife knife made from 440A stainless steel, vacuum furnace heat treated and a post-cryogenic tempering process to achieve a 56-57 HRC. Brass rivets fix the scales to the tang.
I found it razor sharp out of the box and was able to cut dry the hairs on my leg.
It easily created feathers even from a difficult wood such as seasoned hazel. Using a baton on the spine wasn't a problem and due to the 0.2" thick spine, easily split wood too.

The grip, at first, when I looked at it in the catalogue appeared to be somewhat "blocky" in nature but this wasn't the case in real life. The grip has been rounded so whilst the top and bottom scales are flush with the tang, the handle sits comfortably within ones hand. I don't use gloves, (they are for wuses!)- just joking- as I come from hot climate- but seriously it has a generous handle to enable it to accommodate a variety of hand sizes.

Size 8.5 hand, still room to move on larger hand sizes! Whoops too much smoke!

A "mans knife"- Please no stupid feminist comments, it's written in inverted commas because I, the author am calling it this, and that's my right LOL!

There is a 7" version and limited (if not sold out at the time of writing) a C60 high carbon steel version also available, all sporting the plum wood grips.

There's really not much more to say about it as it works, it's tough and it held an edge up against dirty wood and cutting up food on hardwood tree slabs. I did do some chopping with it. It's not exactly a chopper as the weight is of course not towards the end of the blade but it can be done if you have to, I guess like any knife for that matter (better with an axe or saw etc).

Made in Solingen Germany by a company with a rich tradition of knife making.