Since I was a teen, I have had an interest in military survival bowies. I had a USMC Bolo and Ka-Bar, but always wanted a Marine Raider Bowie. These Bowies were actually issued to the Army Air Corps as pilot survival knives in the 1930s. They were made by Collins and were called by Collins the #18 Machete. We might call them "Bowies".

In fact, the Case presentation bowies that we have all seen were patterned after the Collins, as was the Western Bowie. Carlson's Raiders were issued these knives, made by various manufacturers in the Pacific campaign during during WWII, but after the battle of Guadalcanal, the famous Mk2 or "Ka-Bar" became more widely used. Here you can see the family resemblence between the Collins #18 machete and the Case and Western Bowies.


By the 1980s, a thicker, more rugged combat bowie style was being sold by Gerber, Ontario, Cold Steel and others. The RTAK is huge.

As you young folks say, "Back in the day", the Western and the Case were about all you could get in a standard production big American Bowie. There were others, but they were smaller. These were good cutters and choppers, but not nearly as rugged as today's Busse and Scrap Yard Bowies. They have a certain charm, though.

Hurry up and get your computer fixed, Vic. I want to SEE that review!!!