The sexy shape of three U.S.-made recurve blades addresses both performance and aesthetics.
As blade patterns go, the recurve is right up there in the “flair department.”
Just as the curves of a Ferrari add irresistible styling to the classic sports car’s appearance*, so does the curvature of a blade’s edge add to that of the look of the knife. It also changes the geometry of a blade—sometimes radically—in some ways better and other ways not so much. That’s the beauty of blade design and why there are so many different styles from which to choose.
The waisted recurve design shifts the weight of the blade toward the tip, which while excellent for chopping also reduces the blade’s effective chopping length. The recessed area on the lower part of the recurved blade adds the benefit of being able to trap or gather in its subject when performing chores like debarking and taking slivers from wood, but it also makes sharpening more difficult with flat-surfaced media such as whetstones.
Sharpening A Recurve
Like any blade design, there are trade-offs. To get an idea of how radically the recurve lengthens the edge of a blade, see the accompanying chart of the Case Sasquatch bowie. The height of the sharpened portion of the blade is 7.5 inches, but when the length of the curvature is factored in the number swells to 12.25 inches!
When sharpening these blades the concave lower curve does not conform to a flat plane, so an ovate or rounded surface grit is required for sharpening. Fortunately, there are plenty of these to choose from, such as handheld sharpeners similar to those used by chefs or the common V-sharpeners that use alternating rods set at opposing angles in a base. The Spyderco Golden Stone and/or Webfoot works as well. Now, on to the recurves!
Bear Forest Knives Custom Recurve
The Bear Forest Knives Custom Recurve is a small fixed blade built like a tank, owing much to the 3/16-inch thickness of its acid-dipped 52100 carbon steel blade. At 7.75 inches overall, the knife is geared toward light-to-medium camp chores and could conceivably be used as an EDC. The full-tang handle boasts colorful scales of a wavy sandwich of black, orange and natural cross-cut canvas Micarta®. Weight is a hefty-for-its-size 5 ounces. Bear Forest provides a black Kydex sheath with a nifty black coated 2.25-inch spring steel belt clip.
Bear Forest Knives Custom Recurve Specs
Blade length: 3.25”
Blade material: 52100 carbon steel
Handle material: Crosscut canvas Micarta®
Gripping feature: Tri-color Micarta handle material
Sheath: Black Kydex w/belt clip
Weight: 5 ozs.
Overall length: 7.75”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $249
Case Laramy Miller Sasquatch Bowie
The Case Laramy Miller Sasquatch Bowie is a study in understated good taste. The large 13-inch Jim Bowie namesake flows from stem to stern, from the break in its flat-ground 1095 carbon steel blade to its rounded combo lanyard hole and pommel. The matte-black Caswell finish gives the bowie a rustic look. The bag-style handle is topped with natural canvas Micarta scales affixed with 5/16-inch brass pins. Case provides a double-stitched natural leather belt sheath that matches the knife in clean styling.
Case Laramy Miller Sasquatch Bowie Specs
Blade length: 7.75”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel
Handle material: Natural canvas Micarta®
Cutter keys: Clip-point blade, Caswell finish
Sheath: Natural leather belt model
Weight: 14.5 ozs.
Overall length: 13”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $219.99
TOPS Longhorn Bowie
The TOPS Longhorn Bowie is a thoroughly modern recurve with such classic touches as its upswept clip-point blade—always welcome on a bowie. The flat-ground 1095 blade is coated in dark sniper gray Cerakote®, matching the gray/black layered linen Micarta scales nicely. The black nylon MOLLE-compatible sheath carries on a belt or a pack and other gear. It includes a front pouch for stowing a sharpener or fire-starting accessories.
TOPS Longhorn Bowie/Sniper Gray Specs
Blade length: 6.75”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel
Handle material: Canvas Micarta®
Cutter keys: Trailing-point blade, sniper gray Cerakote® finish
Sheath: Black nylon, MOLLE compatible w/pouch
Weight: 18.1 ozs.
Overall length: 13”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $305
Testing The Recurve Knives
The TOPS Longhorn and Case Sasquatch bowies begged to be reviewed together because they are exactly the same length and share the same 1095 blade steel, yet are two very different knives. The TOPS blade has a more casual recurve while the Case is full tilt. The handles couldn’t be more different as well, with the Case opting for a clean, traditional bag-style grip while TOPS chose a modern tactical design a full inch longer than its counterpart, resulting in a slightly shorter blade. Let the fun begin!
I started with some basic chopping on a 5-inch diameter oak log. The Sasquatch brought the hammer down with its weighted fore-end but the Longhorn had the advantage of more working area on the blade for chopping. Both manufacturers chose 1095 and have loads of experience at maximizing the steel’s benefits. I found both knives excelled in the pure blade bite and performed well chopping. The Sasquatch weighted front end is an advantage for sheer power but the Longhorn is 3.6 ounces heavier, so it closes the gap significantly.
I did some shaving doing push cuts on 1×3 cedar planks. As expected, the concave edge of the Case excelled at trapping the wood through the straight cuts. Advantage Sasquatch. However, the TOPS has a grip a full 1-inch longer than the ’Squatch and is textured as well, offering superb purchase. Advantage TOPS. Bottom line, both recurve bowies performed very well. The choice is yours.
The sheaths for both are well done. The Case belt model is natural leather designed in a simple, tasteful manner. The TOPS is unabashedly rock ’em, sock ’em tactical all the way.
The Bear Forest Custom Recurve punches up in its size class thanks to thick 3/16-inch blade steel and a healthy handle length, a trait often missing on smaller fixed blades. I tested the blade for its ability to capture 3/8-inch rappelling rope in its concave maw. Thanks to its overbuilt steel, the blade never wavered while producing slice after slice. It also took off nice, healthy curls of cedar just like the big boys. The curves of the cross-cut canvas Micarta scales made for excellent purchase and are attractive to boot. I also did some bark skinning on seasoned oak, took slices off other kinds of rope, and batonned fatwood pine fire starter.
Bear Forest provides a nifty Kydex sheath. It has a 1.5-inch spring clip on the back that not only mounts on the belt for vertical and cross-draw carry/deployment, but doubles as a pocket clip on either side, something seen more and more from the fixed-blade EDC crowd lately. All in all, I was impressed with the whole package.
Final Cut
The recurve isn’t just for whacking stuff. It requires a little more finesse and is typical of blades that don’t walk the straight and narrow. However, the benefits of recurves will reward you dearly when kept in their lane. All three of the test candidates performed admirably and are well worth your consideration.
*Editor’s note: Long-time custom knife purveyor J. W. Denton, who was a champion racecar driver in his younger days, was fond of comparing the knives of Steve Johnson, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame member Bob Loveless and others to curvaceous sports cars. J. W.’s comparison, however, was largely between the handle butts of the knives and the rear ends of the cars. However, both comparisons are accurate.
- Bear Forest Knives Custom Recurve
Blade length: 3.25”
Blade material: 52100 carbon steel
Handle material: Crosscut canvas Micarta®
Gripping feature: Tri-color Micarta handle material
Sheath: Black Kydex w/belt clip
Weight: 5 ozs.
Overall length: 7.75”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $249
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