Bear and Son Gold Rush Bowie: The Smaller One

[@jimmilner2961]

Loose guard on mine as well. Called bear and sons and they said that was common as the wood shrinks and expands. Personally I took a moldable wood filler and jammed it in there and it helped.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

My fix was to floss some Gorilla Glue down into the gap and let it expand. So far so good.

[@FerociousSniper]

Same. I just wedged some floss in there sans gorilla glue. Is it permanent? Probably not. Did it work? Yes.

[@1st508thAirborne]

Great review.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Thanks! I still really like this knife.

[@1st508thAirborne]

@@michaelrizzo5523 I just found your channel today while looking for reviews on a few bowies I am interested in. I have to say after watching several videos today on multiple bowie knives that I enjoy your videos and your approach to reviewing these knives. I subscribed. That said, I've got a question for you, if you don't mind... Of all the bowie knives you have reviewed so far on your channel what are your top 3? I liked the bear and son's damascus you reviewed. If you are into dogs stop by my channel. I'm a retired animal Warden.

[@heapofun807]

My dad gifted me one of these recently. In my experience, it was very good. No jiggle, sharp, sheath good. So maybe you got an outlier 🤷‍♂️

[@michaelrizzo5523]

My 4 other B&S knives have been solid. This one is still snug with the quick fix I did.

[@powerplay4real174]

Cool Knife , I have been wanting one from Bear & Sons as they have the one that reminds my of the WW 49ERS Bowie ⚔️ Thanks for your review Mike ,now I know what to expect in a purchase. 🤝

[@michaelrizzo5523]

If you're looking for a Western W49 style I recommend the larger version of this. Website says 8.75" blade, 14.4" OAL, but the current version is actually 9.5" blade 15" OAL. Review out next week.

[@powerplay4real174]

@@michaelrizzo5523 Thanks Mike

[@FerociousSniper]

It feels like this one is a tool first, and a weapon second with that sheath and unsharpened swedge.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

I think a lot of knife makers avoid sharpening that back edge because there are states where double-edged knives are illegal. Mine took a nice back edge, but could definitely use a better sheath.

[@FerociousSniper]

@@michaelrizzo5523 i agree about tje sheath. The belt loop and retention strap on mine are glued together, so I can only put the belt loop in two different positions.

[@brooklynwolfbear]

Could you review the Muela model BW22. A 22 cm Bowie knife with pakka wood handle, made in Spain. I would be very grateful. I would also like to hear your thoughts on the Carl Schlieper Eye Brand Original Bowie knife, made in Germany.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

VERY interesting recommendations! Thanks!

[@jimmilner2961]

I actually stabbed thru the sheath putting it away and poked my hand and broke 3 stiches in the sheath. Nice knife though. One of my favorites.

[@powerplay4real174]

Yes that not too surprising about the leather sheath, but thanks for sharing that info and now I know to line the sheath with something thin but tough. 💯

[@michaelrizzo5523]

It's like trying to resheath a razor in butter. Same issue with the bigger version. Better since I stretched the sheaths out using a polypropylene trainer.

[@simonbrown9310]

Hello there ,great review ,thanks .I wonder if the tang is skeletonized like the Cold Steel Wild West Bowie ? Or is it a true ,real full tang ?

[@michaelrizzo5523]

No idea, I've never seen one broken apart.

[@onesky8647]

I know exactly how you feel about that guard. I have a Marbles MR555 Bowie with a leather stacked grip with a wiggly cross guard. I suspect the leather shrunk a bit over time, but there is very little I can do about it to fix it short of destroying the finish. Fortunately it is a budget knife, so I bought a second one, which is totally fine.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

My other samples haven't had this problem so far, but I am noticing some inconsistent QC in the grip end.

[@kevinAuman1]

No doubt, this gives me reincarnated hope for Bear and Sons knives as i previously bought a couple of their USA made folders and was so much less than impressed i was actually quite disturbed by the fact that i have bought Chinese made folders for less money that were 2 to 3 times the quality and fit n finish so I completely wrote off the company and never looked back however this bowie with good swedish steel gives me hope once again!

[@michaelrizzo5523]

I'm encouraged enough that I now have three more models (reviews in process). The blades are really impressive (I wasn't expecting much), though I'm seeing a trend of slightly rough fit/finish spots at the guard/grip/tang junctures. The sheaths are the most problematic aspects.

[@rtz549]

They should have got with a press fit. That brass would have slid over the steel.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

My other examples all have at least a little slop at the guard fit. Seems to be their weak spot.

[@JCOwens-zq6fd]

Nice knife. Unfortunately though soft brass against hard steel equals bent brass. Only way to really fix the guard rattle is to shim it, in which case you'll have to keep fixing it or replace it with a guard made of harder metal that wont deform when that steel bangs against it.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Some Gorilla Glue in the gap has been a decent temp fix.

[@JungleventurefrogZKF7]

Hi I have both the large and smaller Bear & Son Gold Rush Bowie's they are both not bad the smaller one i take on day trips not a big fan of the springing sheath i have had tie down the sheath to stop it from spinning around which has worked. Over all they are great Bowie's i also have an Old Western W49 Bowie which i don't take any where . Great video

[@justme1125]

Just give it a good tap with a hammer and tighten up the Guard easy enough

[@michaelrizzo5523]

I thought about tapping the scales up (there's a hair-thin gap between the scales and guard) but decided to fill it with expanding glue.