reconsidering the subway bowie

[vivi]

I'm a big fan of the street beat, but not huge on tiny knives.

I know the subway bowie is pretty small. Initially I was excited for a salt perrin fixed blade, but when I saw how small it was and realized it wouldn't offer a full grip for me, my enthusiasm dwindled to the point I passed on it.

Starting to have second thoughts. Thinking maybe it could be what I wanted the Ark to be. A very small, unobtrusive salt fixed blade that'd be easy to carry horizontal on my belt. Something that could handle most my day to day tasks while a Police or Military could compliment it for when more blade length is required.

Street Beats carry pretty well this horizontal on my belt, but depending on what else I'm carrying and where, it's just big enough I sometimes switch to my other sheath setup for vertical carry.

that leads me to a few questions for subway bowie owners before I snag one for myself:

1. if anyone owns a subway bowie and street beat, can you snap a photo of them side by side?

2. how's the sheath retention? the biggest issue I had with the ark is even without depressing the sheaths tab it could slide out easily, making horizontal carry feel unsafe.

3. how's the handle thickness? that was my other main issue with the Ark. too thin of a handle. now I don't plan to whittle a log cabin with a subway bowie, but I would like more meat to hold on to.

4. how do you carry yours? I don't do neck knives, so I'd be looking to rig up a g clip or soft loops to facilitate horizontal belt carry.

Thanks in advanced for any advice you can provide. My main concern is the sheath, so anyone that carries it with an alternative method, I'd love to see your setup.

[aicolainen]

I can't really answer many of your questions, but I can and will take comparison pictures so you can see the handles of the ARK and Subway Bowie side by side. Don't have a Streat Beat (yet).

From what little I've used my Subway Bowie, I can't remember sheath retention being an issue.

My overall gut feeling is that the Subway Bowie isn't for you. But it all depends on expectation, I guess.
I have far smaller hands than you, in the width dimension at least. And I was utterly shocked by how short the handle was on the Subway IRL. This coming from someone who has a full four finger grip behind the choil on a Para 3 and is perfectly willing to sacrifice some handle real-estate and balance (blade heavy) on a EDC fixed blade to make it pocket-/carry friendly.
The handle on the Subway Bowie was so small that even I was surprised and caught off guard.
Now it should also be said I haven't given it a fair shot. I deemed it unsuitable for its intended purpose and basically stuck it in a drawer while I figure out what to do with it.
I probably should have flipped it right away, but somewhat jumped the gun a little when I first received it, and modified the sheath slightly to fit an Ulticlip. Probably doesn't affect resale value significantly, but at least I want to be really sure I have no need for it before I let it go.

[vivi]

thanks for the feedback.

in the past id definitely agree with you that it isn't for me. its very small. but I was looking at it as more of a street beat salt.

now im looking for an ark xl, basically.

i know, -at best- im looking at a 3 finger grip like the ark offered me.

would you mind postiny photos of your sheath setup?

[aicolainen]

@vivi
Here's some comparison pics with my still unused factory second ARK.
The ARK is also slightly smaller than I'd prefer, but longer and slimmer is somewhat preferable over even shorter and slightly thicker IMO. I also imagine it in a role as a secondary hunting/fishing knife for cuts that my PE primary might struggle with, so grip isn't my biggest concern (but getting started on that sheath project should probably be..).
I had envisioned the Subway Bowie in more of a primary role, potentially replacing a folder for light outdoor use in some instances. As it is, there's not many folders the S-Bowie will outperform in my use.

If it's still relevant after seeing these pictures, I can at least vouch for the sheath. You will not loose that knife and still be conscious. It will take some serious Tom Cruise'ry before it decides to leave the sheath.

approximately aligned at the forward edge of the choil:


approximately aligned at the butt:


S-Bowie is not even a full 3-finger grip in my not so big hand:


ARK is about a 3.3-finger grip:


The S-Bowie does indeed have a wider handle:


S-Bowie sheath with ulticlip:

[vivi]

thanks. gives me some things to think about.

looks like it'd definitely be a 2-2.5 finger grip for me, which is a con, but the handle thickness vs the ark and the sheath are pros.

I'll sleep on it. thanks again.

[Doc Dan]

Thanks for the pics. I don't have as big of hands as Vivi, and certainly not as long, but they are wide and thick like an old timey baseball glove. I was thinking of buying one of these because of the steel, but now I am having serious doubts. I can't get four fingers on a PM2 unless I use the choil and it still isn't comfortable. So, the Subway will be too little, I'm thinking.