So far, the brass bolsters have been holding up well for me. There are some light scratches and dings, but nothing that detracts from its appearance, IMO. In fact, I really like the way it's wearing. The darkening, and discoloration look very nice, as the brass bolsters are really beginning to show character. :D
The blade of the Bowie has been excellent for my daily uses. The relatively narrow blade and sharp point, are perfect for opening mail. The blade also made quick work of a large pile of cardboard boxes last weekend. Unlike many Schempp designs, this blade is almost all edge, and choking up in the choil places that edge right in front of the finger for precise and secure detail cutting.
The ergos of this knife might look a little strange, but for me, it all just works. The knife balances well in the hand, and the handle shape and subtle CF texture provide a solid grip. Placing the index finger in the choil, and thumb on top of the blade, offers excellent control over the blade. I find that the bolsters don't get in the way at all during use.
Overall, I'm very impressed with how well this knife works in hand, especially after being a little concerned about the ergos before receiving it.
The small cutaway in the bolster opposite the liner, allows easier access to the lock, making closing the knife much easier than the Navaja, while still being very secure.
The dark wire clip carries deep and discreet in the pocket, and much like the Schempp Khukuri, the closed knife has a very narrow profile. Even though this is quite a large knife, it carries easily.
Overall, this is yet another knife that far surpassed my expectations in actual use. My example displays typical Taichung excellence. It operates smoothly, with amazing fit and finish. The blade came extremely sharp out of the box, it has good closed retention, and solid lockup that has settled in at about 60%. This is one of Ed Schempp's best and most useful designs, IMO. It's beautiful, it's highly capable, and it's looking better and better every day.
