Description
Seven inches of forged blade, five inches of handle and thirteen ounces in your hand. The Dragon is the knife most people picture when they say bowie: long enough to clear brush and open a hog, balanced far enough back that it does not fall out of a controlled cut.
| Overall length | 12 inches |
| Blade length | 7 inches |
| Handle length | 5 inches |
| Handle | Stacked turquoise, brass and coloured resin spacers with a brass pommel |
| Steel | 1095 + 15N20 Damascus, 352 layers |
| Hardness | 58–60 HRC, oil tempered |
| Weight | 13 oz |
| Included | Hand-stitched leather sheath |
Built for: serious field work, and the wall it hangs on between trips. Camp processing, brush clearing, breaking down big game, and the batoning a folding knife has no business attempting. This is the knife you take when you can only take one.
What thirteen ounces means in the hand
Weight is the whole argument for a knife this size. Thirteen ounces carries momentum through green wood and hide that a five ounce blade has to make up with effort, so you cut by letting it fall. The cost is honest. It hangs on your belt all day, it is slow for detail work near a joint, and after two hours of fine cutting your forearm knows about it. Buyers whose cutting is mostly camp chores and light trimming are better served by something under nine inches overall.
The full tang question
The tang runs the length of the handle, which is why the knife takes lateral load without the blade working loose at the scales. That construction is the single largest difference between a knife that survives a decade of use and one that fails at the ricasso. Full tang vs partial tang explains what to look for when you cannot see inside a handle.
Keeping it right
Care: the billet is 1095 and 15N20, both high-carbon, so the whole blade rusts if you let it. After field use wash off blood and sap, dry it thoroughly including the guard line where moisture hides, and lay on a film of oil before it goes away. Never store it in the leather, because the sheath holds tanning salts and damp against the steel, and that is the most common way a good blade gets ruined. At this hardness it comes back readily on a coarse then medium stone. Keep the angle low and the belly stays useful for skinning.
FAQs
Is this too much knife for deer? For field dressing alone, yes, since seven inches is more reach than you need at the pelvis. For quartering and camp work afterwards it earns its place. The best hunting knife ever made works through the sizing question honestly.
Will the pattern wear off? It cannot. The layers run through the steel, so sharpening exposes new pattern rather than removing it.
Can I chop with it? Within reason. It is a knife and not an axe, so for splitting rounds and clearing limbs a Damascus tomahawk axe does in one stroke what this needs six to do.
Does the sheath come with it? Yes, hand-stitched leather, listed in the table above.
Can a name or a date go on the blade? Personalizing is available as an add-on during checkout, and it is done after heat treat so nothing about the temper changes.
Hand-forged in Memphis, Tennessee and covered by our lifetime warranty.
Model: BMK-105
Lynn Look (store manager) –
Bought as a Christmas present for my nephew (I have three). He loved it!!! Excellent service. Fast shipping. Beautiful craftsmanship. Will definitely be making more purchases from this shop.
John –
This is a beautiful knife. I’ve been collecting knives for about 20 years and the Dragon will make an excellent addition to my collection. I carry several knives when I’m out in the woods and this would make a great working knife. It is sharp, tough and ready to cut. However, due to its beauty and fine craftsmanship, I have already enclosed the Dragon along side it’s sheath in a display case to be admired by my friends and guests.
Aiden (verified owner) –
What a great knife! The blade is beautiful and really sharp. Everything is sturdy and the sheath looks good with the knife. The knife arrived in only 3 days after the order was set.
Arthur Polsing (store manager) –
Hello, my name is Art Poling I have been a Tool & Diemaker and Inspector for going on 56 years. I have just purchased over the last few months a Katana Sword, Premier pocketknife, and Two Hunting Knives from Mark the owner of Black Mamba Knives. We have not met but we now have the pleasure of being a friend of his. He is an Artist, Jeweler, Metal Forger, and a Knife making Expert. He brings all his Talents to his Knife making skills. Between the Damascus Blades that he makes and the Artistry and Jeweler skills that he puts into his knives in my opinion. He sets the Standards for the rest of the World as to what Perfection is. He has been at it for over 50 years so between the two of us we have over 100 years of making things out of Metal. If you want personal care and great knives purchase from Black mamba and for sure you will get way more than your Money’s Worth. In everything Mark makes. Just visit his Web Site http://www.blackmambaknives.com you will be Convinced.
Arthur Poling
p/s I’m not done buying
Christos R. (verified owner) –
Very nice selection of knives and easy to navigate website
Michael Skugrud (verified owner) –
I purchased this knife and Love it. Use it as EDC and get lots of compliments.
Just purchased another knife and am looking forward for its arrival.
You can’t go wrong buying from this company!
Michael (verified owner) –
Love this knife. Purchased a few months ago and use it as one of my EDC. I get lots of compliments.
Well made product, I use it a lot and have no complaints.
I just purchased another knife this past Sunday and look forward to receiving it.
Been collecting for about 40 years and this knife is one of my favorites.. so far
TIM NICKERSON (store manager) –
I have ordered 6 knives from BMK. In fact, I just received the 6th knife today. I am very impressed with the quality of these knives. They are built like a tank. Fit and finish are excellent. I highly recommend BMK. I will be ordering additional knives soon. A full 5 stars for BMK!!!
james Allen (store manager) –
I love good art and when I discovered black mamba knives, I was very impressed. Beautiful and very accurate craftsmanship.”
“Mark is a man who, when you meet him, his aura is as if you’ve always known him. You will not be disappointed. Love him and the company.”
“Also, Mark always wants you to be satisfied. If not he always makes it right. His knowledge and ability are very impressive”
James Allen
Richard N. (verified owner) –
Great knives, have a couple, and easy shopping
Mark R. (verified owner) –
Having purchased here before, I can safely say these are high quality knives, and the customer service is very good.
willard –
I purchased a custom knife and it is a one of a kind wonder. I was able to specify the knife type from the existing one (BMK 105) shown on the web page with my own desired materials and a different Damascus pattern. It costs more but is worth it.
Michael G. (verified owner) –
I got a quick response to my inquiry from a human.
JOHNNY SALAZAR (verified owner) –
I bought three Black Mamba knives until today I was able to open the package, two of them came, the shark and the dragon, the Yuma Turquoise has not yet arrived, the two knives that came to me are exquisite works of art that there is no photograph that merits them.
Tristan Gottstein (verified owner) –
Beautiful knife, the Damascus pattern is beautiful, the weight distribution is perfect, I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful or better knife. I will be ordering from black mamba knives again!!
David D. (verified owner) –
Great selection, order process quick and easy.
Justin V. (verified owner) –
I needed these Knifes for wedding presents to the father of the the groom and bride on very short notice. I called and spoke to Mark and he went over the top to get these knives completed and delivered on time. I was blown away with the quality of the knives, communication and customer service I received. WORTH EVERY PENNY AND THEN SOME!!
Kenny H. (verified owner) –
All your knives are great
Jeff (verified owner) –
Good. Arrived quickly and well packaged.
Zachary C. (verified owner) –
Quick and easy can’t wait to get my knives
Daniel O. (verified owner) –
I’m a collector of knifes and the knife on this website are great. Could you make the pictures bigger when tap on them
Mace T. (verified owner) –
Very pleased with the customer service provided with this order
Traln K. (verified owner) –
I would love to see more of a custom handle option included for the knives as well. Maybe a line of American colored red white n blue handles.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
Beautiful knife. The person I gave it to loved it.
Ruth B.. (verified owner) –
Easy to place order.
Teresa L. (verified owner) –
I did email to check on shipping time as this was for my brothers birthday. Answered promptly and had the knife within a week of ordering!
PS….My brother loved the knife!
Jason P. (verified owner) –
Product is spot on and I’m very satisfied
Michael K. (verified owner) –
Amazing knives!
Alfred D. (verified owner) –
Order, shipping, receiving all a great experience. Knives I ordered are beautiful. Thank you
Travis R. (verified owner) –
Getting a knife made to order. What could be better.
Daniel T. (verified owner) –
The knives were beyond my expectations. Excellent quality, great customer service and quick response to any questions. Overall very pleased
Nicholas S. (verified owner) –
I had a few questions about the knives and customizations you can do for them and the manager I spoke to (Jack) was very helpful.
Alicia Lorenzen (verified owner) –
The knife upon arrival was absolutely stunning. The craftsmanship is just beautiful and they’re very easy to reach and work out any issues you have. But this is one of the best purchases I have ever made and I would definitely buy from them again the next time I need any sort of blade!
Michelle U. (verified owner) –
Absolutely beautiful. The colors. The wood, the blade & balance are excellent. Could not have asked more for at a truly affordable price.
David P. (verified owner) –
Nice knife with fast shipping