The marauder bowie was a common style working kife in Montana cattle country. Marauder Bowies are rugged, relentless and reliable.

Badger took a risk on this knife.  These marauder knives got beat up, used every day.  They were the working knife. They went through hell.  Little Badger wanted to make a knife with design in mind.  This knife is what a worjking knife, from the time would look like. Those working cowboys are what inspired this knife.  Cracked handles with a blade that looks like it may have cut several steaks the night before.  Marauder knives are rarely pretty, just functional.  The blade is design as a standard bowie with a functional blade, a defense knife, cooking knife and camp knife.  This is the knife they used fighting those cattle rustlers went home and cooked dinner.

Our Montana Marauder  is a fairly large knife  at 11” long. The traditional clip point blade is 7 1/2” long.  Comes with hone bezil and edge, and very sharp. The blade is made from hand forged Amalgamated steel, all carbon, forged into hardened steel. Handle is a superb polished white tail deer bone.  

The tang on this knife is full with the handles riveted.  One top rivet looks like the knife was in a fight and possibly hit a skull. This handle has a traditional finger grip style. There is a finger groove technically called the ricassa and choil. This is the non sharp part of the knife between the edge and the hilt. This groove has several functions.  The groove is an excellent holding place for the fore finger.  Use this groove for sharpening balance, and works well for hand to hand combat as well with butchering and skinning.

The Bolster/qullion is made from traditional brass. Brass was easy to get and worked well with these knives. This brass Qullion gives this knife a unique look that you won’t see very often in modern historical replicas.

The sheath is stiched together with a Metis whip stitch, Badger learned from his Grandfather. The  traditional seed bead work is Badgers wife’s, Talking Bird,  art, also a Metis tribal member.  Talking bird uses her own unique stitch, always with a flaw.  This flaw cannot be replicated by machinery and traditionally teaches us that we and  everything is flawed.  Nobody is perfect. talking bird with her own unique pattern.

Carbon blades are known for there patina… and rusting without oiling. Forging a carbon blade is an art.  The blade needs to be taken care of with a light coat of oil regularly.  I oil my blades weekly with machine oil like a 3 in 1. I emphasize weekly to get that beautiful blue Patina these old blades were known for.   That is why so many modern blades are made from a form of stainless steel.  Stainless blades are hard to keep sharp but they do not rust. There is not much work involved in a stainless blade but the regular sharpening process because they do not hold an edge.  Carbon blades hold an edge and are stronger and more versatile.  

Little Badger Knives are made using the same techniques and styles of the original frontiersman knives of the 1820’sthru 1880’s. Very few of those men used a mass produced knife.  They were forged by the local blacksmith. Each knife was an individual piece.   

Badger knives are made in the same tradition.  Each knife is unique, no two knives are the same.  I ship knives, well oiled, wrapped in plastic wrap. Do not touch the blade. Touching the blade of a newly forged carbon blade can leave permanent  prints from the oil in our skin. I never touch the blade with my skin.  I always use a fine cloth. When you get your knife Wipe the oil on the knife and re oil. It only takes a couple drops.  Oil weekly and you will build a beautiful blue patina on the blade.

*Authentic Native American Knives

As a member of the state-recognized tribe, Cherokees of Northeast Alabama, Keith Little Badger is in full compliance with The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.  This Act protects Native American Artisans.  All products must be marketed truthfully regarding Indian heritage and tribal affiliation of the producers.  

Marauder Bowie History:

A marauder bowie was a popular style bowie in the late 1860’s and the 1870’s.  Used buy cattlemen and cowboys up north.  The Marauder was a more streamlined bowie. The handles of these knives usually had a finger grip.  A little smaller blade but still large enough to be used as a camp knife.  The Marauder was popular on the range in montana.  A knife for all purposes.