This is a Bowie knife, and it is probably a much better Bowie knife than Jim Bowie ever dreamed of. Cold Steel offers two versions: a 9 ½-inch blade of Carbon V, which is tool steel; and a blade of the same size made of laminated stainless steel called San Mai III. The latter is ground with a "rolled" edge, which is very strong and sharp but difficult to make. I owned one of these and it was the sharpest big knife I've ever used. Carbon V version, $180; San Mai, $434; 800-255-4716; www.coldsteel.com