Best production Bowie?

Let's not forget the role that the repeating firearm (especially pistol) played in the bowie's evolution. Muzzleloaders were slow to reload, so the bowie or tomahawk was the standard back up. After repeating arms, especially the Colt Peacemaker, were generally accepted the bowies became smaller and more (dare I say?) utilitarian.
The knives were smaller, easier to carry & sometimes ornate, since the balance of their role shifted from weapon to tool.
Why were they still called Bowies?
Heck, everybody wants a blade like Bowie's!
I've got one or two too ;)
It is a continuing design evolution. From Rezin, to Black, to Price, to Sheffield and on up to Fisk, Fitch, Evans & Hossom.
Would Mr. Hossom's bowie look like the one Ol' Jim carried?
I doubt it, but the key elements (& spirit?) are there.
And that is what makes it a Bowie :D
 
PhilL, Dixie Gun Works used to sell a very nice reproduction of the Searles Bowie, Spanish notch and all, for $150 + shipping, and a German silver, period appropriate sheath that slid inside your belt to be held by a stud for about $100 + shipping. But their current catalog does not seem to have them any longer. I have the knife and the non-period appropriate sheath that came with it. It is very nicely done as far as the knife goes. It appears to be very good steel, and is made to quite close tolerances. I never got around to ordering the metal sheath, and now have sent Dixie an email in the hopes that they might still have one laying around. The pictures of it were very nice.

Scotjute, Wolfmann601, PhilL, and Bob Bowie; the question of James Black and his involvement in the origin of the Bowie Knife has been the subject of many debates in this forum. One, in particular, comes to mind, where Jerry Fisk, of knifemaking note, takes on Bernard Levine on the question. The discussion is at http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum54/HTML/000035-2.html My opinion is that it is not the "closed case" that Levine and other experts would have us believe for whatever reasons. PhilL, you should remember this discussion, as you were very much a part of it.

BTW, that URL contains what is probably the best list of Bowie sites that I have seen.
 
Hugh, thanks for the info on the Searles Bowie and also the link to that old Bowie thread. I thought I had saved a link to it, but couldn't find it.
 
Im rather partial to the Wendell fox bowies... espicaly this style with what i refer to as a "broom stick" handle since i have small hands. I know this isnt production.. I just wish some one would make a less fancy fersion of this knife.
fox_1.jpg

By the way.. what is the spine cover for?? any real reason or is it more of an asthetic thing??
 
King Grinch, you might want to go back and take a look at the pictures that PhilL kindly posted of the J.D. Searles Bowies. They look rather like a large chef's knife to me, that is, until you look at one up close. The Spanish Notch on the rear of the edge is to catch the other guy's blade, and the spine is usually as heavy as a meat cleaver. Up close, these are weapons, not kitchen tools.

Nervous, back in the 1830s and 1840s, the knife smiths frequently would braze a strip of brass along the back edge of the blade on the theory that the softer metal would catch the sharp edge of an opponent's blade. I have no idea if this worked or not, but that was the theory. My guess is that the strip rivetted to the back of the Wendell Fox Bowies is to honor that. You could once get the brass strip as an accessory to a Randall Bowie, but they discontined that option a long while back.
 
Hi King grinch,

Hugh's right, a lot of the older Bowies look much like straight back kitchen knives (carving knives, old French style ham slicer's, etc...). An example of this pattern is the Forrest, and Searles knives.

I tend to disagree with the use of the heavy brass back on antique knives, never seen one on a real old Bowie. One does see small brass inlays on the spines of older knives, meant for inscriptions, etc... The Searles knife also has this.




:)
 
This has turned into a very interesting thread about Bowies. I'm happy to see some of the old threads being brought up on the subject, and I'm learning a lot. Of course I was trying to avoid some of the costs of a custom Searles Bowie, but that's probably the way I'll have to go. Nervous, I can see why you like that Fox Bowie, but you probably have less of a chance of seeing that mass produced than the Searles. Thank heaven there are custom makers.

I kind of hate to point out that we've gotten a bit off the original topic which was "Best Production Bowie?"

Once again I'm thankful that Camillus can do a limited production run on a Bowie like Jerry Fisk's. I don't know if it will be the best ever produced, but I have a feeling it will be on everyone's Top Three List. ;)
 
PhilL, I know that Dixie imported those knives for some years. Why not try putting out notices that you want to buy one?
 
Bob, you may be correct about the brass backing. The basis for that was my memory of the explanation of the option in an old Randall catalog, now long lost, dating from the 1950s. Raymond Thorp may also mention it, as well.
 
Another explanation for the soft metal strip on the spine is to absorb the shock when parrying.
 
There is a company called the "Scottish Renegade" which has a website that advertises several reproduction bowies along with other 19th Century knives. Prices are low. For example, a Confederate D-Guard model is offered for $53.

I was wondering if such knives are any good? The only company which I have heard any opinions on is Atlanta Cutlery, which sells similar reproduction knives for generally higher prices. Everything I have heard about their India made knives (including from one of their employees!) has been negative.
 
I forgot to mention, I have an Aitor Nato Bowie. It is a modern, military bowie with an excellent double guard. Aitor claims the stainless steel blade is made from an alloy that is an improvement over 440C. I haven't used the knife so I can't comment on the cutting ability and edge holding, but it looks to be well-made. Comments on Aitor knives from other owners have been quite positive. The Nato Bowie has a plastic handle, but there are also models with wood handles.
 
Hi King Grinch,

I can only think of one Bowie that is like the CS Trailmaster, and that is the TeTon Bowie that was imported by Cutlery Shoppe a few years back. A few custom makers make ones similar.

:)
 
I just sold a CST to help finance my new Armagedon venture. I have big hands and never could get used to the size of the CST handle. Felt like it was unbalanced and wanted to fall out of my hand.
 
Hello King Grinch,

Does anybody make a bowie on the CS Trailmaster pattern?

I would say that the Aitor Magnum Bowie is similar to the Trailmaster. The blade length is 8 3/4 inches, and it is a clip point with an upper false edge, and a double guard. It is sold by Camelot Enterprises, and the price is much lower than for the Trailmaster.
 
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