Bladeforums BEST BOWIE - 2009 Edition

[LaBella]

Some REALLY nice sub hilts posted here!

 

[eisman]

It may not be as fancy as some of those posted, but this knife inspired lust in my heart...

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

When voting for "best bowie" I think that we all need to remember that at it's core, a Bowie knife is a hard-use tool-to vote for a knife because of its level of gaudy adornment is not only misguided but a damn shame in my book.

When imagining which one of these knives is "best", consider which one would be the best executed tool FIRST. How many of these knives would be downright painful in actual use? How many would FALL APART if you had to hack a 2x4? How many have sacrificed cutting performance for Damascus with the maximum BLING?

Put Lipstick on a pig and she is still a pig.

There are many knives posted so far that could be considered true bowie knives, but a corresponding number displayed are nothing more than gross maladaptions of the genre loaded up with multiple contrivances and distractions from the core knife itself.

 

[RogerP]

It may not be as fancy as some of those posted, but this knife inspired lust in my heart...

Which is the only qualification any knife needs to be posted. And that one's particularly nice. :thumbup:

1) Here's one that I got from Matt Gregory earlier this year - not fancy, but very well executed and some gorgeous Amboyna for the handle:

2) And I really dig this all-business piece by Stephan Fowler:

Roger

 

[RogerP]

When voting for "best bowie" I think that we all need to remember that at it's core, a Bowie knife is a hard-use tool-to vote for a knife because of its level of gaudy adornment is not only misguided but a damn shame in my book.......

So Anthony, why not post up some knives that represent your concept of what a bowie should be?

Roger

 

[Marcel54]

When voting for "best bowie" I think that we all need to remember that at it's core, a Bowie knife is a hard-use tool-to vote for a knife because of its level of gaudy adornment is not only misguided but a damn shame in my book.

When imagining which one of these knives is "best", consider which one would be the best executed tool FIRST. How many of these knives would be downright painful in actual use? How many would FALL APART if you had to hack a 2x4? How many have sacrificed cutting performance for Damascus with the maximum BLING?

Put Lipstick on a pig and she is still a pig.

There are many knives posted so far that could be considered true bowie knives, but a corresponding number displayed are nothing more than gross maladaptions of the genre loaded up with multiple contrivances and distractions from the core knife itself.

I really disagree with you, but for the sake of this thread I won't respond in depth. It's the most fun thread of the year so if you want lets take this subject/discussion into an other (new) thread.

Marcel

 

[Kevin Jones]

When voting for "best bowie" I think that we all need to remember that at it's core, a Bowie knife is a hard-use tool-to vote for a knife because of its level of gaudy adornment is not only misguided but a damn shame in my book.

When imagining which one of these knives is "best", consider which one would be the best executed tool FIRST. How many of these knives would be downright painful in actual use? How many would FALL APART if you had to hack a 2x4? How many have sacrificed cutting performance for Damascus with the maximum BLING?
Put Lipstick on a pig and she is still a pig.

There are many knives posted so far that could be considered true bowie knives, but a corresponding number displayed are nothing more than gross maladaptions of the genre loaded up with multiple contrivances and distractions from the core knife itself.

Actually Anthony after going back through the knives along with my knowing most of the makers of the posted knives and the pride they take in their work, I would wager that not one would fall apart if hacking a 2X4. If fact most would probably perform very well in spite of their beauty. Lighten up man and let everyone have a good time here. A knife doesn't have to be plain and/or ugly to perform to function to a high degree.

 

[Lorien]

+1 on the lightening up. Adding authoritarianism to this thread will do nothing for its value, imo. Let the votes decide, yo!

 

[Steve Nuckels]

I love them all!* But my favs are Jay Hendrickson, Burt Foster and Tad Lynch!

Need to see A Bill Moran!!!!

Steve
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Potomac Forge
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IN GOD WE TRUST

 

[Bruce Bump]

Does the maker have to live on earth? I think that Hancock guy lives on another planet.

 

[John White]

Bruce,

That Hancock guy lives on the same planet where that Bump-tious fellow makes those exquisite pistol/folders and that Feather/Stag Bowie in the earlier part of this thread.

John

 

[Kevin Jones]

1) Jay Hendrickson ST-24:

2) Tim Hancock - AKI Fantail Damascus Bowie:

 

[JParanee]

Anthony brings up a valid point although I doubt any of these knives would fall apart with use I see his point.

The last thing I want to do is tarnish my favorite thread of the year so I will only discuss my view of the best Bowie of the year and after all this is a discussion board so I think this should be welcome.

First and foremost I view the best Bowie of the year thread kind of like a dog show and these knives certainly fall into the working class. They can be dressed up and garnished but fundamentally they should exhibit the right conformation. Kind of like giving a Rotweiller with weak withers a fancy haircut and it beats a dog that is structurally sound even though the one dog looks fancier the other dog is s better example of the breed.

What I am trying to say is that the knife better have good flow fantastic lines structurally sound and not a boat oar. Needless to say if it has all these things and tasteful adornments than all the better

The best way for me to explain this is by sighting my 8 favorites so far and why. As more knives are posted this could change but for now I am hoping to open up fun conversation

The top two knives for me at this time and in no order are the Hendrickson in post 23 # 1
And The Foster in post 2 #8

The Hendrickson speaks for itself it pays tribute to one of the greats it is so well done it hurts. It has great flow fantastic proportions and the detail is to die for. To me this knife is stunning

The Persian Foster I held and although not your typical bowie this knife has a timeless beauty that would look in place hanging on an ancient warriors belt or on the belt of a modern Sci Fi hero or villain. like I said it is timeless and superbly well done. In fact if plans go well Burt will deliver a similar piece slightly larger and a bit more rustic to me at this years blade. Like I said this knife is just very appealing to me.

Next and in no particular order is the Hanson in post 1 # 8. Just a wicked good-looking piece that is so typical of the great blade artist Don Hanson

Also the Hanson in post 28 #1 this knife has the same thing Burts Persian has going for it timeless beauty and character in boatloads. Definitely a one of a kind and Rob is a lucky guy to have it. Rob remember me if ya ever let this one go.

How about John Whites post 18 #2 in a world of Damascus and stag Bowie this one is a standout and quite beautiful

Bruce Bunps Post 2 # 2 this knife is so well done it is crazy. With the classic lines and beautiful materials all I can say is WOW

Last but not least the Alamo Bowie by Bagwell post 14 #1 and the Knight piece in post 2 # 2. First off there mine so of course I like them

The Alamo piece just on the blade shape alone is something special. It is like an F1 cars chassis all performance never mind the neat cable Damascus pattern. Of all Bill’s blades that I have seen this one has a shape that I believe Russ Andrews commented on when I first posted it. It is all performance from the belly that you know will make it a wicked slasher to the bit wider blade from the Bagwell norm. Massive thickness at the guard to a wicked distal taper that makes this big knife feel light as hell and with a talon like clip the point of this knife is sticky to say the least. The rustic handle screams classic Bowie and it is from the last working founding member of the ABS.

Then there is my friend Jason Knights Fighting Bowie this knife is just a classic case of understated elegance and grace. If the blade where carbon this knife would actually be more flashy in my opinion. The Damascus blade is subdued when combined with the sculpted Blackwood handle. Is not pimped out with engraving and flash just elegant grace and flow. A true Arabian Stallion

All the knives are fantastic on this thread and I look forward to seeing more posted up.

I hope this post sparks a fire and conversation about what makes a great Bowie. Where else should it be but on the Best Bowie of the year thread. Fancy icing looks great but it does not make the cake

 

[Kevin Jones]

^This is a thread which many of us have enjoyed the last three years as we ALL love viewing beautiful knife photos and this is where we gather them all up for the year, post them and pick our favorites.
Why can't we just lighten up and leave it at that?

We don't have the opportunity here to handle the knives, cut with them and inspect them for degree of fit and finish. So the Bowie that wins could in reality be the worst if actually judged.

With all due respect Joe, if you and Anthony want to discuss "what makes a great bowie", I agree with Marcel in that you should start your own thread. If not, we will never accomplish what this thread started out to do, which is pick the best virtual Bowie.

Perhaps to be more politically correct, next year the title should be changed to something other than the "Best Bowie".

Edited to add: One of the things which makes this thread so interesting and fun is the varying taste and preferences of those participating.

 

[Lorien]

we always get into the semantics of 'bowie', which is a bit of a misnomer in my book, given the historic significance of the name. It's like calling adhesive bandages 'bandaids', or calling tissues 'kleenex'. But we gotta call em something!

It's become such a generic term here that it can apply equally to fighting knives, performance cutters or backwoods choppers, or whatever.
The point is, it's all good! Big knives are awesome!

And then I start thinking about miniatures...which are the opposite of big, but if scaled down from any one of these designs should they not be included? I'd hope that they would be.

The more pics the better.

 

[Kohai999]

^This is a thread which many of us have enjoyed the last three years as we ALL love viewing beautiful knife photos and this is where we gather them all up for the year, post them and pick our favorites.
Why can't we just lighten up and leave it at that?

With all due respect Joe, if you and Anthony want to discuss "what makes a great bowie", I agree with Marcel in that you should start your own thread. If not, we will never accomplish what this thread started out to do, which is pick the best virtual Bowie.

There is room for everyone at the table, Kevin, and room for everyone to discuss.

This isn't "your" thread, or even "your" Forum. So don't try to moderate it. Your opinion is duly noted by all who participate.

I thought much of your post to Joe was rude and dismissive, and "with all due respect" doesn't change that. Joe frequently brings a real-world user perspective on bowie knives to the Forums with experience that is sorely lacking by many of us, myself included. How a bowie performs is no less important than how it looks, if that is what matters to the person casting their vote for "BladeForums Best Bowie-2009".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Kevin Jones]

There is room for everyone at the table, Kevin, and room for everyone to discuss.

This isn't "your" thread, or even "your" Forum. So don't try to moderate it. Your opinion is duly noted by all who participate.

I thought much of your post to Joe was rude and dismissive, and "with all due respect" doesn't change that. Joe frequently brings a real-world user perspective on bowie knives to the Forums with experience that is sorely lacking by many of us, myself included. How a bowie performs is no less important than how it looks, if that is what matters to the person casting their vote for "BladeForums Best Bowie-2009".

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Don't think I was rude to Joe at all or implying this was my forum or thread. I will however call him tomorrow to see if he took it that way and if he did I will apologize to him. In either case I certainly don't think he needs you to intervene on his be haft. And you say I'm trying to moderate?

For the record, I value performance and looks equally in knives thus my often referring to custom knives as functional art. I don't find you have to choose between one or the other. We are however, in my opinion, in a much better position to form an opinion in this thread on looks than we are performance capabilities.

 

[RogerP]

Where else should it be but on the Best Bowie of the year thread. Fancy icing looks great but it does not make the cake

And if baked right, fancy icing doesn't make it any less of a cake - a point that seem perpetually lost on the "hard-core" and "high-performance" crowds. Not painting you with that brush, Joe - you seem to keep an open mind and refrain from the contemptuous dismissal of all that does not accord with your own particular tastes.

Perhaps to be more politically correct, next year the title should be changed to something other than the "Best Bowie".

The thought had occurred to me, but "Best Medium-Large Fixed Blade" doesn't quite roll off the tongue. Considering that we know next to nothing about THE Bowie knife (apart from the one he used on the Sandbar - which was basically nothing but a sturdy butcher's knife) I am always surprised at those who will make definitive pronouncements about what IS! and what IS NOT! a bowie. Lorien's point about the generic use of the term is spot on.

At the risk of stating the obvious - the thread is open for nominations and will remain so for at least another day or two. Anyone is free to post THEIR concept of a bowie within the very broad and highly inclusive parameters set out at the beginning. All are welcome to participate.

Roger

 

[SBranson]

Back to the pics:

I just got a finished pic of my custom from Burt Foster. Damn it's been worth the wait. So simple but so elegant.

1. Burt Foster Blue Collar Camp Knife

Here' another one I'm very fond of by Jason Knight. It's #4 of 10 in the Wilson Alliance series.

2. Jason Knight

And I will have one more Jason Knight to post in about a week (I hope)

-Stuart

 

[JParanee]

Geez Kevin way to make a guy feel welcome to a thread

Just trying to add food for thought on a thread I very much enjoy every year and like to take part in.

I have pretty thick skin so a little tonque lashing is not gonna give me to deep of welts so no worry but I heed you guys to take it easy you will discourage participation in these threads by others that might have something to offer.

Roger sorry to derail this thread it was not my intention. You are right about the iceing comment and I original said that it can make a great knife better.

So I will back out now and leave you guys to it. Happy New Year

Thanks STeven for the kind words. Please guys lets not argue on a great thread and around the holidays .. peace on Earth and Good will and all that stuff.