Bowen Blades

[pcb105]

Hi All,

I have the following Bowen Blades Knives. Looking for as much information as possible on them.

1) Bowen Blades WV
2) I think they are D2 Steel
3) I think for 3 of the 4 they are maded by Tilton Bowen
4) The 4th one is made by Tilton's Oldest son James (The first one on the right hand side)

Knife 1 (from Left) is approx 3" Blade 7.125" with handle Not sure what model number is
Knife 2 (from left) is approx 3" Blade 7.125" with handle Not sure on model number
Knife 3 (from left) I think is a 4" Model 19 Tonto (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=810821) wood material is Black/Red Pakkawood
Knife 4 (from Left) Is approx 4" blade 8.75" with handle Not sure on model number.

These knives are of very good quality and are quite heavy. I will have to get a pair of calipers but I would say that the blade steel is 1/8" thick at (spine)

I would have to guess that these knives are probably 15-20 years old. All of the handles are wood.

Any more information on these knives would be appreciated (including what the primary purpose of each knife; I do know that all knives are meant to cut and be collected) . I do note that Bowen Blades appear to be making throwing knives exclusively.

Thanks

 

[zd06]

These knives you have are all D2 tool steel and you are right 3 out of the 4 are made by Tilton. The one to the far left is actually the one made by Jim(James) Bowen. This knife is a model 14 which is a boot knife. This double edged knife should have a metal cliped sheath, and was a model made by both the father and son. The next knife from the left is a model 6 and Tilton called it a caper model. Next knife is a small tanto, not sure on model number, would be a self defense knife. Last knife is a model 3 and was called a skinner model by Tilton. Bowen Blades made all types of knives including throwing knives until Tilton Bowen passed away in 09. Jim Bowen has not made knives recently. My family's shop was a original dealer of Bowen Blades from 1983 till 2009 when Tilton passed away. Hope this info helps and would appreciate other posts on Bowen Blades.

 

[Frizzman]

Hello...I have the model on the right end of the line. It's The #3 skinner model. I am not sure when I bought it...I think around 1989 or 90. The steel is D2 and is very hard. I had a heck of a time putting an edge on it since it wasn't sharp enough when I got it. I believe I bought it at a Hunting/gun shop in Waynesboro, Va. The edge has held up very well and I have butchered a good many deer with it. The maker(s) made a large bowie type knife that I wanted but didn't have the $. The sheath was well made and has also help up very well.

 

[pcb105]

Thanks for the information. I have found a few more Bowen Blades that I will be posting later.

-Paul

 

[pcb105]

These knives you have are all D2 tool steel and you are right 3 out of the 4 are made by Tilton. The one to the far left is actually the one made by Jim(James) Bowen. This knife is a model 14 which is a boot knife. This double edged knife should have a metal cliped sheath, and was a model made by both the father and son.

Yes the knife is marked JB and has a metal clipped sheath. (Leather with metal clip)

The next knife from the left is a model 6 and Tilton called it a caper model. Next knife is a small tanto, not sure on model number, would be a self defense knife.

The model 6 knife has a leather sheath with a belt loop

I believe this is a model 19 (at least that is what I found on another thread) This knife also includes a metal clipped sheath (leather with metal clip). But since the knifes were displayed in a display case and the sheaths were stored I could have them mixed up.

Last knife is a model 3 and was called a skinner model by Tilton. Bowen Blades made all types of knives including throwing knives until Tilton Bowen passed away in 09. Jim Bowen has not made knives recently. My family's shop was a original dealer of Bowen Blades from 1983 till 2009 when Tilton passed away. Hope this info helps and would appreciate other posts on Bowen Blades.

The model 3 has a leather sheath with a belt loop.

I will definitely have more posts on Bowen Blades. Thanks for the information. I am cataloging a large collection of knives.

 

[pcb105]

Hi All,

I have about 9 more Bowen Blades that I need help identifying. Here is the first one. (By the way I will try to take pictures with a DSLR later; These are iPhone ones).

The first knife is a shade under 6.5". It looks like it was made by James Bowen.

Thanks in advance for help IDing them and also helping me figure out what the knifes function is.

 

[pcb105]

Made a mistake in editing. I have no clue how to delete a post

 

[pcb105]

Knife 2: 6" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 3: 10" Made by Tilton Bowen. I really have no clue what this knife is used for
Knife 4: 9" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 5: 5.5" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 6: 3.75" Made by Tilton Bowen

 

[pcb105]

Knife 7: 5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Filet Knife?)
Knife 8: 8.5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Tanto)
Knife 9: 5.75" Tanto by James Bowen (Tanto)

 

[zd06]

Wow thats quite a collection of Bowens, certainly tops mine. The thing about Bowen Blades is that they made a lot of uncataloged items and didn't assign numbers to all their knives. I have a couple catalogs and most of your knives are not in them. However i can tell you what i called them when they were sold new. Next post i'll let you know more after a little research.

 

[zd06]

Hi All,

I have about 9 more Bowen Blades that I need help identifying. Here is the first one. (By the way I will try to take pictures with a DSLR later; These are iPhone ones).

The first knife is a shade under 6.5". It looks like it was made by James Bowen.

Thanks in advance for help IDing them and also helping me figure out what the knifes function is.

Yea this knife looks like it has a J and not a T next to the B identifying it as a Jim Bowen knife, not sure on model number but it is one of their wide bowie knives and unusual with that short of a blade, the guard should be soldered on the top.

 

[zd06]

Knife 2: 6" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 3: 10" Made by Tilton Bowen. I really have no clue what this knife is used for
Knife 4: 9" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 5: 5.5" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 6: 3.75" Made by Tilton Bowen

Knife #2 is a kitchen knife not sure on model number. Knife #3 is an odd one, and is definitely in the shape of a Gurkha knife, however Tilton might have called it a Smatchet model. Knife #4 is a standard wide bowie knife he also made narrow bowies too. Knife #5 is a model 1 and was also called a magnum hunter. Knife #6 is a model 4 also called a hunter model. Tilton's models 1,2,4,and 5 are all hunter models with different blade lengths. His models 3 and 6S are skinner models with different blade lengths.

 

[zd06]

Knife 7: 5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Filet Knife?)
Knife 8: 8.5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Tanto)
Knife 9: 5.75" Tanto by James Bowen (Tanto)

Knife #7 is a model 24 and is actually a boning knife used for removing the bone out of a piece of meat. Knife #8 is a large tanto and as posted in another thread a model 19. Knife #9 is a medium tanto also model 19. I forgot to mention that Knife #3 was probably modeled after a fighting knife and machete used by the Gurkha people of Nepal. Hope this helps somewhat in identifying your collection.

 

[pcb105]

Thanks for your help. No matter where I looked I could not find any catalogs for Bowen Blades. Bowen certainly knew how to make a solid knife. I will be taking better pictures with my wife's DSLR. I will post them on bladeforums later.

 

[zd06]

Knife 2: 6" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 3: 10" Made by Tilton Bowen. I really have no clue what this knife is used for
Knife 4: 9" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 5: 5.5" Made by Tilton Bowen
Knife 6: 3.75" Made by Tilton Bowen

Here to add and correct some info I had posted, I found out that your knife #2 is a model 21 Cooks knife.

Knife 7: 5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Filet Knife?)
Knife 8: 8.5" Made by Tilton Bowen (Tanto)
Knife 9: 5.75" Tanto by James Bowen (Tanto)

You turned out to be correct:foot:, Tilton did call your knife#7 a fillet knife even though everyone always called it boning knife when it was sold because of its thick blade. At least I got the model number right the first time

 

[harleymoto]

This 14-15" Bowie knife has the JB (James Bowen) imprint and it was owned by Burt Reynolds until recently. It's my first Bowen Blade. Does the WV mean it was made in West Virginia? How old, approximately, is this knife? If you are interested seeing what else he owned, a couple other of Burt's knives are on a different thread if you search the forums for "Burt Reynolds".

 

[sbowen76]

Hello I'm Tilts youngest son Shawn if I can help you with any information contact me at sbowen76@hotmail.com

 

[sbowen76]

hi I'm shawn bowen james is my older brother yes Bowen Blades are made in West Virginia

 

[Russell Clark]

These knives you have are all D2 tool steel and you are right 3 out of the 4 are made by Tilton. The one to the far left is actually the one made by Jim(James) Bowen. This knife is a model 14 which is a boot knife. This double edged knife should have a metal cliped sheath, and was a model made by both the father and son. The next knife from the left is a model 6 and Tilton called it a caper model. Next knife is a small tanto, not sure on model number, would be a self defense knife. Last knife is a model 3 and was called a skinner model by Tilton. Bowen Blades made all types of knives including throwing knives until Tilton Bowen passed away in 09. Jim Bowen has not made knives recently. My family's shop was a original dealer of Bowen Blades from 1983 till 2009 when Tilton passed away. Hope this info helps and would appreciate other posts on Bowen Blades.

Would you have Any of Mr Bowens old stock available for purchase?

 

[b00n]

Would you have Any of Mr Bowens old stock available for purchase?

The person you are quoting hasn't been online on the website since 2016. You're better off posting in the "Wanting to Buy"-Section with a specific request what you're looking for.