Bowie history request

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HallHandmade

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Jun 5, 2012
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Hi all,

I'm starting work on a Bowie design to celebrate hitting double digits on my knife making; triple or quadruple digits is probably a bigger deal, but this is a great excuse to build my first bowie style knife. I am probably going to start a wip in hammer and tongs but I need to do more research first.

I was wondering if anyone could direct me to a resource online or in print/film that might help me learn more about my quarry before wasting my time on design. One of the best resources I've found yet has been the makers here on this forum, but I'm looking for more of a historic take.

I've gotten the "standard bowie blurb", sites where they show a few pictures of notable historic bowies and some background on their origin. I have seen a few sites go on to mention how popular the bowie became, and then fail to show any examples of this.

I was just interested in what happened to bowies in the years since, maybe some examples of regional styles at different times.

Thanks!
 
You won't like this, but the original "Bowie knife" was a large butcher's knife with a 14" blade and simple wooden handle. Pictures are available. Google "Forrest Bowie."
 
Bill DeShivs said:
You won't like this, but the original "Bowie knife" was a large butcher's knife with a 14" blade and simple wooden handle. Pictures are available. Google "Forrest Bowie."
Click to expand...

I actually did read that in some of the literature I've found so far.

I was more trying to look at the years after, where most articles I've read speak about how popular the bowie became, few really give examples other than a random photo or two. I've found many times the articles seem to skip straight from origins to the onset of popularity of the design, where "production" bowies started coming out of England.

I suppose I don't have a good sense for the overall timeline of how the design, style, and definition of bowie style knives has changed over the years.
 
As best we know, the first Bowie knife was made by Jesse Clifft to Rezin Bowies specs. 9 1/2" blade by 1/4" thick at the hilt, and 1 1/2" wide. It was straight backed, butcher styled, and no guard. This is believed by most to be the knife used by James at the Vidalia sand bar affair, and was loaned to James by Rezin.
 
You can dwn. load :

http://bxbook.com/book/5222/the-antique-bowie-knife-book

one of the best resources I've found, sections on American makers, Confederate, Mexican, English, San Francisco style full page color photos.

Butterfield and Butterfields Aution catolog of "The Antique Bowie Knife Collections of Robert Berryman & Chas. Schreiner III" March 1992

These two are very simalar with the pdf book having better pics. though both are very good some of the same knives in each book.

You might find this interesting:

http://knifedogs.com/showthread.php...wie-Knife-in-America-quot&p=267251#post267251

I think "Scagle Handmade" fits in here also, by Dr. Jim Lucie

http://www.americanbladesmith.com/i...163-scagel-handmade-book-by-dr-james-r-lucie/
 
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Thanks for the links, that's exactly the type of thing I'm trying to find.

It is surprising for how popular bowie style knives were then and now, how little you find on their history, at least for public consumption. I suppose not everyone is this interested in the details.
 
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