BOWIE KNIFE SEARCH

[shamancw]

I NEED HELP FINDING THE BOWIE KNIFE OF MY WASTED YOUTH. I GREW UP WATCHING AN OLD TV SHOW TITLED THE LEGEND OR ADVENTURES, NOT SURE WHICH, OF JIM BOWIE. I AM SEARCHING FOR A KNIFE LIKE THE ONE USED ON THE SHOW. AS MY MEMORRY SERVES ME, THE KNIFE HAD A BLADE OF ABOUT 12 INCHES OR SO WITH A SHAPE MUCH LIKE LINDER BOWIE BLADES. IT HAD SOLID NICKEL GUARD SHAPED SOMETHING LIKE THE BRASS GUARD ON A CASE BOWIE. THE POMMEL WAS RATHER LARGE, SORT OF A BALL THAT HAD BEEN FLATTENED SLIGHTLY. THE HANDLE HAD A CURVE TO IT THAT WAS WIDEST IN THE MIDDLE AND THEN TAPERED SLIGHTLY AT THE POMMEL AND GUARD. THE HANDLE WAS BLACK, SO I GUESS I WANT EITHER BLACK MICARTA OR EBONEY. THE WHOLE THING WAS HIGHLY POLISHED. IT SEEMED THERE WERE TWO SHEATHS HE USED. SOMETIMES HE USED ONE THAT HUNG FROM THE BELT. OTHER TIMES HE SOME KIND OF RIG MUCH LIKE A SHOULDER HOLSTER, ALTHOUGH THE SHEATH IS NOT MY MAIN CONCERN. THE HANDLE WAS NOT SQUARE BUT RATHER ROUND IF CUT TO A CROSS SECTION. PART OF THE GUARD EXTENDED UP TO COVER PERHAPS 2/4 OF AN INCH OF THE HANDLE AND THE HANDLE HAD INLAYED A SILVER PLATE TO ENGRAVE ONE'S NAME ON. THE WHOLE KNIFE WAS PERHAPS SEVENTEEN INCHES IN LENGHT. GOD IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING. AT LEAST MY MEMORY OF IT IS. THE NEAREST THING I HAVE SEEN IS THE LILE KNIFEWORKS BOWIE NAMED THE SAN ANTONIO. HOWEVER, IT'S JUST TO EXPENSIVE FOR MY WALLET. THE LINDER 10 INCHE BLADE IS PRETTY CLOSE. IT SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE SHARPER CURVE ON THE TOP SO THE POINT IS A LITTLE MORE PRONOUNCED. IT LOOKED A LITTLE LIKE THE BUCK 6 INCH BLADE HUNTER OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT, BUT THE BLADE WAS MORE CLASSIE BOWIE AND THE HANDLE WAS JUST RICHER IN APPEARANCE. MORE RUGED I GUESS IS THE WAY TO PUT IT. THE POMMEL DIDN'T HAVE THAT DARN LITTLE HOOK ON IT EITHER LIKE THE BUCK. BUT THE KNIRE WAS A DREAM. I'M NOW 57 YEARS OLD, PUSHING 58 REAL HARD AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND THIS KNIFE BEFORE I BECOME AN ANCESTOR. GUESS THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST I CAN DO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DRAW A DARN PICTURE.

IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS ANY IDEA'S WHERE I CAN FIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANKS FOR THE HELP AND INTEREST FOLKS.

BEST TO ALL
SHAMANCW

------------------

 

[TomW]

If you're stuck with a budget that doesn't allow a custom try looking just for the blade you like on a factory knife and mongrelizing it it make it look like what you want. If you're good at hand work you can do it yourself but if not it will be a lot more difficult. Also look in the knife supply catalogs for a blade and go from there-that would be even cheaper. It wouldn't hurt to give a try to making it yourself-

 

[PhilL]

You may want to take a look at Randal's Smithsonian Bowie, it's about as close as I know of the classic Bowies, I remember seeing on Jim Bowie or Davy Crockett, from when I was a kid.

 

[FullerH]

I know that they are pricey, but try www.randallknives.com, they have the Model 12 bowies, the Smithsonian Bowie, which is the one from the show, more or less, and the Raymond Thorpe Bowie. Now, I have to say that there is some question as to the historical accuracy of these knives, but they sure look nice! The base price is $435, but options would run the price up very quickly.

The knife in the show was, I understand, the same one used in the movie, "The Iron Mistress", with Alan Ladd. Jerry Fisk says that they were terribly unwieldy. Use the "Search" function for the first year general discussion posts for the author "Jerry Fisk". There was a wonderful, and long, thread on Bowies last spring.

------------------
Walk in the Light,
Hugh