Bowie mania, let's see the Bowies.

[BladeScout]

Tachee of the Western Cherokee delegation to Wahington.

All below description of the knives in this post are by a gent named James Batson, who knows a thing or two about Bowie knives:

"This view reveals Tahchee’s Bowie knife is sheathed with a portion of the handle encased. There is also a hint of the hilt edge being wrapped with a white metal. If Tahchee’s waist is about 16 1/2 inches wide and the artist sized the knife by proportion, then the total length of the sheathed knife is about 14 1/2 inches."

"Rare Coffin Hilt Bowie Knife"

"American Made Classic Coffin Handle Bowie Knife

The knife has a 14 1/8 inch overall length, a 9 1/8 inch blade, and a walnut handle with a silver wrap. The knife in the sheath is an approximate size & likeness to the one in Tahchee’s sash."

"The Carrigan Knife

An American made Classic Coffin Handle Bowie Knife exhibited in the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock. According to family tradition, James Black made this knife in Washington, Arkansas. Photo courtesy of Historic Arkansas Museum"

"American Made Classic Coffin Handle Bowie Knives

Acquired by Bowie Knife Collectors Bill Wright (top knife} and Jack Royce (bottom knife). Photo courtesy of Bill Wright"

"Every serious Bowie Knife collector has a copy of the Old Lithograph of Tachee."

-JB

 

[Douglas Wever]

The folder has, what is commonly conceived as a Bowie shaped blade. As the OP didnt ask for fixed blades only (its of course up to him and he can still request fixed blades only in a thread, he started), IMO it falls within the parametres of a Bowie shaped blade. In my opinion, the coffin handles in question are maybe even more true to some historical Bowie knives than much more outlandish blades.

Post #94 is especially egregious. We can't definitely say what Jim's knife looked like, but we do know that it wasn't a folder.

I am a huge stickler for historical accuracy when historical accuracy is being discussed. Obnoxious even.

Excellent to have that high level of self awareness.

 

[BladeScout]

The issue on the other was not with the coffin handle but the diminutive blade size.

As the Bowie knife itself has 'transmogriffed' from a very simple butcher knife to the fantasy Musso knife - and a multitude of very different knives in between (some small, some XL) - I personally have no problem with 'small Bowie knives' falling within the Bowie catrgory. Just my opinion


Much is lost to history and there is so much obfuscation regarding the subject, so many different takes, stories and terms are thrown in the ring.
Take the 'Arkansas Toothpick.' It used to be an alternate name for a Bowie knife but most knife afficinados think of a needle point dagger, when they hear 'Arkansas Toothpick' today.

Bowie and Bowie /Bowie and Arkansas Toothpick.

Random pic.

 

[marcinek]

[QUOTE="Douglas Wever, post: 18124874, member: 494186"
Any argument is bound to be imprecise because nothing exactly constitutes the definition of a Bowie.[/QUOTE]

Then you cannot claim that what people here think are Bowies is "too inclusive," let alone proclaim they need to do "a little research."

I am a huge stickler for historical accuracy when historical accuracy is being discussed. Obnoxious even.

But even I wouldn't declare my definition of a Bowie is the definition of a Bowie when the subject is "Bowies in general"

 

[marcinek]

Perhaps, but he has a point. Post #94 is especially egregious. We can't definitely say what Jim's knife looked like, but we do know that it wasn't a folder.

Actually there is a long history of folding Bowies including both large ornate jack knives of the early- to mid-19th century (like the highly prized ones with the horse/alligator head pommel) and the so-called D'Estaing daggers.

So, yes, folders are considered Bowies too.

 

[marcinek]

Here's a nice Bowie!

 

[Ebbtide]

Ah so many roads to go down...
A butcher knife isn't necessarily a kitchen knife.
A 1830's butcher knife might not be the same as a butcher knife today.

What time frame are we looking at?
The Ben Browning knife that I put up in my first post in this thread....
20-30 years ago, that wasn't a bowie. It would've been called a fighter.
Back then bowies were the big knives that resembled those coming out of Sheffield in the mid to late 1800s.
In the last 20 years fighters have become bowies and what were, then, camp knives have become (chopper) bowies as well.

So how many years after the brawl on the sandbar are we talking about?
Knives during Jim and Resin's lifetime?
The Civil War?
The gold rush era?
The great cattle drive era?
Cowboys or gamblers?
City folks or country?

What we have here is an onion with many layers. But it is still an onion.

The bowie knife is like chili, less an exact recipe and more like a state of mind.

I still want a knife like Bowie's.
Doesn't everyone?

 

[BladeScout]

A butcher knife isn't necessarily a kitchen knife.
A 1830's butcher knife might not be the same as a butcher knife today.

Agreed.
Its a simplification, that I myself have used. People can relate to the concept.​

I still want a knife like Bowie's.
Doesn't everyone?

As long as it doesnt look like that Musso monstrosity.

(cue pic of the Musso.
To each his own)

 

[BladeScout]

Lon Humphrey pig sticker.

Commisioned for, made for and used for the purpose.

Its difficult to convey just how extremely scary efficient, it is. Its like stabbing water.

 

[LEGION 12]

Lon Humphrey pig sticker.

Commisioned for, made for and used for the purpose.

Its difficult to convey just how extremely scary efficient, it is. Its like stabbing water.

That's a beautiful blade.

 

[BladeScout]

That's a beautiful blade.

​

Thx.
I couldnt be happier with the way, it came out.

 

[LEGION 12]

​

Thx.
I couldnt be happier with the way, it came out.

I really don't need another knife but......

 

[Aias]

Here's a nice Bowie!

That's very nice.

 

[Aias]

Lon Humphrey pig sticker.

Commisioned for, made for and used for the purpose.

Its difficult to convey just how extremely scary efficient, it is. Its like stabbing water.

Lon's knives are truly exceptional. That's a beauty

 

[Aias]

Man, nice knives... love the 225Q!

 

[BladeScout]

Man, nice knives... love the 225Q!

You called?

A few of mine.
Big fan as well.

 

[Arian29]

 

[Aias]

You called?

A few of mine.
Big fan as well.

Very nice! I have one that has since been re-handled... makes a great field knife. I'll likely pick up another and keep it 'historic.' Here is the modified one... after I did it I felt like I committed something a little horrible, but the tang was very badly rusted.

 

[BladeScout]

Very nice! I have one that has since been re-handled... makes a great field knife. I'll likely pick up another and keep it 'historic.'

A few of mime are in the pipeline for new leather washer handles due to the original washers being too far gone.
Apart from that, I dont mess with them.
The ones I use, I sharpen of course.
The Cat 225 is an excellent utility knife.

 

[LEGION 12]

Lon Humphrey pig sticker.

Commisioned for, made for and used for the purpose.

Its difficult to convey just how extremely scary efficient, it is. Its like stabbing water.

Could we see the sheath please ?