Bowie question - i think...

[cbr900son]

I recently saw a bowie style blade with a full tang. Is it still considered a bowie if its a full tang or does it need to be hidden or pommel style? Honestly Im addicted to bowies lately and doing research before attempting a big bowie. Just curious about the full tang tho. Looked very interesting (wasn't a coffin either)

 

[Salem Straub]

Bowies can be full tang. I think the essentials are basically: usually has a clip point, usually a double guard, usually over 6", (I think over 8 really) usually a dropped edge. I've seen bowies w/o a dropped edge, and bowies with no guard, and even a miniature knife can be a bowie if the style is otherwise bowie-ish.

I've seen bowies with almost any tang style I can think of.

 

[unky_gumbi]

I personally feel that the bowie style is more defined by the blade than the handle. I recently finished a full tang bowie styled knife and have done 2 others with hidden tangs, the full tang was much harder to do mainly because of the guard.

 

[RyanW]

Funny you post this today, I have just started down the Bowie Road. A friend and I (Mostly my friend) beat out some Cable Damascus for the first time and I am using the resulting Billet for a Large (For me) Bowie. I was researching styles and decided to go with the hidden tang, Cocobolo handle and 1080 Guard. I was tempted to do a dramatic clip point but am not ready for that grind yet, I just went with the drop point.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

"Bowie" has to be the most abused knife shape term there is. It is applied to most any blade with a clip. Folding Bowie, bowie type butchers knife, etc. Take a look at a Naval Bowie. It looks more like a short sword than anything Jim and Rezin probably used. Then you see these five pound , 20 inch long honkers with a 1/2" spine....called "Alamo type Bowie Knife"....no wonder we lost, no one could draw their weapons.

You could describe the shape by using the words from the Cowsills - note to Bud and his family - I am sooo sorry

You ask me why? - Why I'm a Bowie Guy?
I dig Bowies noon and night , they are such a fright
I search high and low, don't ask me what shape they are.....
'Cause I don't know.
It's takin' all my bread, I guess I'll collect them .....till I'm dead.

(Whump, whump,whump, whump)

Give me a Bowie Knife, a long Bowie Knife
Shinin', gleamin', stabbin', slashin', flashin'
Hangin' down to your knees, shoulder carry sometimes
Short babies, honkin' mamas, any shape of Bowie, Bowie !
BOWIES...eeies...eeies

(Anybody who's head isn't bobbing back and forth is under 40)

 

[cbr900son]

Well I guess ill start drawing up some ideas and looking at more bowie pics and blades for inspirations and ideas then get started in the next week or so!

 

[lonepine]

"Bowie" has to be the most abused knife shape term there is...

I can't argue. The position of the American Knife and Tool Institute is:

"It is the position of the AKTI that the term "Bowie Knife" is too vague and cannot be satisfactorily defined with sufficient precision. Accordingly, any law which provides an offense has been committed by one who possesses or carries a "Bowie Knife" is constitutionally defective."

It's sort of like trying to define art or pornography, "I can't tell you what it is but I know it when I see it."

I nominate "tactical" as the second most misused knife descriptor.

- Paul Meske