Coffin handle Bowies

[Uncle Alvah]

I love the look of a traditional Coffin style handle on a Bowie knife. I only own one Bowie and thats what it has on it.
I'm curious as to whether you consider this style a praticle handle for a working Bowie(I'm no collector) or if it's strong point is just traditional asthetics?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Traditional aesthetics means a lot to me. I have a Bark River coffin handled bowie, called the Rogue. Besides its good looks, it is a very easy big knife to use, being light, well-balanced, and sharp.

 

[WYK]

It's not just for tradition. The coffin style came into vogue during the time when Bowies were used most...on people. It's design is such that the hand indexes on it readily, has a firm grip, and it is unlikely to slip either way out of the hand. Note the grip is very similar to a racquetball grip.

WYK

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I find the coffin handle to be very comfortable. It doesn't hurt when they look like the one below by Rodrigo Sfreddo.

 

[Ebbtide]

Coffin handled bowies?
Aha! My personal favorite!

(forged 5160 & mammoth ivory by Bruce Evans)

(The Bark River that Esav mentioned)

(Forged 5160, ebony & ivory by Bruce Evans from my sketch)

Someday I'll have a replica of Bowie #1 made
Someday.
I think it is a fine handle shape, for grip as well as looks. The coffin end makes a knob that fits the curl of your thumb. You're holding onto that knob instead of choking up on it like a guarded knife. Hard to explain, easy to do with the knife in hand

 

[Uncle Alvah]

Well, since everyone is posting pics...........this is my "one and only". 11" blade, 17" overall.

 

[s0rce]

I second the BRKT Rogue Bowie.

 

[Ebbtide]

That's the spirit Uncle A!
That looks like a Tichbourne...
And it looks good to me

 

[george tichbourne]

The coffin handle is a great shape for hand retention during use but I actually prefer a slightly curved handle to better fit my hand. The curved handles unfortunately they are not period accurate. The one that Uncle Alvah shows is a collection of style features found in the 1850 period, handle shape, blade shape and guard shape but copies no known knife in particular.