Hell's Belle Bowie

A

alaska guide

Joined
Jan 7, 2005
Messages
30
Just got my Hell's Belle in the mail today.From Mr.Bagwell....One word GREAT!!! 10" carbon,polish,stag handel.The knife is so lively in hand and scary sharp! I'm sending pics to brother Joe P. here on the forum to post for me.Taking this one up to Alaska,will be my 24/7 carry while guiding in the bush.Will spend alittle over 150 days this season in a tent.Joe was kind enough to post the Bagwell bowie i used this past year up there.But this one is something very special.Thank you Bill.....Jim
 
Congratulations! Look forward to the images. I have become very intrigued over Bill's work from this forum. Hope to be able to handle a few at Blade this year.

- Joe
 
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Very much looking forward to pics!

But I do have a question. If you are using it in the bush, why choose something the maker himself refers to as a dedicated fighting blade?
 
John Frankl said:
But I do have a question. If you are using it in the bush, why choose something the maker himself refers to as a dedicated fighting blade?
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Not my knife, but I can answer your question. It is because it works for the jobs intended in those situations, regardless of the name attached or one of the other intended uses.

Paul
 
sheathmaker said:
Not my knife, but I can answer your question. It is because it works for the jobs intended in those situations, regardless of the name attached or one of the other intended uses.

Paul
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Paul, I'm not sure if you know this, but Mr. Frankl is an accomplished knifemaker, and quite knowledgeable.

A fighter can be used as a screwdriver, a prybar and a kitchen knife, as you do know, but that doesn't make it optimal for the job, especially for hard use.

I'm interested in Jim's response to this question myself.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I know Jim is no stranger to Grizzles.
So in the extremely rare and unfortunate event of having to confront a Grizzly without the advantage of an operating firearm I imagine one could do far worst in the knife department than having to depend on a 10" Hell's Belle as back-up for a very slight chance of survival. :eek: ;)
 
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Kevin Jones said:
I know Jim is no stranger to Grizzles.
So in the extremely rare and unfortunate event of having to confront a Grizzly without the advantage of an operating firearm I imagine one could do far worst in the knife department than having to depend on a 10" Hell's Belle as back-up for a very slight chance of survival. :eek: ;)
Click to expand...

There is the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming - famous for it's bear (which legend has it was killed by a man with his bare hands(and teeth)....that's always an option too.

If the rifle, handgun, bear spray and human ingenuity fail, I would hope for better than 10" of steel(o'dachi comes to mind), but that's just me.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Well a ? i ask all my hunter's sooner or later during there hunt.What is you life worth to you!I see guys come up cotton clothes in camoflage,boots what are not broke in for sheep/goat hunts.Rifles they have shoot very little-pratice with.Rain gear that leaks,even thou we send them a gear list some of the hunter's think what work's down home will work up there.My life is worth something,I like myself so there for i have and buy the best gear i can.Be it my rifles are .They have been worked on to work in any condition and to go bang when you want them to.My clothes i can live in and survive if i can't make it back to camp overnight. My optics are Leica and Swarovski so i can spot game afar an decide weather if it's worth going after/trophy for the hunter instead of walking far to get closer only to find out it is not. I have 2 buddy's both guides who have been bear bit,if it was not for the one who's hunter shot the bear off him, and Lynn's buddy who shot the bear off Lynn,who know's what would have happen.Had a bear in 2004 up in unit 14 tear a tent while another guide and i were sleeping in it.The bear,found out by track's cub must have leaned on the tent and fell in.That was enlighting to say the least.I carry 24/7 a S&W329 in a chest rig,even sleeping and had Bill's bowie with me always.This one i just got will replace the older knife,I have knives i use for skinning and caping.This HELL'S BELLE could do it all, but it is a just in case all else fails.Thank's....I MAKES ME SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT...
 
You ... are a foresighted and fortunate man.

You are also the proud owner of one of the finest Bowies ever made.

I envy you. In the good way.:thumbup::)
 
Kohai999 said:
There is the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming - famous for it's bear (which legend has it was killed by a man with his bare hands(and teeth)....that's always an option too.

If the rifle, handgun, bear spray and human ingenuity fail, I would hope for better than 10" of steel(o'dachi comes to mind), but that's just me.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
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Well, you're one of the few Forumites who could actually handle an o'dachi.

[Without accidentally cutting off a non-optional portion of your anatomy.:o]
 
OldPhysics said:
Well, you're one of the few Forumites who could actually handle an o'dachi.

[Without accidentally cutting off a non-optional portion of your anatomy.:o]
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I would need a ladder handy to unsheath it.:D

Thanks and,

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
uh oh, let's not start with the short jokes!

There's nothing wrong with carrying a 10" bladed super nice custom made fighting knife while guiding.
As long as you have a locking folder and a multi tool, too, you're good to go.:thumbup:

It's nice to have an awesome knife to keep you company and reflect on during those long days in the bush. Keeps you sharp too, like weapons seem to do:cool:.
 
Kohai999 said:
Paul, I'm not sure if you know this, but Mr. Frankl is an accomplished knifemaker, and quite knowledgeable.

A fighter can be used as a screwdriver, a prybar and a kitchen knife, as you do know, but that doesn't make it optimal for the job, especially for hard use.

I'm interested in Jim's response to this question myself.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

I stick with my answer as written, and I appreciate your thoughtful response. I hope I didn't offend Mr. Frankl and you're right, I had no idea he was a knife maker.

Best Regards to you as well,

Paul....:D
 
Jim congrats and I anxiously await your pics and will post them as soon as I get them


Bill was very pleased with this knife and when Bill gets excited about a blade it usually means that he would like to keep it which is a hell of a complement for any knife.

As for the comments about Jim's choice in a dedicated fighting Bowie

I am sure Jim has an axe and a saw and everything else an expierenced Guide that is working from a base and different Spike camps has at his disposel.

So I doubt he will be useing it for bushcraft althought it would perform up to any task that would fall upon it.

I have spent some time in remote far away places and the confidence a well made and special to you blade gives you is priceless and life is to short not to carry what makes ya happy.

I remember when Jim ordered this knife and Bill suggested for a bush knife maybe one of Bills other variations would serve him better. Jim explained he was not going to be beating this knife up batoning wood and doing general camp chores this was to be a last ditch save my ass blade and something that he really wanted and could get alot of personal satisfaction out of. I believe from talking to him this has been achieved in spades.

I was in the Yukon hunting with Chris Widrig the year after he was mauled by a sow and believe me he is and was an expierence bushman. he was walking ahead of a group and came around a corner and ended up between a sow and her cubs. The Bear hit him hard and his rifle was on the horse he was leading. Believe me Chris knows to take his gun off the horse when he was not on the horse but sometimes no matter how much expierence you have ya get lazy and make a mistake. He was badly mauled and could not be moved and would have died if by luck he was not guideing I believe a doctor who stayed with him why others rode for help and they choppered him out. I believe it was a few days before he actually got to a hospital . This was back when sat phones weren't so commen. He has the scars to prove it and I am sure if he would have had a big knife he would have tried to use it.

The point is Jim got what he wanted and if he ever has to use it it will serve him well and for that I am happy and I know Bill is very pleased to of made a knife for a guy of Jim's caliber and expierence.

Can't wait to get the pics and again congrats on a special blade hope ya never need it but I know it will bring you alot of confidence and pride of ownership and not let you down no matter what task you put it to
 
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