Historical bowie knife pictures

[Triton]

Hello All,

I'm looking for pictures of historical bowie knives, trying to decide on a pattern to have made. Unfortunately when I try to google up "historical bowie knife" or "antique bowie knife" I get loads of pictures of things that are obviously neither historical nor antique (unless you want to count 20 year old pakistani abominations in that category). So... anyone got some better terms to use when searching or perhaps a link to a website somewhere that might be useful?

Thanks!

 

[killgar]

Do a Google search for "civil war pictures bowie knives". I saw several. If you click on one picture it will likely lead to several others.

You could also search "antique bowie knives", but there are so many fakes out there it can be difficult to know which ones are truly antiques.

 

[Hammer67]

 

[killgar]

You can also search for "bowie knife ads from the 1800's".

 

[tltt]

Good Video you could take screen shots from -

.

This channel is good for real stuff too -

https://www.youtube.com/@antiquebowieknifechannel4611/videos .

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

Search strings I use, best to decent -

Morphy Bowie knife .

HA auction Bowie knife .

Flayderman Bowie knife.

-------------------------------------
Images (and descriptions) of some good ones -

1) https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/ItemImages/000237/17606184_1_lg.jpeg

Lot Detail - “MISSISSIPPI TOASTER” BOWIE KNIFE FOR F.C. GEORGEN OF NEW ORLEANS.

2) https://oldsouthantiques.com/images/store/os6427p1.jpg
https://oldsouthantiques.com/cgi-bin/Display_Item.asp?366

3) https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/english-bowie-knife-by-drabble-894080 .

4) https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/bowie-knife-in-tin-scabbard-by-alfred-hunter-894248 .

5) https://auctions.morphyauctions.com...VERED__IMPROVED_PATTERN__BOWIE-LOT488181.aspx

6) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...-knife-signed-by-w-s-butcher-sheffield-681918

7) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...e-by-charles-reinhardt-balti-883-c-2464e6d9e0

8) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...r-bowie-knife-presented-by-rezin-bowie-681910

9) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/san-francisco-bowie-knife-by-rau-todt-682085

10) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/american-bowie-knife-by-rose-of-new-york-681732

11) https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/guardless-coffin-handle-bowie-knife-by-rose-new-york-27975412

12) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/new-orleans-bowie-knife-by-pradel-681916

 

[T.McGee]

Antique Bowie Knife Channel
on youtuube

 

[scdub]

Love some old Bowies!

This is more modern - issued in Vietnam. Western W49 that I refurbished recently. A beast of a knife that would do well in the woods.

There was a very similar model issued in WW2.

 

[Triton]

Do a Google search for "civil war pictures bowie knives". I saw several. If you click on one picture it will likely lead to several others.

You could also search "antique bowie knives", but there are so many fakes out there it can be difficult to know which ones are truly antiques.

Thank you! Interesting that none of them have a choil.

 

[Triton]

Thanks! The Forrest bowie I think?

 

[Triton]

You can also search for "bowie knife ads from the 1800's".

Had not thought of that one, thank you!

 

[Triton]

Good Video you could take screen shots from -

.

This channel is good for real stuff too -

https://www.youtube.com/@antiquebowieknifechannel4611/videos .

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

Search strings I use, best to decent -

Morphy Bowie knife .

HA auction Bowie knife .

Flayderman Bowie knife.

-------------------------------------
Images (and descriptions) of some good ones -

1) https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/ItemImages/000237/17606184_1_lg.jpeg

Lot Detail - “MISSISSIPPI TOASTER” BOWIE KNIFE FOR F.C. GEORGEN OF NEW ORLEANS.

2) https://oldsouthantiques.com/images/store/os6427p1.jpg
https://oldsouthantiques.com/cgi-bin/Display_Item.asp?366

3) https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/english-bowie-knife-by-drabble-894080 .

4) https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/bowie-knife-in-tin-scabbard-by-alfred-hunter-894248 .

5) https://auctions.morphyauctions.com...VERED__IMPROVED_PATTERN__BOWIE-LOT488181.aspx

6) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...-knife-signed-by-w-s-butcher-sheffield-681918

7) https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...e-by-charles-reinhardt-balti-883-c-2464e6d9e0

8) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-au...r-bowie-knife-presented-by-rezin-bowie-681910

9) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/san-francisco-bowie-knife-by-rau-todt-682085

10) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/american-bowie-knife-by-rose-of-new-york-681732

11) https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/guardless-coffin-handle-bowie-knife-by-rose-new-york-27975412

12) https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/morphy/new-orleans-bowie-knife-by-pradel-681916

Thanks so much, digging into these now!

 

[Triton]

Antique Bowie Knife Channel
on youtuube

Appreciate it!

 

[Triton]

Love some old Bowies!

This is more modern - issued in Vietnam. Western W49 that I refurbished recently. A beast of a knife that would do well in the woods.

There was a very similar model issued in WW2.

View attachment 2011735View attachment 2011737View attachment 2011738

Love those pictures!

 

[Murindo]

I suggest you try to find this book:

A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America – Knife Rights

kniferights.org

 

[Hammer67]

Thanks! The Forrest bowie I think?

Yup. I tend to prefer the earliest Bowie examples - simple and clean, without a lot of fancy adornment. A far cry from what the concept has evolved into.

 

[Triton]

I suggest you try to find this book:

A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America – Knife Rights

kniferights.org

Thanks! So far I have found one copy for 275 dollars! I will keep digging!

 

[longbow]

Here is the bowie that is as near a copy of the original Sandbar knife according to historians any way. Forged 5160, distal taper, .25" spine, Greco handmade sheath I bought for it. Been used a ton in the kitchen and a bit of stump shooting. I liked it so much I purchased another one identical save for the handle wood. This is a rosewood handle and a modern piece of steel instead of a file used for the original. As close to measurements on the knives as possible to make a fine facsimile. stay safe

PS simple is better in most cases I have found also these were purchased here on the BF's several yrs ago when this fella was selling them, off shore made but absolutely first rate craftsmanship.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

 

[Jeep Guy]

Fun fact, the first Bowie knife was supposedly made about 1 mile down the road from my house in Bunkie, LA. Jim Bowie's brother, Rezin Bowie, had a house 1 mile away and supposedly a blacksmith made the first Bowie knife at that house. Growing up, we went squirrel in the area and I had walked through the remains of the old house. I never knew the history of the house site until many years later. The house site is now very overgrown.

 

[shane45-1911]

Yup. I tend to prefer the earliest Bowie examples - simple and clean, without a lot of fancy adornment. A far cry from what the concept has evolved into.

Agreed. The (limited) research I have done, indicates that Jim's knife most likely resembled today's common kitchen knife, and looked very little like what we "wish" it looked like with swedges, guards and deep clip points.