Info on Bill Bagwell bowie?

[Jonboy9243]

Hi all,

I am posting to see if anyone can help with info on a bowie that passed to me from my brother. It is a Bill Bagwell bowie, I'm guessing from the late 1970's-early 1980's. My brother studied bladesmithing some under Bill in the early 1980's when he was a resident smith at Old Washington in SW Arkansas, and was an accomplished bladesmith in his own right - I am presuming that he would have acquired it from Bill sometime back when they were in contact.

Any info is appreciated.

Side note: My brother passed about a week before Christmas. He studied bladesmithing at Old Washington and then through the ABS school in Texarkana. Pictured below is a cable damascus bowie that he forged around 1990 that was featured in an issue of Blade magazine in 1992.

If anyone is familiar with my brother or any of his work, I'd love to hear from you.

 

[BladeScout]

My condolences.

Absolutely beautiful knives both of them.

 

[Lapedog]

Hi all,

I am posting to see if anyone can help with info on a bowie that passed to me from my brother. It is a Bill Bagwell bowie, I'm guessing from the late 1970's-early 1980's. My brother studied bladesmithing some under Bill in the early 1980's when he was a resident smith at Old Washington in SW Arkansas, and was an accomplished bladesmith in his own right - I am presuming that he would have acquired it from Bill sometime back when they were in contact.

Any info is appreciated.

Side note: My brother passed about a week before Christmas. He studied bladesmithing at Old Washington and then through the ABS school in Texarkana. Pictured below is a cable damascus bowie that he forged around 1990 that was featured in an issue of Blade magazine in 1992.

If anyone is familiar with my brother or any of his work, I'd love to hear from you.

We’re not allowed to give you a value since you’re not a gold member but what i can say is that Bagwell is considered by many to make some of ths finest bowie knives available. He is basically a legend in the world of bowie knives.

While I can’ give you a dollar value I can say that what you have is rare and valuable.

 

[Jonboy9243]

We’re not allowed to give you a value since you’re not a gold member but what i can say is that Bagwell is considered by many to make some of ths finest bowie knives available. He is basically a legend in the world of bowie knives.

While I can’ give you a dollar value I can say that what you have is rare and valuable.

Thanks Lapedog - I know enough about Bill's work to know that it has worth, but it's not really important because this blade will never leave the family. Too much sentimental value.

I was more looking for info as to when and where he might have forged this one based on the stamp and style. I honestly don't know if this was custom for my brother, or if he bought or traded for it from Bill's existing inventory back then. I've considered trying to contact Bill, but didn't want to bother him over something trivial.

 

[BladeScout]

JParanee

 

[JParanee]

Call Bill 903 938 0905

He’s in Texas so call mid day his time

I’m very sorry for the loss of your brother

Tell Bill your story

He’s a good guy and will help out with info etc

 

[Jonboy9243]

Thanks JParanee , I'll give him a call.

I appreciate everyone's kind words. It's only been a few weeks, but I'm still really missing my big brother.

 

[mb>]

Sorry for your loss. That's pretty special to have such a nice, handmade remembrance of your brother. Thanks for sharing the pics, and let us know what you find out.

 

[rover]

I dont think Mr. Bagwell would consider this trivial.
I am sorry for your loss. That is an absolutely beautiful bowie and the Bagwell ain't bad either.

 

[rover]

BTW, that is very cool with the framed tang. I've never seen that on a Bagwell. The MS stuff is also a bit rarer I would imagine.

 

[Jonboy9243]

Well, I had the pleasure today to speak with Mr. Bagwell - he remembered my brother, and remembered him as a bladesmith, but not many specifics (it has now been over 30 years since they would have been in contact).

He speculates that he would have likely forged this Bowie sometime between 1978-1981 based on the stamp and my description of the knife, most likely in 1978 or 1979. While he didn't remember the exact knife (we both agreed that he'd made at least two or three both before and since then) he did tell me that he didn't generally forge many full tang Bowies compared to stick tang, so that was somewhat unique. He also indicated that he resigned his master stamp and position with the ABS back in the early 1980's, so anything with the MS stamp would have definitely been forged prior to 1984.

I mentioned my difficulty in locating any of my brother's other works (the one bowie I have pictured above is the only knife of his in the family), and he sympathized - Bill said he doesn't even own one of his original knives, and jokingly said he couldn't afford to buy one if he wanted to.

It was a good conversation, and we got to talk shop a little. Super neat guy, and I really appreciate him taking a few minutes to visit.

JParanee , I really appreciate you putting me in touch.

 

[JParanee]

My pleasure

Like I said ...Bills a good guy and a real treasure to the blade world

Very sorry for your loss

I lost an older brother at a young age and lived my life trying to make him proud

Enjoy the knife and cherish it