I've been bitten by the Bowie Bug, Any reccomendations?

No, Sing, I don't consider that a bowie. And, to the best I can tell from the pic, it's a drop point, not a spear point.

Blades: your point is....? Just because someone calls something a 'bowie knife' doesn't mean that it is. If there's ever been a 'most misused knife term,' it is 'bowie knife.'

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Anyone, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...
But isn't the pic that blades put up a shot of a knife that Rezin Bowie made?
The 'legacy' is that he made (or comissioned) his famous brother's (jim) knife.
So if that isn't a bowie knife, what is?
wink.gif

The knife that was used in the sandbar duel/battle/fight was referred to as "Bowie's butcher knife"
Why argue semantics? The design has (& continues to) evolve thru time.
Don't worry, Be Bowie
wink.gif
 
JB,

Sorry. There's no point. Just enjoying whatever folks put up. That's all.
smile.gif


sing
AKTI #A000356
 
I forgot to post who made the knives.
The top blade is called a "Schively/Perkins Bowie". Its on display at the Mississippi State Historical Museum.
The bottom blade is called a "Searles/Fowler Bowie". Its on display at the Alamo.

e_utopia,
Your right. Almost any big knife from that time period seems to be called a "Bowie".
smile.gif

I don't have any real point, just posting pictures of knives that are referred to as "bowies". Knives that were suppose to have been made during the same time period, knives that some have said were commisioned by Rezin Bowie. What you may call a "Bowie" and what I call a "Bowie" are probably two different things. No biggie, it happens. I just didn't know that we now only called clip point bowies, "bowies". Sorry
smile.gif
The link I posted to the web site has pictures of about 5 different "bowies". Here is the last two paragraphs from the site:

"It is unlikely we will ever know the actual appearance of the original Bowie knife. Its metamorphosis from a big butcher knife to the huge clip point knife in just a few short years prompted Rezin Bowie to say: "The improvements in its fabrication and state of perfection it has acquired from experienced cutlers, was not brought about through my agency."16

This comment from Rezin seems to hint that the "original Bowie knife" was only a simple hunting knife. It had no clip point, nor massive cross guard, like the knives Rezin was so fond of giving as gifts. Whatever the fate, whatever the actual design, the knife baptized in blood that September day began a legend that has inspired generations to want "a knife like Bowie's.""


Just some interesting reading about
Bowies.
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Blades



[This message has been edited by Blades (edited 04-29-2001).]
 
Hello Hal,
There is always a great feeling when you pick up a large knife, and the fit and balance in your hand all comes togeather. When I build a Bowie,and it's all done, I find it hard to put it down, let alone mail it off to a customer. When you get your 1st Bowie, I know you'll get the same feelings. There is just something about a big knife.
Anyway, Hal, if you would like to stop by my site, you might find a few designs to interest you.
Best Regards,
Jay Maines
Sunrise River Custom Knives
www.sunrisecustomknives.com

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Fellow forumite XRAYED has a bowie of his up on the Shoptalk forum...pretty piece.
Enjoy your search, it's half the fun
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(Edited to get XRAYED's name correct
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)

[This message has been edited by Ebbtide (edited 04-29-2001).]
 
Thanks for all the responses. Lotsa beautiful knives to choose from. Lotsa research to do on my part also as to what a Bowie is or isn't. Coming into this, I had a mental image of what an authentic Bowie should look like. After reading up a little on the subject, it appears the "Iron Mistress" streotype may not be the most authentic design. All in all, the little reding I've done on it so far has been very enjoyable. It seems to me that the Bowie pattern is very user/maker specific. I had the pleasure of handling one of the Randall Smithsonian nuber 12's at a gun show. WOW! What a hefty piece of metal! Unfortunatly, I don't have the wrist strength to wield it effectivly. The search continues.

[This message has been edited by Hal (edited 04-30-2001).]
 
Hal, if i had the money i would go with either a
- Bagwell with damascus blade
or a
- Jerry Fisk.

Another option is to get one from (one of the best, if not THE best in forging free forms) Tai Goo. This one is for sale:

View


and it's a bargain.

Achim

 
Like e-utopia I also believed that a "Bowie" knife was a clip point design. From the information put forward it seems virtually any large fighting design can be considered "Bowie".

Would this mean my CS Tanto is a "Bowie"?

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Fas est et ab hoste doceri
It is right to learn even from an enemy.
 
Well, it seems that these days it is true, any large knife is called a "Bowie". However, it also seems to be incorrect for folks to tell others that their knife isnt a Bowie just because it is not a clip point. I have here a book called "Classic Bowie Knives" by Robert Abels. This was published in 1967, my dad found a like new autographed copy and got it for me as a gift. There are many photos from the authors personal collection of Bowie knives. Among them are clip points, a few spear points and even a straight back bowie made by Rezin Bowie. Although "most" appear to be of clip point design, there were other variations. There are plenty of knives that we call Bowies today that really dont qualify, but you cannot exclude one simply because it is not a clip point.


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Richard Todd - Digital knife photography
icq 61363141
My WebSite
Do your site a favor, get quality digital images!!!
New photos added!!!
 
Leemah,

If, you look at knives that have historically been labled "bowie", you pretty much conclude that the term can be used with virtually any large blade. The 1830s-50s saw many different blade shapes including the clip point, spear point, double edge, drop point and trailing point. Anyway, the Cold Steel Tanto is about as much a true "tanto" as it is a "bowie".
 
Not2Sharp,

Would it be fair to say that there are degrees of "Bowieism"(If there is such a word)? Similar to degrees of "Tantoism" (sounds religious).

Thx.

 
Achim are you selling that Tai Goo Bowie? If so email me with price and specs I may be interested.didot99@aol.com
 
I think of it more as "artistic interpetation"
Searles, Price, Bagwell all have their own takes on the bowie. Kinda fun that way, don't you think?
 
Bowie knives aren't normally my thing, but there's a beauty <a href="http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/ru-10e.html">here</a>.
 
My first image of a "Bowie Knife" comes from the movie "Davy Crockett" from Disney in the early 50's. It looked a lot like the "Iron Mistress" Bowie. I think that Randall's #12 Smithsonian Bowie comes pretty close.

The first real Bowie I bought was a Cold Steel "Trail Master" in stag. It's a good knife, but not very close to my original image of a Bowie knife.

My second Bowie was a custom made by Max Burnett of Ogg Custom Knives, and modeled after a MS Daniel Winkler Bowie.

Over the last couple of months I've had an urge for a Searles type Bowie. I don't know when I'll get it made or who will make it or why I want one? I just think it's a very cool design.

Here's some pics I've collected.

<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=254126&a=1889223&p=24785742&Sequence=0&res=high" TARGET=_blank>

Thumbnail
</A>




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"Will work 4 Knives!"
My PhotoPoint Site
 
Phil,

Check out George Tichbourne's site. He has a couple new models that are very nice as well and you may just see fit to add one to your selection of photos.
 
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