Knife of the week 03-03-03 The Bowie Knife!!!

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3nails

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Mar 7, 2002
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While I have always been drawn to slipjoints, fixed blades have been my dream knife. I have always longed for a big traditional Bowie knife. What makes a bowie a bowie? Blade style is one but what about length of the blade. Some sell mini bowies. Are these true bowie knives? I always think of a bowie as a long blade >9".
The Sam Houston Bowie brought record price. There is the eternal search for the Sandbar Bowie. The bowie knife holds alot of history and mistique. I would like to know more about these knives. Anyone collect/use bowies? Anyone else like these large blades? Any pics of some interesting ones?



Thanks Dean
 
Yes !!!, the knife of the week threads again ...

I don´t know much about the Bowie, it seems that sometimes you see a knife and it is obvioulsy a Bowie, or obvioulsy not a Bowie, or maybe a Bowie.

I have an English Bowie by Rodgers, it has a 6 inch blade with a curved beveled clip, not stainless and takes a good edge, The handle is hard rubber scales over a full tang with a hering-bone jigging, thicker near the guard tapering slightly straight backwards, with a simple flat brass double guard (I wish I could post a picture, one of this days I´ll have to get me a digital camera or a scanner).

I have blued the blade and filed down the top of the brass guard for comfort but have never used it, bought it from an English man who had a small shop of horse riding accesories in Mexico city in the early 70´s. It has spent the time in a drawer looking pretty, and pretty it is indeed.
 
Bowies?
Did somebody say the magic word?
:D
trio.jpg

That's 3 installments from the Bowie Knife a Year Club.
sbbsi.jpg
and one from Newt Livesay (sheath by MSastre).
Gotta love them Booies ;)
 
Great knife for a knife of the week thread. I think those four are jaw droppers. The middle one of the three is a beautiful knife. This thread should produce some excellent pictures!!
 
Picture isn't that great but I tried! Blades run from 8" to 10". Four different custom Bowies from four different makers.
 
It's one of the Case presentation Bowies. It's over twenty five years old and in nearly mint condition, but that's not what makes it special to me. It was my Grandpa's. He let me hold it, once, when I was little. Eventually I forgot about it. After he died my Grandma gave it to me for my birthday saying "I think he would have wanted you to have this". I'm not little anymore and I'm still impressed with the size of it.

Frank
 
Clydetz Those are pretty sweet. Who were the makers if you don't mind sharing?

SilverFoxKnows
Any chance of seeing a picture of that one?

I just recieved email that my Hankins bowie is getting its new sheath this week! Mike Bartol has it and is ready to dress it.
 
Ed T: Don't mind at all! I think they deserve the credit for some fine craftsmanship!
From top to bottom:

Ken Davis - Chain Damascus / Crown Stag handle

Ken Largin - M2 / Elk Stag scales

Rob Davidson - 440-C / Curly Maple scales

Bruce Evans - Forged 5160 / Elk Stag scales
 
Here ya go Ed :)
damasbowiecopy.jpg

10" of 3/16" Frontier Damascus blade & dyed Dog bone handle (not bone from the dog..for the dog!)
This is a hidden tang knife that has a framed handle. I appears to be a full tang :cool:
This is the first that Bruce did with a damascus handle frame, usually they are N/S or SS.

All of the bowies pictured move pretty well. The Livesay is more the chopper, The 2 coffin handles feel like alot of other good fighters but this one...this one...
It is perfect for me. When I picked this up I understood the phrase "...like an extention of my arm"
For a big blade it is quite light.
In fact when the box arrived I thought that Bruce forgot to put the knife in it!

Bruce is going for his JS this June. Already did the cut and bend last summer...
I'm looking forward to seeing what he's got up his sleeve
:)

HM, my buddy has a German bowie that I've been lusting after for decades!
They definately qualify.
While not bowies German "Knickers" are really nice old fashioned knives.
 
It has a picture of what looks to be Davey Crockett (judging by the coon skin cap) on the side of the blade and a brass rib running the length of the spine. One of these days I'd like to get a Bowie that's a user.
 
Ebbtide::eek: :eek: :eek:
What else can I say? That is an awesome knife.
SilverfoxKnows: I'll have to keep my eyes open.
I have a bowie that was given as a gift to me about ten years ago. It is a production knife from spain. I have really beaten the dog slobber out of it, but it has held up well. I will try to post a picture of mine when I get home. Although, after these other ones, mine are VERY humble..
 
Here's an 1840's style with 12" blade from differentially heat treated L6. Hidden tang Iron wood handle w/ amber spacers and red brass furniture. This one of from John Sailey Little Bighorn Knives and leather by Gerry Barrowcliff.
 
That one seems to have an almost scimitar influence on it. Very nice.

Does anyone own one of the primitive styles?
 
The edge is a continuous French curve as is the sharpened clip. The brass spine insert is mechanically locked into the hilt and the hidden tang is attached to a threaded rod which is locked by a nut hidden in the crow's beak pommel. The L6 is triple quenched and the steel comes from a saw mill blade. Here's another pic with the hawk to provide size comparison.
 
I like that 1840's style Bowie with it's unique guard! Am I right in guessing that the blade is about 2" wide (from spine to edge)?
 
You're correct. The blade is 2.25" wide, spine to edge, out of 5/32 stock with the balance point on the handle side of the hilt. She's extremely quick and the Moran grind provides a scary sharp edge. This one was not built to clear jungles, just a flesh cleaver! :D
 
Most excellent Revmic!
I hope you guys don't mind another.
shirt1.jpg

Mammoth Ivory, N/S frame and 5160 8" blade. The sheath is wood, lined with velvet, the throat & tip are NIckle Silver.
 
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