Mr. Bill Bagwell-Uchi Deshi, Apprentice- Students?

B

Bai Lang

Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
215
Gentlemen, I am wondering if the late Mr. Bill Bagwell the "Hattori Hanzo" master of the American Bowie had students and passed on his arts to anyone? Never met the man but greatly respect his skills. I am hoping that he did...

Also, has any one talked or thought about putting Bagwell pattern Bowies back into commercial production, something along the lines of the old Ontario knives? This would be with the permission of his family of course.

The old ways are fading fast makes me quite sad.

Thanks for any information and input.

B/L

Mods may have posted this in the wrong area- please move and correct as you wish. Sorry.
 
I don't know if he had any apprentices (at least in the Japanese sense of sword making). I did drool over a couple of Bagwell Bowies on consignment at Blade Runner Knives in Tucson a few years ago, beautiful knives. OTOH, there are a whole lot of custom knife makers around today who produce a variety of gorgeous Bowies as elegant as Bagwell's creations.
 
There are many great Bowie makers today- my humble opinion is that Bill Bagwell stood high and was first among them all. I would like to see his weapons reproduced in carbon steel by a major commercial knife maker with input and payment of a commision to his family.

Again- it makes me sad that the old ways are fading out and masters of such arts do not have students or do not have many. E.G. I know a Colt SAA master gunsmith with decades of experience who was taught by a cowboy master gunsmith friend of Elmer Keiths. He has few students. And knows more about the old Modle P Colt than William Mason. Again imho.

Pehaps some B.F members who knew Mr Bagwell, know his family and know the knife industry could give input?

thanks for any response-

B/L
 
Daniel L said:
If Ontario re-released the production version of Hell's Belle in 3V, they would not be able to make them fast enough!!
Click to expand...
I think I posted this in the wrong area of the forum- I know there are people here who have real forged Bagwell Bowies and who know his family well and could contact them. If they (Bagwell family) would authorize a "re issue" of Mr. Bagwell's designs it would preserve a American traditional weapon and his legacy.

I for one- would sure like to see it.
 
Having owned many of the Ontario Bagwell Bowie's, they were faithful renditions of Bill's customs. However, I found the coffin handles to not be a good fit or comfortable. It would be great if Ontario resurrected the Hell's Belle for a new generation of Bowie lovers.
 
"It would be great if Ontario resurrected the Hell's Belle for a new generation of Bowie lovers."

Agree totally- with the permission and a commision paid to Mr. Bagwell's family- it would be win win. Ontario blades are made in the USA iirc- so that would be another plus.
 
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