Need help ID'ing the maker of this Damascus Bowie

J

jwise

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Mar 26, 2011
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I was in a small shop in Tomball, Texas, Bob's Wild West Shop, and found this Damascus Bowie. It was in the case with other handmade knives, but there was no maker's mark to be found. The clerk on duty didn't have a clue, as the tag was blank save the price.

Long story short, it was too beautiful (and priced too good) to pass up.






Can anyone help me ID the maker?
 
Yeah, you may have bought an import. Look at the marks on the pommel cap. that sort of cut was made by a machine, not a guy with a file. You can probably look at those cuts under magnification to see if they have any remnants of mill cutter marks.

Just a guess, but it worries me. Even if it was made by a human with a hand tool, it is still bothersome that the person there didn't know the one who made it. Find the owner of the store, and ask them. If they don't know, or can't tell you who bought it for them to stock it, then you know...

it still looks pretty good. Just may not be a real custom knife.
kc
 
To my eye, it doesn't look like a Paki knife. The guard is too simple, in fact, the entire knife is too simple, the wood looks like walnut to me, and the blade shape is one the Pakistani makers have never done well. Most Pakistani knifes I've seen are much more garish, with fancy guards, lots of brass, etc. I think an amateur made it, probably from a blank. I say blank, because I think most makers would have brought the grind higher.
 
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Could still be Pakistani-there's a guy who does a couple of the same gun shows I do who is part of a family operation over there-all his brothers make the knives. Some of them are prettydamn well done except for stock thickness and weird stuff like that. He had a big bowie/fighter made by his youngest brother I woulda sworn was custom in any other venue except the blade was a little over 1/8" thich in a 10" blade, no distal taper. Very skillfully done otherwise.
 
I agree it could be, just doesn't look like one to me. Guess we'll never know though. The test may be in how it performs.
 
I'd take it back and talk to Bill. Not to return it but to discuss it's origin. His shop is only about 10 miles from my home and I've stopped in there a few times. Its usually him working unless there is a gun show in town. He is a very nice old man and does know a lot about antique guns, maybe less about knives. He should be able to tell you all the details.

That said, since he does go to gun shows and there are a number of inexpensive and Pakistani damascus knives sold there, I susspect others above are correct regarding its origin.
 
Too bad about the suspected origin. It sure is a nice knife, though. What info can I give or photo to show to either support or disprove the suspicion?

By the way, Bob is in pretty poor health right now, and doesn't make it to the shop much anymore. When he does, his nurse is with him.
 
In my observations, Paki knives don't ever use damascus in the guards or fittings. They use mostly brass and stainless or something that looks like it.
 
yeah, you should just talk to him. My only hint is to look for tool marks. At least you will know whether it was hand made. Just because it may have come from Pakistan doesn't necessarily mean anything, obviously.
 
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