Plowshare Forge Texas Bowie

Culpeper

Culpeper

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[FONT=Times, Times New Roman, serif]"Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say I am strong" Joel 3:10[/FONT]
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http://www.myculpeper.com/photos/Joe-B.jpg

http://www.myculpeper.com/photos/TX-Bowie.jpg

click on image to get full size on some browsers.

Forged by the hands of D. Brock of http://www.plowshareforge.com/

Like walking into a Blacksmith's shop in San Antonio when Texas was a republic and walking out with a big freakin' knife. Blade is tool steel. Nothing fancy but very close to what got the job done back then. This is my favorite knife of all time in my collection. It's a monster.

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A very nice period piece in deed.

Kind of brings to mind a couple of quotes that I'm quite fond of describing the "Early American Bowie Knife".

It was said that "a Bowie had to be sharp enough to use as a razor, heavy enough to use as a hatchet, long enough to use as a sword and broad enough to use as a paddle".

It was said that pistols of the day frequently misfired, or the shooter may miss the target, but that a Bowie knife in skilled hands was certain death. Though some people today are quick to chime in with sayings like "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight", in the 19th century it was "Don't forget to bring a knife to a gunfight!"
 
Isn't it historically accurate for the Musso Bowie to have a butt cap?

If I remember there was supposedly an original design drawing circulating around at some point that I believe depicted a butt cap?
 
I've seen that blueprint for the Musso somewhere online. The knife I had D. Brock made is a close replica of a knife at the Texas History Museum across the street from University of Texas in Austin. Here is a link to a high dollar one made based on a blueprint...

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/804938/

Mine was forged and hammered. You should check out this guy's forge. My idea was to get something similar to what I saw at the museum but something of the same quality for the average Texan during that period. Nothing beautiful with fine detailed workmanship but something that would have been used by the average Texan or Tejano during that period made with tools that the typical blacksmith would have on hand.

Also, D. Brock has a passion for forging knives in the manner he uses. Money is not his prime objective.
 
Brings back a good saying "Those who beat they're swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't" hehe. Nice rendition of the musso, nice temper colors.
 
Sam Salvati said:
Brings back a good saying "Those who beat they're swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who didn't" hehe. Nice rendition of the musso, nice temper colors.
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:) A young woman in the Irish section of the Steerage Class on the Titanic who survived the sinking was asked how she managed to escape while so many in her class died. She answered, "When all those people got on their knees to pray I took a run for it!".
 
culpeper......what are the dimensions on that piece if you don't mind.....is it just a reproduction or does he make knives sharp and ready to go.....i have a friend that would love something like that as a gift.....thanks for any info....ryan
 
Length 18"; Blade length 12.25"; blade width 2.25"

This knife is ready for work. You should check out his website and contact him. He explains more on his methodology and so forth.
 
wow....18 inches....that'll take care of something real good.....i'll definately shoot him an email......thanks again....ryan
 
Culpeper said:
My idea was to get something similar to what I saw at the museum but something of the same quality for the average Texan during that period. Nothing beautiful with fine detailed workmanship but something that would have been used by the average Texan or Tejano during that period made with tools that the typical blacksmith would have on hand.
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You certainly got what you were looking for - which is the great thing about custom knives. It must have been particularly rewarding to see the knife you envisioned come together so well.

Roger
 
RogerP said:
You certainly got what you were looking for - which is the great thing about custom knives. It must have been particularly rewarding to see the knife you envisioned come together so well.

Roger
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Thanks! Yeah, its my first time like this. I mean I have some Randall's I love but this was a different experience all together.:) Andrew Colglazier on a different thread recommended this knife maker to me. I want to thank him for pointing me in the right direction.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=500438&page=2
 
There are 3 different Brassback Bowies with Historical Value. Two have been tested and proven to have been made in the 1830's and the brass most likely being made in Southern Arkansas. The two I refer to are The famous Joseph Musso Knife and The Jesse Robinson Knife which is now on display in Austin TX. it is owned by Steve Miller. The 3rd was the William Sweet Knife and after his death was sold to a private collector that has yet to come forward. The Sweet Brassback is a little different having a steel guard.
The Musso knife has a 13 3/4 inch blade with an almost 7 inch handle. The Robinson Knife is almost exactly the same just a slight more steel gone from the heel due to sharpening and the clip has a steeper drop from the spine. The Sweet knife shows more use and is a little shorter.
 
Chris,

Thanks for a great and informative first post. Is the one owned by Steve Miller at the Texas History Museum in Austin?
 
Yes, The Jesse Robinson Bowie is in a Museum for the next 5 years. It is on loan from Steve Miller who bought the big knife from the Robinson Family. There is so much contraversy on these knives you have to watch what you say cause you might offend some expert.
I have just finished a 2 year study on the first Bowie knives, and I have to say it was hard to remain neutral. We made actual replicas of each knife and they turned out great! Mr. Robert Blasingame of Kilgore Tx. made the 12 knives and I was lucky to have the help of Joe Musso, Jeffery Dane, JR Edmondson & Bernard Levine, just to name a few that gave input or helped.
The steel or brass strap on the spine of the knife dates back to the 16th century. There is a picture of a knife w/strap on the back cover of Norm Flayderman's famous Bowie book but he has doubts of the brassback bowies. This got to be like an Agatha Christie Novel before we finished. Some of the knives are in Museums, some are in private collections and some are lost to the ages, but we built replicas from written accounts...I leave you with this little known piece of history...The only written account by James Bowie, signed by him that proves he owned a knife is a store receipt of 1823 showing he bought a pocket knife and a case of Wine...of course there are many descriptions from friends, and family. Enough to drive one crazy....He most likely had many knives and gave many knives to close friends and relatives. Its a good thing we dont really know, so now any big knife is caaled a Bowie!
 
Mr Nolen, will the information accumulated be published or shared anywhere with the public? Just curious.
 
We tried to work something with Blade Magazine...No luck, I guess their happy with guys cutting rope.
I tried to send some details but I'm new to all this forum stuff and I guess I dont know what I'm doing...anyway, I dont think they posted.
We did 12 knives so far and are still studying 2 more...The final resting place for the collection will be the Alamo. Its already set with Mr Winders...of course I gotta check out first, so I must say, I hope its a while.
Thanks for your interest...
 
We did replicas of the first Bowie Knives that were thought to be associated with Jim Bowie. The 12 so far are; The Musso Brassback (owned by Joe Musso)...The Robinson Brassback (owned by Steve Miller)...The Bart Moore Bowie (owned by The Moore Family on display in Little Rock Museum)...The Edwin Forrest Bowie (owned byWilliamson Family)...The Searles/Fowler Knife on display at the Alamo....The Caiphais Ham Knife on display at the Alamo...The Bowie #1 by James Black ( on display in Little Rock)...The Jesse Clifft Knife (built from Rezin's description)...The Noah Smithwick Knife (built from Noah's memiors)...The Schively/Perkins Bowie (museum in Jackson Ms.) and 2 movie knives, The Alamo 2004 prop knife, and The Iron Mistress from 1952 and used in the John Wayne 1960 Alamo Movie (also owned by Joe Musso)...we did them due to the influence they had in bringing Jims stories to light...( even if they were false!). Good Publicity!
Still studying 3 more to be made; The Candaleria knife, The San Jacinto Knife and the Huber Steel Knife....And there are others Like the Thomas Tunnstall Knife by J. Black...but those were more closer to Rezin than Jim.
Just good old information...hope its some help.
 
I knew Bill Sweet since the late 1960's. He proved the story of how he came
to own the knife so many dispute. I also know Joe Musso. He is a sterling
man who tells the truth. I could have had Bill Sweet's knife just after his
death, but was out of the country at the time. Both Mr. Sweet and Mr. Musso
were/are men of truth. My one problem in life, is that I was always just
ONE STEP BEHIND Bill Sweet's Bowie-literally. I had it tracked to South
Florida (where I live), and missed it by probably DAYS.

The sad part, is that Bill was going to GIVE me the knife.

STAN SALONY,
LAKE WORTH, FL
 
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