Question for makers - what's YOUR favorite bowie?

RogerP

RogerP

Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
13,348
Okay, we all know that the term “bowie” has come to describe a very wide variety of knives with quite dissimilar designs. But what does your favorite bowie look like? I don’t necessarily mean the one that is most popular with your customers, but rather your personal favorite of the ones you have made. It could be a standard model, or a one-off design.

For those of you who feel hard-pressed to pick a favorite, consider the question another way – say a member of your family or close personal friend asks you to make a knife for them and says “Make me a Joe Bladesmith bowie.” No further instructions are given.

So Joe, what does that knife look like – dimensions (heck, I’ve seen “bowies” in blade lengths from 5” to 15”); blade shape (clip point, spear point, straight back, broad or narrow); blade material (what’s your favorite choice of steel for this application); guard; handle design and material… or anything else that describes the design or construction of the knife.

If you’ve got a pic of your favorite bowie, so much the better. If you have a pic but have difficulty posting it just e-mail it to me and I’ll post it for you.

Thanks,

Roger
 
That's a tough question Rodger. I have two favorite bowie makers so I'll divide it into two issues.

If Someone said "You can have one knife to carry" This will have to be used for hunting, survival, walking around cities and general knife work" it would be this one:
http://www.beknivessite2.homestead.com/Fallestivalrafflebowie.html

Now if someone were to say the same thing but threw in " you can carry another knife also or a Firearm" it would be this one"
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296082
 
Hi Roger!

Pretty much any bowie from Harvey Dean! :)

Harvey's bowies have some of the nicest, most pleasing lines out there. There are many other smiths in this category as well, but Harvey is very consistent with this.

Like you metioned, "bowie" can mean many things. The knives I'll be building for you and Stephen could be considered bowies by some, and I sure wouldn't argue. Definitely a favorite style of knife for me.

If someone asked that question about building whatever came to mind.

I would say a 8-11" blade with a slightly radiused, sweeping clip (Sheffield style). A nice clean 600-1200x finish, oval guard, fluted ferrule, nice hand-filling ironwood or ivory handle, domed pommel and pommel nut, and a nice clean tip&throat sheath to finish it off.

In my off time I'm building this knife's little brother with a 7" blade and O1 steel. It's profile is my vision of what constitutes a gorgeous Sheffield bowie pattern. I spent 6 days down at my friend and mentor Mike Vagnino's and he taught me how to build a tip&throat sheath using this blade as a template. WHEN it gets done, I'll post a picture...but there are many knives ahead of it so don't hold your breath ;)

Nick
 
My most liked all around carry is the Price or Will and Fink style knives(Which many don't consider as Bowies though)
Jan27_01Pricedaggerreprowebsite.jpg

Aug05_10.jpg

Mar18_07.jpg



My other Favorite that is considered a Bowie is a English and Hubber style of Blade.This is a repro duction in that style but there were different ways for it's completion done by Huber such as with a stag handle and then Joseph and Rogers also did a version with Ivory like Huber did only with a straight blade and no belly as on this version,Me I like the extra belly.
Oct08_06unmarkedbowiewsheath.jpg


Other than that any old Sheffield Bowie can take my Breath away :D
Bruce
 
I like most styles of Bowie's, but my all time favorite is the "Mediterranean Bowie", or "Spanish Dagger". It's a fairly simple design that's been around since the Persian empire, but is hard to do just right.
Here's a good example by Tai Goo. About as good as any I've ever seen. :eek:
 
Hi Roger,
My favorite bowie is a long slim clip point 10'' to 11'',carbon steel with a killer hamond, mosaic damascus guard or bolsters and fossil ivory handle. I am working on a couple of bowies along these lines and will try to post pic's when done.
Interesting tread Roger. You don't like bowies do you? :D

All the best, Don Hanson
 
I'm with Don, that's exactly what appeals to me also in terms of a contempary design. That being said, Bruces Bowie to me typlifies what may come to most peoples minds when they envision a Bowie. Bruce, is that the same one you used in your excellant hand-finishing tutorial, plus the pommel looks very familiar also. What a great knife!
 
Well, I'll answer with a non-traditional bowie: Fred Perrin's Street Bowie!

Here's a pic from BladeArt:
ba03944.jpg


Here's another one from Szabo's website:
tontolagrifbowie.jpg


Here's my "model" that I call Nemo, after Nemo on this forum who I made it for. Ity's obviously inspired by Fred's SB.
nemo.jpg


It's a great "pocket bowie" if that counts! Otherwise, for a more traditional response, pretty much anytime Matt Lamey posts a picture here my jaw drops, so his knives are exceptional. I'm sure there are a lot more!
 
Rodger this is my favorite, Sheffeild with a long clip

eb.JPG



OK the image is there for some reason my web site pic's don't show so you have to do the right click, copy, paste thing, sorry.
 
Yes that is the same one I used in the hand finishing tutorial,the grinding tutorial, and the shell buttcap tutorial.It is also the first knife that was published in Blade that I did.
Bruce
 
I like the Szabo stuff, but it looks better when you make it Chiro.

I love anything by Fogg, but his Yakuza bowies look like carving knives to me. I love them, but I'm not sure they are something to take to a fight.

I liked the Newton Bowie that was in Blade, and had a little gun over the top. That was a cool, but I could have done without the gun, I just liked the shape of the knife itself.
 
Hey Bruce, You need to update your website. I know youve done newer stuff than what's on there.

Mark
 
That's right Bruce. I don't care about your knives, but my favorite picture of your wife isn't there! :footinmou :D :D :D :footinmou :o
 
Well my personal favorite(not to swell Bruce's head any more :D ) is Bruce Evans "Dragon Slayer" That is just one awsome bowie, so well ballanced it floats in the hand and with the recurved blade would remove aponents blade-at the wrist!

The other would have to be just about any Price style Bowie, very elegant design.
 
Thanks very much for the replies guys. It’s great to see the wide variety of styles represented here.

Nick – I’m a big Harvey Dean fan too and am fortunate enough to own one of his bowies. That little Scheffield number you’re working on sounds cool – look forward to the pics (and to our project knife as well!).

Bruce – beautiful, elegant knives. Thanks.

D.H. III – You’re just getting out of control with those big honkin’ bowies – but don’t let me stop you :D I look forward to the pics of those bigguns.
 
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