Question: Has the large Bowie fallen out of fashion?

[i4Marc]

A question for makers and collectors. With lackluster participation in recent years in the Best Bowie competition, as well as a seemingly precipitous decline in makers posting larger Camp and Bowie style blades in general, it feels like the Bowie has lost its appeal. Has the large Bowie knife lost its interest in the eyes of makers and/or collectors?

 

[Frisco Felon]

A question for makers and collectors. With lackluster participation in recent years in the Best Bowie competition, as well as a seemingly precipitous decline in makers posting larger Camp and Bowie style blades in general, it feels like the Bowie has lost its appeal. Has the large Bowie knife lost its interest in the eyes of makers and/or collectors?

Absolutely not!

 

[not2sharp]

A question for makers and collectors. With lackluster participation in recent years in the Best Bowie competition, as well as a seemingly precipitous decline in makers posting larger Camp and Bowie style blades in general, it feels like the Bowie has lost its appeal. Has the large Bowie knife lost its interest in the eyes of makers and/or collectors?

No.

N2s

 

[jfk1110]

Definitely not, however the market has definitely exploded for the 6" - 7" and under OAL knife....

Nuthin. Is better looking than a beautiful bowie..

 

[A.L.]

I'd say it hasn't lost it's appeal per se but people definitely prefer more utilitarian designs today (vs. fighting knife).

 

[navman]

It's a matter of practicality. Carrying a fixed blade over 4-5 inches, and in many cases 3 inches, on a regular basis (job dependent) is not something the average person does anymore. For collectors, there will always be a love for the Bowie, especially the ones I see created by the many fine makers these days. For the daily user/carrier of an EDC fixed blade...the bowie is no longer the "best" option.

 

[Lorien]

I like this question.

Two thoughts come to mind;
1. Best Bowie in C&H is a very time consuming 'event' that more than one volunteer has to commit to, and it happens over a period of time. For the winner, there isn't much to gain other than bragging rights.
-corollary; Instagram etc requires almost zero effort and each post is just a scroll away

2. Yes, bowies have fallen out of favour somewhat. Collectors who love them, love them. But my sense is that there are more collectors now than ever before- many of them new- who prefer folding knives so that's what they collect.

In general, the quality and quantity of both content and involvement in Bladeforums is greatly diminished from past days. I will always be a cheerleader for the forum, but it's understandable that people flock to other platforms which are easier to be 'involved' in, I personally see it more as voyeurism than involvement but that's totally subjective. Events like BB might encourage a greater amount and higher quality of involvement in the forum generally, but that's speculation.

As a long time past volunteer for this event, I found it to be quite enjoyable, but for various reasons I had to bow out. However, I would do it again I think. Because the winner doesn't really get anything, I'd like for the bragging rights to be spread around a little more. For example, perhaps adding categories, ie; best fighting bowie, best utility bowie, best art bowie etc.

 

[navman]

I'm making a 6" bladed bowie right now....

 

[Maximumbob54]

Someone make a Bowie style knife and make a video with it as a survival / bushcraft knife and I bet you sell the whole lot of them. That seems to be the current buying crowd. I know I'm happy enough with my Western.

 

[David Mary]

Someone make a Bowie style knife and make a video with it as a survival / bushcraft knife and I bet you sell the whole lot of them.

That's what the Edwin Forrest Bowie design is. I don't know if it represents the Bowie knife design, but some people think it does. I had a BRK version in my hands to fix a bacon grind on, and despite that the design was surprisingly nimble and seemed like it would be very useful for your stated purpose.

I can only speak for myself: what typically is accepted as a "Bowie" knife is not something I have ever been fanatical about. They are beautiful and functional, but just not really my style aesthetically, or ergonomically. I like Filipino grip, which a top guard gets in the way of, and I've never really liked 90ish degree bottom guards.

I've made a few styles that I called "Bowie" because they shared some common elements with other knives that have been called "Bowie", and some guys really dig them. But these have always reflected my aesthetic and ergonomic preferences, and I doubt hard core collectors would accept them as Bowies. Skinny Fat Bowie, for example. Although my recent Hudson Bay knife run might be as close to an "orthodox" Bowie as I have come, assuming the Edwin Forrest actually is such a thing. Except the HB was a taller blade with a bit less length, and a clip point. And it wasn't hard to move all of them.

So my answer to the question is... I have no idea.

 

[Lorien]

maybe we can start calling these new skool bowie knives Rambo knives?

 

[junglefighter]

I am a proponent of the big bowie cult.. I live in the south pacific islands and I carry a large bowie style knife as edc.. I designed the sheaths so I can carry IWB concealed.. All my edc custom bowies have a minimum blade length of 7.5 inch to 9 inch. but the 7.5 inch blade length is my primary carry

 

[jfk1110]

I am a proponent of the big bowie cult.. I live in the south pacific islands and I carry a large bowie style knife as edc.. I designed the sheaths so I can carry IWB concealed.. All my edc custom bowies have a minimum blade length of 7.5 inch to 9 inch. but the 7.5 inch blade length is my primary carry

SHIT YEAH!!!!

 

[jfk1110]

I'm making a 6" bladed bowie right now....

Patiently waiting to see it..........................

 

[navman]

 

[Win Heger]

At one time BladeForums went through a period where every post was about forged pieces. The Bowie style was front and center, the BB a terrific example. As Lorien said the forum has continued to change, we rarely see large, forged pieces anymore. I don't attend shows but would guess at the large shows Bowie styles are still found and purchased. We just don't see them on here! Thankfully, there are a few makers still posting, Steevee from Poland is a great example. I think an aging collector base is playing a large part in this, newer collectors seem to be folder people and the influx of affordable, imports has changed the market.

Two of my pieces made by Steevee:

 

[The Zieg]

A question for makers and collectors. With lackluster participation in recent years in the Best Bowie competition, as well as a seemingly precipitous decline in makers posting larger Camp and Bowie style blades in general, it feels like the Bowie has lost its appeal. Has the large Bowie knife lost its interest in the eyes of makers and/or collectors?

I will take the opposite view from most: Yes, I think interest in Bowie knives has cooled. I don't think it is because of other options in the market, but the signs of the cooling are evident in other large knives getting their fifteen minutes of fame. The leuku, Mediterranean dirk, and gaucho have had more love recently, and the ever present khukri is prominent again. Machetes have made a comeback with DIYers fashioning mass production models into new shapes both for fighting and bushcraft. And as for bushcraft, the skrama has received a lot of attention here on BF for the last 24 months.

Will the Bowie return to prominence? You bet!

 

[junglefighter]

This is just a few more of my custom edc big blades.. the 3rd one is sitting in my weapons locker in the Philippines along with several of my other custom pieces.

 

[oldmanwilly]

I still like big bowies, despite the fact I'm on a small or imported bowie budget. Someday I'll get me some good, handmade ones. Until then, my budget bowies must suffice.

I like them for hog hunting because they're pointy enough to get where they need to but still versatile enough for chopping and cutting.

Sometimes they're just fun for play.

 

[jfk1110]

This is just a few more of my custom edc big blades.. the 3rd one is sitting in my weapons locker in the Philippines along with several of my other custom pieces.

You have quite the distinct blades in your collection....... EXCELLENT........Thanx for sharing them