Recurve or big belly on a Bowie?

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

countrystrong

Joined
Jun 28, 2013
Messages
74
On a big Bowie knife do you prefer a recurve or a big sweeping belly blade and why? I realize a big sweeping belly helps to make it slash like a sickle with ease. Both blade shapes are similar in this fashion, however I like the looks and design of both in a large bowie, I just wonder which one might be better?
 
A Chris Moss Drop point Bowie, his homage to some of Don Hanson III's Bowies.

xlarge.jpg


Doug
 
Since no one knows what Jim's knife really looked like, a Bowie can be anyway you want it.

To quote Rezin Bowie, "The length of the blade was nine and one-quarters inches, its width one and one-half inches, single edged and not curved." That's pretty much all there is.
Some say that it had a cross guard to keep your hand from sliding onto the edge. Again, not much in the way of detail.
The only other descriptions were from witnesses of the sandbar fight. Some called it a big butcher knife.
 
As I said, no one knows for sure what Bowie's knife looked like. His brother said that it was like a large butcher knife.
It could have looked something like this. The clipped point probably came later.

Fowlerkn.JPG
 
Doug C said:
A Chris Moss Drop point Bowie, his homage to some of Don Hanson III's Bowies.

xlarge.jpg


Doug
Click to expand...

Well I was gunna say I prefer straight towards the handle with a sweeping belly to the tip but this sexy beast shows recurve can work on a bowie after all. Bowie sword!
 
Yataghan's are typically 24-32 inches blade length.
The Bowie I posted is 12 1/4 inches.

Doug
 
6178854_1_l.jpg
ph-0.jpg

The Ottoman Bichaq is the Yatagan’s small sister: A knife with lines and shapes similar to the Yatagan but of much smaller dimensions: 12 – 18 inches. This one has a 9-½ inches blade, made of good laminated steel and mounted with horn grips and silver strap. The lobed pommel may indicate a North African provenance. The scabbard is made of fine chased silver work in classical design. Total length15 inches. Very good condition. Few forging flaws and minor damaged spots on the grip strap.
 
OK so all names aside this knife Doug posted is reminiscent of a bowie while it may also bear resemblance to others as well. The second knife, in my opinion, is not bowie like. As it has been stated, there is no single design feature that makes or breaks a knife as a Bowie. It seems that the lines between different classes of knife may not be as discreet as some think.

Doug C said:
A Chris Moss Drop point Bowie, his homage to some of Don Hanson III's Bowies.

xlarge.jpg


Doug
Click to expand...

gadunz said:
6178854_1_l.jpg
ph-0.jpg

The Ottoman Bichaq is the Yatagan’s small sister: A knife with lines and shapes similar to the Yatagan but of much smaller dimensions: 12 – 18 inches. This one has a 9-½ inches blade, made of good laminated steel and mounted with horn grips and silver strap. The lobed pommel may indicate a North African provenance. The scabbard is made of fine chased silver work in classical design. Total length15 inches. Very good condition. Few forging flaws and minor damaged spots on the grip strap.
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top