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- Dec 23, 2006
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Billy Bagwell thru his writing in Soldier Of Fortune and a long illustrious career making battle blades has earned a large following with people that have that warrior mentality, soldiers and military elite.
Some men know that if in your head you have confidence in your equipment it can lend itself to increased performance in the field.
Bill Christina is such a man. Awhile back I was in contact with Bill C when he was about to take delivery of his latest Bagwell. An all Damascus Birds Head Hell’s Belle.
At that time I believe he was over seas. I had asked him to send some pics and a little description. He just got around to doing it and here is what he had to say and some picks of some wicked looking blades
........................................................................................................
Joe,
Bill and I talk from time to time and sometimes (when he's not too busy beating on metal), we discuss the forging of steel, the pure simplicity and genius of a properly made Bowie knife, we discuss Africa... 'cause both of us go there frequently... and other stuff. It is ALWAYS a learning experience when I talk to Bill... hell, the man's a plethora of knowledge and experience on steel, hunting... and black powder. I know this through our discussions, and every time I use or train with one of his blades. There is that "balance & feel" that no other knife in my collection has... except for those two big Bowies, which pictures you have.
My first Bagwell was acquired through a dealer in Connecticut named Doug Kennefick. It is a "Mercenary" model that has a 7 1/2" blade of polished "Satans Lace" damascus, iron guard and Osage handle. I guess that this was the period before Bill had fully immersed himself into the really "big" blades (10 1/2" and longer). I carried this knife on many missions, whereas most of my team mates had Randall's (#14, #18 or #1). I have a #14 that served me well and that I carried for many years... good blade. But the Bagwell Mercenary was a more robust knife, and sharp as hell, and when it finally did get dull (rarely), it sharpened right back up with a few licks on an Arkansas stone.
My next Bagwell was acquired through an Internet dealer (can't remember which one). I do know that I got real excited and bought the knife as fast as I could push the keys on my computer to PayPal the guy. This is the 11 3/4" "slim" random pattern damascus blade with a "Spanish notch", "Satans Lace" flat damascus guard and collar and cocobolo dogbone handle that has decorative "tacks & pins." This one will truly dance in your hand, it is an extension of my hand... of my will. A true fighting Bowie with spirit... you can see it in the steel!! I was extremely lucky to get this one, before others saw it.
My third Bagwell was actually acquired on Ebay. I saw this 6" polished Satan's Lace dagger blade with an iron crossguard and what was advertised as an "exotic wood" grip... in reality it is an oosic grip. An older blade, but in mint condition to include the sheath. It was stamped with the oval shaped "Bagwell Damascus" stamp, and had the "MS" stamp in the middle. I believe it is a collectors item.
My fourth Bagwell (in a series of many... I hope) is one that Bill made just for me. We discussed what I needed, basically a big Bowie that could give as well as it could take, a large knife that could absorb hard hits from another large knife or machete, and not fail. Well, I am 6' 4" tall, weigh in at 240 pounds (could stand to lose 20), so Bill took all of this into consideration and forged me the Hell's Belle that you have the picture of. This "Belle from Hell" is a masterpiece. The blade is 12 inches of "Satan's Lace" with a 3/8" thick spine that was forged in a way, that Bill put it, was like the "back binding of a book" so it would equate to more strength. Incorporate a Spanish notch, the damascus H/B crossguard / collar and the African blackwood birdshead handle with lotsa pins and a set of ruby eyes. She weighs in at 1.7 pounds, and you would never notice it in the way Bill balanced this knife, but when you swing it, kinetic energy transmits that weight into a whole lot of power that will crush an opponents blade... and thus, the opponent. WoW... what a knife!! Great Man, Great Blades... Bagwell Knives, forged for combat... what more can I say!!
So, there it is... Bill's Bagwell's ; )
Best regards,
B i l l
Some men know that if in your head you have confidence in your equipment it can lend itself to increased performance in the field.
Bill Christina is such a man. Awhile back I was in contact with Bill C when he was about to take delivery of his latest Bagwell. An all Damascus Birds Head Hell’s Belle.
At that time I believe he was over seas. I had asked him to send some pics and a little description. He just got around to doing it and here is what he had to say and some picks of some wicked looking blades
........................................................................................................
Joe,
Bill and I talk from time to time and sometimes (when he's not too busy beating on metal), we discuss the forging of steel, the pure simplicity and genius of a properly made Bowie knife, we discuss Africa... 'cause both of us go there frequently... and other stuff. It is ALWAYS a learning experience when I talk to Bill... hell, the man's a plethora of knowledge and experience on steel, hunting... and black powder. I know this through our discussions, and every time I use or train with one of his blades. There is that "balance & feel" that no other knife in my collection has... except for those two big Bowies, which pictures you have.
My first Bagwell was acquired through a dealer in Connecticut named Doug Kennefick. It is a "Mercenary" model that has a 7 1/2" blade of polished "Satans Lace" damascus, iron guard and Osage handle. I guess that this was the period before Bill had fully immersed himself into the really "big" blades (10 1/2" and longer). I carried this knife on many missions, whereas most of my team mates had Randall's (#14, #18 or #1). I have a #14 that served me well and that I carried for many years... good blade. But the Bagwell Mercenary was a more robust knife, and sharp as hell, and when it finally did get dull (rarely), it sharpened right back up with a few licks on an Arkansas stone.
My next Bagwell was acquired through an Internet dealer (can't remember which one). I do know that I got real excited and bought the knife as fast as I could push the keys on my computer to PayPal the guy. This is the 11 3/4" "slim" random pattern damascus blade with a "Spanish notch", "Satans Lace" flat damascus guard and collar and cocobolo dogbone handle that has decorative "tacks & pins." This one will truly dance in your hand, it is an extension of my hand... of my will. A true fighting Bowie with spirit... you can see it in the steel!! I was extremely lucky to get this one, before others saw it.
My third Bagwell was actually acquired on Ebay. I saw this 6" polished Satan's Lace dagger blade with an iron crossguard and what was advertised as an "exotic wood" grip... in reality it is an oosic grip. An older blade, but in mint condition to include the sheath. It was stamped with the oval shaped "Bagwell Damascus" stamp, and had the "MS" stamp in the middle. I believe it is a collectors item.
My fourth Bagwell (in a series of many... I hope) is one that Bill made just for me. We discussed what I needed, basically a big Bowie that could give as well as it could take, a large knife that could absorb hard hits from another large knife or machete, and not fail. Well, I am 6' 4" tall, weigh in at 240 pounds (could stand to lose 20), so Bill took all of this into consideration and forged me the Hell's Belle that you have the picture of. This "Belle from Hell" is a masterpiece. The blade is 12 inches of "Satan's Lace" with a 3/8" thick spine that was forged in a way, that Bill put it, was like the "back binding of a book" so it would equate to more strength. Incorporate a Spanish notch, the damascus H/B crossguard / collar and the African blackwood birdshead handle with lotsa pins and a set of ruby eyes. She weighs in at 1.7 pounds, and you would never notice it in the way Bill balanced this knife, but when you swing it, kinetic energy transmits that weight into a whole lot of power that will crush an opponents blade... and thus, the opponent. WoW... what a knife!! Great Man, Great Blades... Bagwell Knives, forged for combat... what more can I say!!
So, there it is... Bill's Bagwell's ; )
Best regards,
B i l l
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