Texas Heritage Bowie

Jason Fry

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 5, 2008
Messages
3,159
I just got pictures back from Johnny Stout of a knife I did a few months ago. It was intended to go to Governor Abbott (of Texas) to celebrate the passing of HB1935 which legalized bowie knife carry. Unfortunately hurricane Harvey literally rained on our party, so we haven't closed the deal with the governor. Because of the governor thing, many different people had a part in this project. Since this was a bowie, going to the governor of Texas, to be delivered at the Alamo, by a Texas knifemaker, I went with a collection of Texas historical materials.

The blade is forged W2, donated to the project by Aldo Bruno.

The handle is sycamore wood, spalted, from the grounds of the Texas Capitol building in Austin. My brother was friends in college with a guy who worked grounds crew and brought the wood home as firewood. It was ultimately dyed and stabilized by Terry Dunn, of LaVernia, TX.

The guard and spacer are wrought iron, blued. The material was given by Will Frary of Grapevine, TX, and came from the rail of the first railroad into Dallas, TX in 1872.

The coined spacers are 1836 capped-bust half dollars. Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836.

The stand includes mesquite from Abilene, given to me by my cousin, also a 6th generation Fry Texan. The wrought iron square nails forged to shape for the stand are from the house of 1840’s settler Allen Urquhart, who founded Jefferson, TX. The nails were donated by Don Millhouse of Fredericksburg, Tx.

Thanks to all who contributed to this project! We're still working on the governor, but things are stalled in that regard, so for now we'll have to just celebrate the pictures.

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Jayson-Fry-Bowie-2-e1513347761727.jpg


Jason-Fry-Bowie-5-e1513347798634.jpg


Jason-Fry-Bowie-4-e1513347814777.jpg
 
A new knife with lots of history. What's not to like? Good job Jason.
 
I just got pictures back from Johnny Stout of a knife I did a few months ago. It was intended to go to Governor Abbott (of Texas) to celebrate the passing of HB1935 which legalized bowie knife carry. Unfortunately hurricane Harvey literally rained on our party, so we haven't closed the deal with the governor. Because of the governor thing, many different people had a part in this project. Since this was a bowie, going to the governor of Texas, to be delivered at the Alamo, by a Texas knifemaker, I went with a collection of Texas historical materials.

The blade is forged W2, donated to the project by Aldo Bruno.

The handle is sycamore wood, spalted, from the grounds of the Texas Capitol building in Austin. My brother was friends in college with a guy who worked grounds crew and brought the wood home as firewood. It was ultimately dyed and stabilized by Terry Dunn, of LaVernia, TX.

The guard and spacer are wrought iron, blued. The material was given by Will Frary of Grapevine, TX, and came from the rail of the first railroad into Dallas, TX in 1872.

The coined spacers are 1836 capped-bust half dollars. Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836.

The stand includes mesquite from Abilene, given to me by my cousin, also a 6th generation Fry Texan. The wrought iron square nails forged to shape for the stand are from the house of 1840’s settler Allen Urquhart, who founded Jefferson, TX. The nails were donated by Don Millhouse of Fredericksburg, Tx.

Thanks to all who contributed to this project! We're still working on the governor, but things are stalled in that regard, so for now we'll have to just celebrate the pictures.

Jason-Fry-Bowie-1-e1513347704620.jpg


Jayson-Fry-Bowie-2-e1513347761727.jpg


Jason-Fry-Bowie-5-e1513347798634.jpg


Jason-Fry-Bowie-4-e1513347814777.jpg
Nice job love the history
 
Makes me wish I was a Texan...
Fantastic knife with a ton of history to it.
 
Fantastic knife, I hope you guys in Texas get back on track and that deal with the governor closed soon.
 
That's a great looking knife and the thought and effort put into the components makes it even better.
Congrats on a fantastic project, Jason!
 
We have a date! Looking like I'll be meeting with the governor on 1/30/18.
 
Just to complete the circle:

Doug Ritter, Knife Rights Chairman, and Todd Rathner, Knife Rights' Director of Legislative Affairs, were in Austin, Texas, this week to celebrate last year's enactment of HB 1935. That bill eliminated from Texas statute the prohibition against carrying "illegal knives," including throwing knives, daggers, dirks, stilettos, poniards, swords, spears and most notably, Bowie knives, as well as blades over 5.5 inches except in a few locations (Click for full details). The celebration was originally scheduled to be held last September at The Alamo, but tragically, Hurricane Harvey intervened.

To recognize his signing of the bill into law, on Tuesday we had the honor of being invited to the Texas Governor's Mansion to present Governor Greg Abbott with a very special Texas Heritage Bowie forged by Texas Knifemakers' Guild President Jason Fry, a sixth generation Texan, who generously donated his efforts.

Gov. Abbott was great, very personable, that smile is certainly genuine.

gov_abbott_present_01302018_600w.jpg

Seated in front of a portrait of Sam Houston, leader of the Texas Revolution, Texas Governor Greg Abbott holding his Texas Heritage Bowie with (L-R) Rep. John Frullo (primary bill sponsor), Doug Ritter (Knife Rights), Jason Fry (Bowie maker) and Todd Rathner (Knife Rights)

And here we are in the House of Representatives Chamber of the Texas Capitol posing in front of the historic portrait of Jim Bowie, hero of the Alamo, whose eponymous knife was finally made legal to carry in Texas by the enactment of HB 1935.

Rathner_Fry_Ritter_01302018_600w.jpg


Thanks again to Jason and all those who donated to make this a reality. Together we are forging a Sharper Future and making Texas a whole lot more like everyone thinks Texas is.
 
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Thank you, Doug and Todd, and Jerry Fisk, for getting me involved in this project. It was an opportunity of the type that rarely comes along.

For the board, to get that second picture took some shenanigans. We were sitting in the parking lot of the Governor's Mansion about 45 minutes before our appointment, with the Capitol just across the street. That portrait of Bowie is the only known picture of him when he was alive, and was purchased by the State of Texas a few years ago for nearly $300K. It hangs inside the chambers of the House of Representatives. As you might imagine, one does not simply walk into the House chambers inside the Capitol with a giant knife. Even though this wasn't on the agenda, I asked Todd and Doug if we could make it happen. After a couple of phone calls, a laptop bag, and the secret squirrel entrance, we were able to get the photo. No laws were broken, but strings were pulled for sure.
 
You did good.
 
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