Upsweep on Bowie spine??

H

Houlahound

Joined
Aug 2, 2017
Messages
3,121
The USMC Kabar has a straight spine all the way to where the clip starts, in contrast many Bowie have an upsweep to the spine sometimes very pronounced.

The only reasons I can think for are:

1. Some people like the look.

2. It adds weight to shift balance point forward.

Is their some other reason for the big up kick in the spine?
 
It allows for a dramatic clip point while maintaining some blade height (which, in theory, would keep the blade from being overly fragile).
 
Gives more belly, for machete-type use.

Tell you what though: It is NOT good for cleaning an animal! That upswept tip punctures organs almost no matter what. I have a Buck 102 Woodsman and I haven't used it yet for cleaning because of that. (but I do like the look)
 
Smaug said:
Gives more belly, for machete-type use.

Tell you what though: It is NOT good for cleaning an animal! That upswept tip punctures organs almost no matter what. I have a Buck 102 Woodsman and I haven't used it yet for cleaning because of that. (but I do like the look)
Click to expand...


Creating more belly is independent of that upsweep the way I figure. No upsweep or a flat spine can still have a large belly??
 
It makes for a bigger ark on the clip. When stabbing in, would you rather the flesh ride over the top of a flat spine, or into another cutting edge?

If you think about it the sharpened clip if it’s dramatic, becomes karambit like. Making it good for back cuts.
 
Last edited:
eveled said:
It makes for a bigger ark on the clip. When stabbing in, would you rather the flesh ride over the top of a flat spine, or into another cutting edge?

If you think about it the sharpened clip if it’s dramatic, becomes karambit like. Making it good for back cuts.
Click to expand...

I don't see how that makes stabbing more efficient, the most stabby knives have either straight spines or the sweep is down, the complete opposite direction.

A back cut as I understand it is pretty much all in the tip as Bagwell has demonstrated..
 
I think that the majority of bowies with the curved spine were large, 12" or more, and also had a nicely curved primary edge, the result of which is more edge length for a given blade length, as well as being magnificent slashing weapons in close quarters, almost a compact cutlass, due to being all belly.
 
Houlahound said:
I don't see how that makes stabbing more efficient, the most stabby knives have either straight spines or the sweep is down, the complete opposite direction.

A back cut as I understand it is pretty much all in the tip as Bagwell has demonstrated..
Click to expand...

I was thinking a bigger wound severing more blood vessels. Not about just puncturing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top