wanting a bowie

The only eye witness description of the knife used in the sandbar brawl was
"Big Butcher Knife"
That's it.
Everything else is supposition.

The Alamo fell march 6, 1836. The first mention I find of a Bowie Knive is 1840. It seems that the name Bowie knife came into use after the Alamo, before that they were simply called butcher knives.
This little piece of informatioin comes from my last 960 pages of reading about the Alamo, searching for the history of Bowie knives.

-Ed Fowler
Click to expand...

Some say it was the Forrest knife, some the Searles knife, some the Black knife, but there is no real concrete answer only assumptions and conclusions.

And therein lies the rub.
We just don't know.

More reading:
http://knifetalkonline.com/smf/index.php?board=13.0 (the source of the quote above)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...l-Bowie-Knife-Where-Is-It/page2?s=&perpage=20

http://www.historicarkansas.org/jamesblackrevisited/

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20E17FF3D5415738DDDAC0A94DB405B8485F0D3


As for my suggestion on what the OP spends his hard earned $$$
:)

Look for a Western W49.
Research Bill Bagwell and his mods for the W49.

I paid $60 for that here at the exchange. It was a bit of a beater...
A bunch of elbow grease and hard work got it in that shape.
 
marcinek said:
Sort of. The Searles knife, which is similar to the one pictured, is certainly an early "Bowie" knife, but hardly has the "simple riveted wood scale handle" mentioned in the R. Bowie quote that you cited.
Click to expand...

Huh? I wasn't saying that picture was exactly the knife listed in the quote, just showing the blade shape, which is NOT the "Bowie" style typically featured in movies and such.
 
The only company I know that differentially heat treats the blade and tang is Blackjack.

So....I'd get one of their 1-7s if I wanted a traditional looking bowie.
 
Ebbtide said:
The only eye witness description of the knife used in the sandbar brawl was
"Big Butcher Knife"
That's it.
Everything else is supposition.



Some say it was the Forrest knife, some the Searles knife, some the Black knife, but there is no real concrete answer only assumptions and conclusions.

And therein lies the rub.
We just don't know.

More reading:
http://knifetalkonline.com/smf/index.php?board=13.0 (the source of the quote above)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...l-Bowie-Knife-Where-Is-It/page2?s=&perpage=20

http://www.historicarkansas.org/jamesblackrevisited/

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F20E17FF3D5415738DDDAC0A94DB405B8485F0D3
Click to expand...

Ebbtide, thanks for this list! :thumbup:

It's interesting to read what some of the big names in the Bowieworld has to say.

My Guru No.1 is Norm Flayderman, but Bernard Levine is certainly worth reading too.

Sad news was to read about the passing of Norm Flayderman on May 23, 2013.

I had the pleasure to get my copy of "The Bowie Knife" directly from Mr Flayderman and also spoke to him over the phone.
He also gave me an allowance to use pics from his book as background in my own pics.
Of course this use has to made within the reasonable borders of common sence.

Here's a couple of examples on how I have used the book as background to the Bark River Rouge, one of my favorite modern Bowies.

0zul.jpg


swv6.jpg


Mr Flayderman was a true Gentleman!

Regards
Mikael
 
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5keq7d.jpg


If you are interested in a more modern, smaller bowie, here's one of my favorite knives, the Leatherneck SF. I consider it to be one of the best values for combat knives today. Fantastic materials, construction, and everything else. And it's only around 50 bucks. That handle is one of the best I've ever felt, stays grippy in your hand even when wet.

I also hear the Recon Scout is a beast. Those were originally issued sterile to soldiers in the Gulf War.
 
Mikael, I'm glad you enjoyed the reading list.

I didn't know of Mr. Flayderman's passing.
RIP.

I too used his book as a background for a photo or two :)





Both knives are by a fellow named Bruce Evans.

Guardless Coffin Handle Bowies are my favorites.
Some call the Black Bowies, others Tah-Chee Bowies.
No matter what you call them I like'em.

Here are two (identical) kit blades from Jantz that I 'handled'
First the boxed set that I did for a friend. Cowbone handles, brass pins.

Same blade, micarta handle and pins


Here is a hunter sized GCHB, by Joel Bolden


If the OP wants to go with the historical "Big Butcher Knife" direction, there is always the Browning Barker Crowell collaboration


Or... the tried and true classic Buck 120


Favorite topic?
Yes.
 
I plan on using it for small use like cutting small branches. But I would like it to be able to withstand some hard use.
 
Ebbtide said:
#1. Both knives are by a fellow named Bruce Evans.

#2. Guardless Coffin Handle Bowies are my favorites.
Some call the Black Bowies, others Tah-Chee Bowies.
No matter what you call them I like'em.

#3. Here are two (identical) kit blades from Jantz that I 'handled'

#4. Here is a hunter sized GCHB, by Joel Bolden

#5. Favorite topic?
Yes.
Click to expand...

Ebbtide, I certainly share Your taste for Bowie's and the topics about them!

#1. Those two Bruce Evans are just stunning work of art!
Your pics are perfect to show the ancestry back to the 19th century Master, Peter Rose of New York.

#2. In one of Your links Bernard Levine says the guardless coffin Bowie's origins from Ohio.
I thought they were first made in Natchez, but Levine usually knows his buisness.
Have You any info about this?

#3. Making your own handles are both fun and educating.
Yours looks very good too!
I too love to make my own versions on existing blades.

#4. One day I will get a small Coffinhandle!

#5.Yes I agree, Bowiethreads are great!

Another one for the OP is the Bark River 8,5" Bowie in stainless 12c27.
They sometimes pop-up on the For Sale forums, but it's not often because their owners seems to hold on tight to them!:D

p9q4.jpg



Regards
Mikael
 
I own a couple of Muela knives. I like the brand and think you get a lot of knife for the money. Made in Spain. For around $75 - $80 the one pictured below, is available (pic borrowed from the net). I have one like it:

muelabowie-1.jpg


They also have variations in size and handle material. [Edit: The included leather sheath is very nice as well.]

Best of luck finding your Bowie of choice. :)
 
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All the choices mentioned are good, so it's up to your taste to pick one. I have the Western W-49, the Cold Steel Laredo and Natchez Bowie, the Ka-Bar 1277 Heavy bowie, the Blackjack Anaconda 3, Condor Jungle Bowie, and some others, and I LOVE them all. If price is a factor, the Ka-Bar 1277 is less than $50 on ebay, the Cold Steel Laredo around $175, maybe less- and it has a sharpened back of clip-worth every penny, Condor Jungle Bowie, well, it's way under $50, has a WICKEDLY sharp edge AND back of the point, deadly backcutter that one!The Western W-49 isn't made anymore since 1991, but it is on ebay, will be worth more money every year, has GREAT steel, and was MY 1st bowie! Oh, Cold Steel has a 12" Bowie "machete" for $23 in their new catalog, and it is thicker than most machetes, and the only one I do not have, YET! Pick one, you can't go wrong
 
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