What are bowies good for?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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Personally, I love bowies but I find bowies have a limited range of uses.

First, it is normally about 10-12inches (blade) so it is not exactly convenient to hang it at the waist or belt.
Second, for simple chores, a shorter knife is more convenient.
Third, bowies are lovely to look at but the effectiveness of the knife is truly telling if you are engaged in a life-and-death struggle with a mountain lion.

Of course, for self-defence a bowie has a much better visual deterrent effect than the 4-inch folder.

Apart from the above, I can't think of any really good uses for the bowie.

Tell me I am not far from being wrong.
 
It all depends on your lifestyle. Do you go camping alot? Do you work outside alot? Do you live out in the middle of nowhere and trees like to fall across your driveway?

There are different knives for different lifestyles, that is why there are so many shapes and sizes.

(Man, if you think Bowies are big you NEED a Khukri!)
 
I believe you have a point, but only because we live in the 21st century. And even that is subject to debate.

For example, I just read a comment by Bill Bagwell, perhaps the best artisan for Bowies. He stated that the 'back cut' is so unknown to modern people that it is almost undefensible (indefensible).

Further, many people do carry them concealed, and I've seen shoulder holsters that are specifically made for larger knives.

However, I have no use for one. If camping in South Dakota, I'd carry a pocket knife (probably a Strider AR), a food preparation knife and an axe.

For defense, I would never pull one, and I would immediately react to anyone who did. First, in any fight, there is the investigation and the trial. Imagine the look on the jury's face when the DA whips out the Bowie.

Amongst my friends, the presentation of a big knife would mean the prelude to an attack. I would fear that the Bowie owner would become a 'shrapnel magnet' for scores of hollowpoints.

Having said these things, I'd love a Bagwell Bowie. Like any custom, it's a quality product from a dedicated maker and artist.
 
The true Bowies have sharpened clips on their blades. They are a pure fighting knife and have quite the history of killing/maming people in the states of Arkansas and Louisiana during the 1830-1860 period.

Knife duels were held to uphold ones honor before guns were prevalent and everyone carried a Bowie knife on their person. It was a primary defensive tool and you were not "well heeled" and considered naked without one about your person.

They were so deadly in the hands of a knifefighter that they were banned in those states from carrying them way back then. If something had been deemed better at defense of ones person it would have been used.

The original bowies had blades in the range of 7-10 inches long. In a knife fight you want as much reach as you can handle. They have a limited range of use like most every other knife design. They were designed for killing another effectively and excelled at that task for decades with nothing of note taking their place even today.

They were not made to be convenient to carry, they were made for killing an opponent efficiently which they did quite often.

Here is a question to ask yourself.

If I knew I had to knife fight today what knife would I bring if I had a choice?
1. A tactical folder with 4" blade?
2. A straight knife with 4-5" blade?
3. A bowie knife with a sharpened clip with a blade length of 7-10 inches.

Old Jim Bowie himself was trained in the art of fencing by his dad and converted many of the fencing moves to the bowie knife. He also was believed to be the first to utilize the sharpened clip on his knives to great effect in causing others to expire early in life using what has become known in certain circles as the "backcut".

It's devestatingly effective and keeps the knife leading the fight and not your hand with the knife trailing as most would use it's primary edge for.

If I know I'm going to a knife fight or a disparity of force situation where there will be many against myself I will grab the Bagwell Hells Belle Bill made for me. It has an 11 1/8" blade of 5160 differentially heat treated.

They are certainly not as convenient to carry around all day, and as well, harder to conceal effectively but when it's time to rock the man with a bowie and some training in it's use will be hard to beat.

They have a place reserved in my life but they are not something I carry daily. Then again, I only carry two or three of the dozens of knives I own at any one time so one could make the point that I did not need those "extras".

Having been trained by Bill Bagwell and James Keating in long blade techniques I feel comfortable with a blade that long. Others with little or no training in the long knives may not be as comfortable as their skills level does not meet the necessary level to effectively use one to it's fullest advantage. Hence, the bowie might even become a hindrence in that scenario to the user, not because the design is not valid but because the user is unfamiliar with the finer points in using one and therefore might become disadvantaged over something else
that was smaller and more manageable for their skill level.

Brownie
 
Brownie,

I agree with everything you say. But like any good invention, time marches on.

Yes, it is an historical fact that the Bowie was so effective that many areas banned it's use and posession. I believe that the hayday of this prowess declined after the Civil War. Let's face it, many carried knives because guns were so unreliable.

As cap and ball revolvers were refined, and then replaced with metallic cartridges in 1873, the dagger, Bowie and sword-cane became less effective. Colt has some advertisements from the early 1900's about 'gentlemen' 'preparedness' and 'thugs.' By the 1920's, large knives were the fantasy of Chinese Tongs, and my bloodline, the Sicilians.

Sure, I'd like to learn to light a fire with flint and steel, but if I smoked (a disgusting habit I quit over 20 years ago) a Zippo would make more sense. I believe the time of the Bowie as a serious weapon is gone, as well.

edit: There were metallic cartridges in the Civil War. There were .22 calibre pistols, there were Henry and Spencer rifles. I'm confining my comments to generic implements used in mano a' mano conflicts.
 
Bowies in the right hands are still a hell of a killing tool. No less so now than in their heyday though.

It's that we are not carrying them today for the most part. They have been replaced with this generations idea of defensive knife which are the various folders genre.

Society frowns on big knives more so than smaller utilitarian folders and straights which have been designed around defensive needs. They don't offend the sheeples senses as much and are more politically correct in most eyes. Thats where we will be judged, by our peers.

As a weapon of choice carried daily it's time has past of course.

Brownie
 
camping! I use both a western bowie, and a knifeware bowie (depending on the task at hand). They are wonderful in the backwoods for choping, building shelters, fire, ect. I cannot see not having one in this type of situation!!
 
A properly designed and made Bowie is capable of performing all the same cuts as smaller knives as well as most larger blades. In many cases, a proper Bowie will do better than many purpose designed knives in the tasks that they were specifically made for....for instance the dagger.

My emphasis here is "properly" made. I think that alot of people and makers here miss the point, where Bagwell is right on the money. His Bowies will act as cleavers, axes, daggers, skinners, and camp knife, as well as being concealble too....all pretty much in one package.

You have to own one to see what I mean. Many factors in the design all come together to make this work. "Bag" doesnt ad lib on his knives....they are very specific. A common Bowie from him will be shockingly thick at the spine, razor sharp at the edge, and is really something to behold. I try to make mine like his....it is a fun goal to reach for.

Greg Covington
 
Xrayed,

Having Bill as a mentor is a wise choice.

Other than that, I think some companies go overboard on the length. I do not mind carrying a food preparation knife and an axe, heck, the truck does the heavy lifting. I do not 'wilderness camp.'

If I had too, I would try to get the load down to one knife. I'm not nuts about 'The Hunted' knife, but the idea is sound; form follows function. Many of the Bowies you see today are properly 'art knives,' and that is a valid concept in its own right.
 
So often are the words said that Bowies are heavy and clumsy to wear on the belt.I disagre´with that! It´s not two hand swords we are talking about. While hiking in the mountains,i always carry a bowie on my belt everyday. It´s a sheath knife,and it´s ment to be carried on the belt. On the belt,it´s easy to draw with one hand only,and is always there easy to grab.

What´s the use of a bowie? I have a bowie with a ten inch blade,made of laminated stainless steel,with a double cross guard. For me it´s the most versatile tool i have. I can use it to chopp like an camping axe,pry with it,hammer with it´s pommel,cut with it,and hundreds of other tasks. In an emergency survival situation i could eaven digg with it!

It can never replace a 70 centimeter handled cleaving axe,or a real solid prybar,but who will carry those tools on a one week hiking tripp? I have never being engaged in a knife fight,but if or when it should happen the bowie would make a short story of any opponent. If you strike hits correctly,you could for sure chopp of an arm or eaven a head. And if you sharpens the false edge,it pierces almost like a dagger.
The bowie=a genious invention!

Manowar
 
an old Case Bowie from 25-30 years ago. I think my Grandpa got it as a collector, not a user. That being said I would love to get a good Bowie for a user. I don't do a lot of camping, I just think they're cool. If I could just put my khukuri addiction on hold I'd probably get a couple. As SamuraiDave said, if you think Bowies are big...

Frank
 
458015AKBushswordsmall.jpg


Never say never

n2s
 
Hi little Pug!

Tell your owner that it was acually a brutal and awesome knife! I almost have my opinion chanched by seing this sword like bowie knife.However,it surely can´t replace a fullsize axe or prybar,(but almost).The knife below the big monster is a Gerber BMF. I also have one,but it´s the version without sawteeths.

Manowar:)
 
I carry a bowie from time to time. Not because it's so useful, but because I like it. I don't find it particularly cumbersome to carry, however.

I found that the bowie I have really shone when I went camping, and forgot my hatchet at a friend's place. This knife did kitchen duty, firewood duty, plus a myriad of other tasks around the campsite.

Around the city, if I have to tear down boxes I haven't found anything that makes the task easier than the bowie. The big blade really cuts the cardboard. It's also good for all the other things I use a smaller blade to do. I certainly don't find the size to be a detriment.

As far as self-defence goes, this knife would also shine. It has a good weight for chopping attacks, it's razor sharp for draw cuts, and although the swedge is unsharpened it could still do some real impact damage. It's not long enough (8" blade) to give a real reach advantage, but it's better than a sub 4" folder in that regard as well.

Ichabod, some of us live in places where guns are not allowed so a knife still holds the place of primary defensive tool. Kanada is such a place. Haven't seen a biker up here yet without - at least - a Buck 110 (or look-a-like) and some kind of "hunter". Of course when they have real "business" to do, they go get their guns and bombs like everyone else :)

Pierre
 
It surely can´t replace a fullsize axe or prybar,(but almost).
Click to expand...

I requested a couple of these large knives to see what it would take to get a knife that could perform the duties of a campers axe (about 3/4 size). :D

About the Bowie:

As, much as we like to think of these knives as fighting weapons, they were primarily carried as versatile tools. A good bowie can perform a full range of camp tasks; form butchering game, to short machete, to light hatchet. It is a good general purpose survival tool. As much as I like the SAK; I would hate to have to use one to cut through thorny brush, or to finish off wounded game. The bowie is something to carry firmly attached to your belt to compliment the array of specialty knives back in camp.

n2s
 
When i am hiking in the woods,i always carry a Fallkniven NL1 Tor bowie and a Leatherman Supertool.I often also combines with a small sheath knife,but the above knife and tool is standard issue for me.The Supertool have a small knife blade for lighter cutting chores,and it has loads of usefull tools besides it´s plier properties. The bowie does it all for me. It clears out bush,it chopps fire wood,i whittle with it and so on.I don´t consider it primary as a fighting tool,but if the need should arise,it should be a horrific weapon. The bowie is the most versatile knife that i have.The bowie will never go out of style!

Manowar
 
Originally posted by Ichabod Poser
I believe you have a point, but only because we live in the 21st century. And even that is subject to debate.
Click to expand...
That's what's so cool about the Cuda Maxx, it's the 21st century and you have a Bowie in your pocket!

:D
 
Bowies, like katanas and khukuris, have withstood the test of time - although in this company, the Bowie is a "young pup" ;). They are beautiful when well made, and functional also.

I don't think any good design becomes obsolete when you keep the original purpose in mind. Sure, we might have more efficient forms of firearms, but the Bowie still cuts as good as ever! It might be less effective in the overall scheme of things, but in it's niche, it's just as good as it ever was!
 
While many people debate the Tony Viconti era. Artistry or Charlatanism? I really prefer my Bowie from the bowie\eno\iggy berlin period.....


oh!!!wait!!!!sorry!

Until I handled a hand forged Bowie that really fit the hand, I didn't understand Bowies at all. There are a number of makers that really do it right.

I think that it is good to remember where and when they we're developed. The America west of the Missippi during expansion when firearms were perhaps more accurate and more reliable when used as clubs.
 
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