What is a "Hell's Belle"?

Sam Salvati · May 14, 2009

I am not much of a scholar, nor do I keep up much on different styles, so I have to ask what exactly classifies a bowie as a "Hell's Belle"? Is it a specific maker's style or design?

Keith Montgomery · May 14, 2009

It's a style of bowie made by Bill Bagwell.

JParanee · May 15, 2009

Keith is 100 % correct they are Bill Bagwell's purpose driven designed fighting bowie's. They can be carbon steel or damascus with blade length's from about 9 1/2 to 12 or so inches they can have a coffin handle or a dog bone handle. Some have stag or birds head handles. Some have spanish notches but the commen denominator that all HB's have is a c guard and a sharpened clip and some of the best balance and lively feel that is to be had in a true fighting bowie. They are made to order per a customers dimensions and needs. I hope this answered your question.

EdgarFigaro · May 15, 2009

I always think of a group of less used females characters in some of Chaos! Comics' books. Think there were three of them, they were demonesses.

MARSUS · May 15, 2009

JParanee said:
Keith is 100 % correct they are Bill Bagwell's purpose driven designed fighting bowie's. They can be carbon steel or damascus with blade length's from about 9 1/2 to 12 or so inches they can have a coffin handle or a dog bone handle. Some have stag or birds head handles. Some have spanish notches but the commen denominator that all HB's have is a c guard and a sharpened clip and some of the best balance and lively feel that is to be had in a true fighting bowie. They are made to order per a customers dimensions and needs. I hope this answered your question.

Besides making some exceptional bowies,Bagwell uses some exceptional names,Helle's Belle's,Satan's Lace damascus etc...It is the greatest!

Keith Montgomery · May 15, 2009

Other makers, influenced by Bill or the design, make bowies in the Hell's Belle style.

Sam Salvati · May 15, 2009

Thanks very much guys. Does Bill have a website? JParenee, can you post a couple pictures of some of the Belle's you own or have seen?

Keith Montgomery · May 15, 2009

Bill doesn't have a website.

Sam Salvati · May 15, 2009

Thanks Keith,I knew there was a good reason I couldn't find it.

JParanee, I found some threads of yours with pictures, very nice knives and the WIP thread was cool to look at too. I think I am going to have a go at trying a blade in Bill's style.

pootsythesamurai · May 15, 2009

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6132817#post6132817

That's your best source for Bagwell Knife pictures or simply type Bagwell Bowie into google images and you will get most of them.
I've a whole folder on my computer of knife pictures of Bill's I've collected over the years. Just wish i was older and not a student so I could actually really buy them and not be bankrupt for the rest of the year

But sure.

The best reply to what is a Hell's Belle is that it is the perfect fighting Bowie. Hands down. And ya would put your hands up if someone drew on ya.

Gotta love them. Beauties of workmanship and pure knife craft and skill.
Gotta agree with Marsus too. Bill has some cracking names. I especially love Satan's Lace. Which probably sounds better said in a Texan accent than a deep Northern Irish one.

Sam Salvati · May 15, 2009

I agree some very cool names

.

Thanks for th elink Pootsy, I missed that one.

Bill Burke · May 15, 2009

Eric Fritz makes a fine Hells bells replica and is endorsed by Bill himself

JParanee · May 16, 2009

Sam I like your swords that I have seen. looking forward to see what you can come up with.
I always like posting pics of HB's so here are some of mine and some others

Some Others

Sam Salvati · May 16, 2009

Thanks JP, always good to see different options and directions Bill goes with these. Is bill on the forums?

JParanee · May 16, 2009

No Sam he is on dial up and pics do not work well for him takes to long to load. He is a very good writer though and did Soldier of Fortune's knife column for a number of years. He has a book out that is a compulation of his articles and it discusses the virtues of a pure breed fighting bowie. Check it out interesting read and very enjoyable. He has a candid and what I find very interesting writeing style which I really like. He is all about performance blades and has some very good points on why he does things that the more I use blades the more I apreciate what he has to say. Hope I have been helpful. He is makeing me another HB that is due around the NY show or if an opening comes up maybe sooner.

lwrhea · May 16, 2009

The book is "Bowies, Big Knives, and the Best of Battle Blades". Good information in there. Lin

Sam Salvati · May 16, 2009

Thanks Lin, I was just gonna ask for the isbn.