Who likes old bowies

[screened porch]

Very impressive Campbellman - you friend has some stunning knives.

I have that Olsen, if it's an 8" blade and 13" OA. I changed the handle though. Maybe decades ago. I'll take a pic.

 

[meako]

Bernard raked me over the coals lol - but Bernards style is at times harsh - but it works..

"He was a hard man. Vicious but fair."

None of these are ancient -the one at the bottom is a Schrade "Ted Williams" model. From what I've heard its a good job he was never asked to autograph it.

 

[Mack]

Here is my David Stifle Rifleman's Bowie, "David Bowie"

 

[stezann]

The bowie, like the dagger, used to have straight handles.
Today the trend is to give 'em sometimes exaggerated dropped handles. Any thoughts?

My uncle, an old timer prefers straight handles when it comes to a fighting knife.

 

[screened porch]

I've seen an old Bowie, pre-1850 I'm pretty sure, with the coffin-shaped handle canted toward the back at 15 or 20 degrees, so the blade points straight when the knife is held edge up.

 

[kamagong]

As you noted, the current fashion is to give bowies contoured handles. I like them. Straight handles are more versatile, but sculpted handles make a lot of sense with heavy, powerful blades. (I don't consider a knife a bowie just because it has a clip point blade, it has to be a certain size IMO.) There are many examples of large blades having contoured handles, the Filipino barong and the Nepalese khukuri spring to mind.



- Christian

 

[john april]

an old bowie / hunting type knife. ricasso stamp - Slash chas ibbotson & co cutlers sheffield 8 1/4" blade.

 

[Old Bowie]

My very good friends early I*XL, This is one of a set of two..
This knife is 15 inches long the other is over 17 inches long, very hard to get I*XL's of this nature these days......
The owner has MANY other Joseph Rodgers -Oh man you name it he has it, very very early plug Bayonets etc, early European etc Daggers, many Pre & Civil War Authentic Bowies.........Its a wonderful time visiting his place I can tell you, I took Fes from the Forums here to his place and my friend kindly gave him permission to view and handle them......


A early Sheffield Bowie, Tortoise Shell Handle with Pearl inlay remains of a pattern of a Peacock and intricate vine - I nearly bought this knife as it was in relatively good condition - and the price was right- but notified my friend with the Bowie collection and he bought it.


This was my pre-Civil War Bowie by G.Woodhead - I got Bernard to confirm my thoughts before buying this knife...I no longer own this...

And with it's Original Sheath.....


This is my hard to come by Olsen - this is 13 inches long ( I used to own Hundreds of the more modern day "Bowies" mid to early 1900's - but have never come across another 13 inch Olsen like this - I did once but that knife was ruined ), you can get the 10 inch versions now and then, but for the generic SOLINGEN "Bowies" this style of the very long Turkish Clip point is one that stands out amongst the usual generic pattern of the 1950 to 1970's style of Solingen "Bowies" - the blade shape is Factory and remains untouched in the way of modifications.

Awesome knives Duncan - love that IXL. By the way my name is Rick.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Lol - Awesome Rick! and thank you for the kind comments.

Woodster Sir -THAT BOWIE IS ASTONISHING!! That is one very very nice genuine knife - I would love to see more.

 

[Jack Black]

Great to see this thread pop up again, some absolutely wonderful knives :thumbup:

This recent thread contains some Bowie links (and lots of very uneducated guesswork by me! ): http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ves-of-Cassius-M-Clay-of-Kentucky-(1810-1903)