What makes a Bowie......

[D.Ellis]

Those all look like bowies to me. Fine work.
Darcy  

[Lamey]

its amazing... folks here on TG, both makers and customers, seem to have a better grasp on what a "Bowie" is then the big knife sites.

Yeah, I know its a broad definition, and I know it varies alot with each person.

I will say this, there is something about a big Bowie thats built right,  it will put a big smile on your face when picked up, unlike any other knife for me.

[ron w]

As far as a working Bowie, does anybody like a spear point blade over the clip style.....would one be more durable than the other? By the way....beautiful examples have been shown!!  

[kbaknife]

You are a real poet, Doug.
And one hell of a knife maker.

[Lin Rhea]

Ron,
      So much depends on the intended use of the knife. I recently made me a Bowie (Bear Claw). I wanted a sharp clip, sort of pokie in case I need to finish a hog or something. It will work fine around camp, but my Camp Knives are shaped slightly different still. The Camp Knives are usually better at chopping but not as pointed on the tip. To me, a Bowie has to try to be more of a "do all" knife, borrowing some of the characteristics of other type knives wrapped up in a pretty and traditional (in my view) package.

The account of Jim Bowie approaching James Black with his wooden pattern illustrates that he and Black both had their ideas of what made a good design for Bowie's intended purpose. We are not exactly (100%) sure of that first pattern but, the chronological descent of knives that were influenced by Bowies knife gives us a general picture of the knife.

[2treks]

Man-o-man. What a bunch a knives!!

Lin, are there any surviving examples of Jim Bowie's knives?
Where could I find the account of the meeting with Mr.Black?

CTT

[ron w]

Thanks Lin, I guess I have to decide how much work I'm going to with it. I'm thinking clearing shooting lanes, work around the camp/kitchen and what ever was needed on a canoe/kayak trip. I'm glad I asked these questions......it has enlightened me!!      

[kbaknife]

Can this be called a Bowie?

 your pics are to wide please resize and post again thanks.

[ron w]

I'm thinking that would be a fine example.....very nice!

[Lin Rhea]

I dont care what you call it, it gorgeous!
Karl, that's nice. My kind of Ironwood too.

I'm glad you asked it too Ron!

Chuck, We (where I work at the Historic Arkansas Museum)have two that are presumed to have been Jim Bowie's knives, one being made by James Black. I say presumed because there are very few knives with iron clad provenance. We do have one made by Black, for sure, but circumstanial evidence of a couple more, including the Bowie Number One. Strong evidence, beyond question in my view. We also have another knife that was likely owned by Bowie, The Bart Moore Bowie (shown above).

For the account, you can google it or find several books about it. Dr James Batson wrote a detailed and comprehensive booklet about it. I have one somewhere. He visits sometime and I guess I take it for granted when we are discussing the subject. However I do collect books and articles about it. The book "The Bowie Knife, unsheathing the legend" is another source of information but presents the account in a somewhat negative light.

[2treks]

That beaut looks huge Karl. What a great looking knife.

Thank you Lin, Such great history in a style. and you have access to it each day. It sure would be great to work with that kind of history as inspiration.

Great stuff guys. Now I want me one of them short swords!!

CTT

[Doug Campbell]

Dang Karl, I'd call that one "BB" for Beautiful Bowie! A masculine beautiful of course...  

[Lin Rhea]

Here is a couple of reference works that provide some insight on the whole James Black involvement in Bowie Knives. Admittedly, it would be good to access the Flayderman book to compere it's "findings". Also a picture of the booklet I mentioned above by Dr Batson. It appears to be out of print but this might lead to one somewhere on the web.

One can glean enough information to piece together a reasonable picture of the account if you are willing to read.

Its interesting to me how being in the room with those knives can elicit a deeper interest in this subject. It emphasizes the importance of museums and historic preservation in general.


  Revisiting the James Black Question After the Flayderman Opus by Bill Worthen  

   

[ron w]

With that full guard it does look like a short sword and I can see in a fight how it could be a very intimidating weapon. Yet still cut your biscuit in half to mop the gravy at dinner....lol!

[tomsm44]

That picture with the full gaurd got me thinking.  I saw a picture one time of a civil war era reverse edge d-gaurd bowie.  Supposedly, these were somewhat rare, but were favored by more experienced knife fighters.  Having the curved sharpened edge on the top of the blade was suposed to make it a more effective weapon by allowing it to be swung upward, meaning that the knife could go under rather than through the enemy's rib cage.  This fighting style also allowed you to keep a more crouched compact stance instead of stretching out and exposing yourself with an overhand swing.  If anybody has any pictures of this style knife, I would love to see it posted.  I guess this would be one of the branches in the Bowie's family tree that never really caught on and eventually died out.

[JMartin]

Awesome thread, beautiful knives!

[ron w]

Back to the top to see if there any more thoughts on the subject......     Thanks

[drewsbow]

Ok now my thought is I want one