Bowie Knives

[s&wchad]

Larry, there has been SO much written about the "original" Bowie knife, that it's very hard to determine if anything is a "genuine" replication. Rezin Bowie supposedly described it at essentially a large butcher knife, without a handguard.

You're saying this old Henckel's Twin Works could be considered a Bowie?
Makes sense… The 14" blade is a bit much for trimming radishes!

 

[Heinz]

This is a period English Bowie by George Wolstenholme. I used to be able to date these pretty close but I don't have the references handy. Somewhere between the American Civil War and the turn of the 20th Century

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Edge Brand bowie. These were Solingen made in the 60s-70s.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

You're saying this old Henckel's Twin Works could be considered a Bowie?
Makes sense… The 14" blade is a bit much for trimming radishes!

When many people discuss the "butcher knife" Bowie used in the Sand Bar Fight the look of the knife is very close. To your knife here. One difference is Bowie's knife was said to have a straight top edge with no curve.

 

[Bill Raby]

Bowie knives are not supposed to be practical. They are for fighting. It is the American version of a short sword.

 

[skilled]

Sheffield Bowies from the 19th Century, When having a Bowie on your hip was a necessity for survival on the Frontier.

 

[Farmer17]

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Henry-181UH-Bowie-Fixed/dp/B00TUY0A3O[/ame]


I have this Uncle Henry Stag handle Bowie that is use mainly for a little yard work or cutting the new grow limbs off my tree trunks and the 10 inch blade helps me reach pretty high. I love the looks and feel of the knife and it has great steel but the black nylon sheath looks out of place and it begs for a hand made leather sheath. Maybe I'll buy a kit and make one this winter.

 

[Marshwheeling]

This Scrap Yard knife is billed as a Bowie.. I don't think of it as a Bowie, but I am not sure how else to characterize it. The blade is just a bit over 8", not quite upswept, but with a little bit of concavity to the spine.

Another member has posted one of these. There is more than one way to make a comfortable knife handle. SYKCO's reseprine-C makes for some of my favorites.

 

[welldoya]

Buck 184 and Puma Bowie.

 

[boykinlp]

I started this thread, and still love seeing stuff added. Since I started it, I have been working on making up MY perfect Bowie knife. I bought a Western W49 to use as my starter knife. Acquired a nice piece of Crown Sambar Stag for the handle, and got it installed. Then yesterday, I decided to age the blade by giving it a forced patina. Here are the results so far:
Larry

 

[lowriderfxr]

My Confederates .

 

[Road Rat]

One of my ten inch knives.

Too large for practical use

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

I like my big knives.

Not very practical, but for some things they are just the ticket.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I started this thread, and still love seeing stuff added. Since I started it, I have been working on making up MY perfect Bowie knife. I bought a Western W49 to use as my starter knife. Acquired a nice piece of Crown Sambar Stag for the handle, and got it installed. Then yesterday, I decided to age the blade by giving it a forced patina. Here are the results so far:
Larry

That looks great. Excellent handle, too. The now rustic blade really compliments the antler. It looked really nice before, though, too.

 

[boykinlp]

That looks great. Excellent handle, too. The now rustic blade really compliments the antler. It looked really nice before, though, too.

Thanks, WB. I actually used ketchup to force patina on the blade! It is super easy, and pretty quick too. I was amazed at the results.
Larry

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Thanks, WB. I actually used ketchup to force patina on the blade! It is super easy, and pretty quick too. I was amazed at the results.
Larry

No wonder my French fries always turn patina!

 

[Mainsail]

This is the closest to a Bowie that I have

 

[skilled]

R.S. Stenton. Stamped I can cut a bow/and split a dollar. Late 1830's

 

[BARgunner]

I've only got one that meets the 10"qualifier, a Randall Confederate Bowie, 12" blade, nickel silver hilt, and walnut handle. It feels great in my hand.

 

[Echo40]

Buck 184 and Puma Bowie.

The Buckmaster 184, 185LT, and 639 Fieldmate are the coolest knives ever made, IMO. I really wish that Buck still made them, even if only in limited runs because they command stupidly high prices these days, like upwards of $400 in terrible condition.

I was able to get a used 639 last year, but I had to pay just under $200 for it.