Characteristics of Bowie Knives
The Bowie knife is one of the most remarkable tools to ever be created. This knife serves equally well during camping, fishing, hunting or as a form of personal protection. While most people are familiar with the general shape and form of a Bowie knife, understanding what actually qualifies a knife to claim that particular name can be a little difficult.
Because of the intense popularity of Bowie knives, you’ll find a wide range of different styles. In fact, there are so many different types, that it can be hard to tell what is real and what is not. For instance, you’ll find knives from the Rambo movies that are derivatives of the Bowie knife, but feature a serrated back (spine). You’ll find “Bowie” style machetes, as well. The real determining factor in the equation is your own personal tastes. For instance, if you are a purist, then the Rambo and Predator editions are certainly out of the running for true Bowie status.
The blade should be at least six inches long. It can exceed this length, though. You’ll find Bowie knives with blades as long as twelve inches, or even longer. The blade should be at least one inch wide, though longer knives might be up to two inches in width. The blade should only have a single edge, running along the bottom of the edge. These may or may not have a Spanish Notch – an area supposedly designed to trap an enemy’s knife blade, but more likely used in a utilitarian manner.
The classic look is what most purists accept as a true Bowie knife, though even here, there is much disparity. Some collectors even accept Sheffield Bowies as true Bowie knives (these feature a sharpened back curve on the point, where the clipped portion curves up to meet the knife’s spine).
Finally, the knife should have only a single edge, though some versions with saw-teeth on the spine have been produced, based on a military design that saw use during the Vietnam war (and featured in films such as the Rambo series). Of course, the status of a particular knife will vary with each person, depending on whether they are purists or just knife lovers.
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie hunting knife store featuring Cold Steel bowie knifes. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of a specialty lighters store.
3313 Marine Raider Bowie
- 1095 Carbon Steel Blade
- 10″ Blade
- 15: Overall Length
- Cordura Nylon Sheath
- US Made
Product Description
This is a Super impressive knife!!… More >>
Marine Raider Bowie
- 1095 Carbon Steel Blade
- 10″ Blade
- 15: Overall Length
- Cordura Nylon Sheath
- US Made
Product Description
This is a Super impressive knife!!… More >>
Ka-bar Heavy Bowie: Wicked And Cheap
The “Heavy Bowie” knife is high value, large survival knife by Ka-Bar. Dont let the generic, unimaginative name throw you: this is a serious blade ready for serious work, in both the survival and…
Sog Tech Bowie Combat Knife
SOG Tech Bowie Combat Knife AUS8 steel good balance reasonable weight Kydex sheath
Bowie Knives: Then and Now
There are a lot of stories about how the bowie knife came about. Bowie Knife was named after a famous soldier, land speculator, slave trader, gambler named Colonel James Bowie. The story goes that James was in a fight in 1826 where a sheriff named Norris Wright fired at James at point blank range but the bullet was deflected and James survived the encounter. After the fight, James’ brother Rezin Bowie gave James a large knife that resembled a large butcher knife. Many believe that James’ brother Rezin Bowie actually designed the knife and commissioned the first one to be made and not James Black, an Arkansas blacksmith as others claim.
James’Bowie had been involved in a famous fight where his knife had been of great help to him. All those who witnessed the fight remembered Bowie’s “big butcher knife”. His fight was reported in newspapers around the country and the legend of Jim Bowie and his Bowie knife was born. People everywhere wanted a Bowie knife and countless versions of various sizes and styles were made by countless cutlers and blacksmiths.
Since then, the famous knife has been redesigned and popularized in Hollywood movies like “The Iron Mistress” and several books and TV shows. In the late 1970s, Bowie knives with saw teeth machined into the back side of the blade have had a certain popularity among collectors, possibly due to the appearance of such a knife in the first Rambo film with Sylvester Stallone. Knives with this feature are still being made and sold, often called “survival knives” and incorporating a hollow handle that can theoretically be used to carry assorted survival gear, of quality ranging from the excellent to the very poor. Today, almost any knife with a blade more than a few inches long and a clip point is often called a Bowie knife. For that reason, the Bowie knife deserves a part in knife history as one of the most famous and often copied knives in the world.
Today, Bowie Knife comes with handles made of wood, bone, leather or gold, in lengths ranging from miniature to near short sword size. Handles have finger holds and brass plated guards and pommels. You can now have varied choices from the different types of <a keyword=”Bowie Knives for sale ” href= “www.BowieKnifesale.com”> Bowie Knives for sale </a> or a <a keyword=”custom bowie knife” href= “www.BowieKnifesale.com”> custom bowie knife</a>. You can also avail of good bargain prices in stores offering <a keyword=”Bowie Knife sale” ” href= “www.BowieKnifesale.com”> Bowie Knife sale</a>.
Nevertheless, the choice of a Bowie knife is an acquisition that requires a great deal of review and study for the true aficionado or collector. Weight, balance, appearance and size are all features that should be reviewed and ranked before making the final selection of the right Bowie knife.
Donna Raye is an avid reader of books and magazines. She loves learning, traveling, and playing with her dogs.