The Legend of the Bowie Knife
The Bowie Knife is probably one of the most famous knives in the United States today. How was this knife made so famous? Well, although we may wish
or believe it was true, John Wayne did not make the Bowie knife famous. Now, I am sure that his movie, “The Alamo” did not hurt its popularity.
The first Bowie knife was supposedly designed by the brother of James Bowie, Rezin in Avoyelles Parish in Louisiana. It was actually made by Jesse Clift, a blacksmith. The knife was created to protect Rezin from some of the company he was keeping.
In 1827, a famous duel occurred across from Natchez, Mississippi on a sandbar in the Mississippi River. James Bowie was a second in a duel but found himself in the middle. Bowie was badly beaten, shot and even stabbed. But, in the end he cut one man to shreds ands disemboweled another with the famous butcher knife.
Later on in 1830, James Bowie was attacked by three no-account hired killers in the brutal state of Texas. The legend tells of Bowie using his huge knife to kill these three rascals. The finale of the fight left a man beheaded, another disemboweled and the third with a split skull.
James Bowie was killed by Mexican soldiers during the fall of the Alamo. Legend has it that he was overrun while lying ill in a cot in the Low Barracks with his Bowie knife in one hand and a pistol in the other. It is believed that he killed nine Mexican soldiers before he finally succumbed.
There is nothing like a knife with a good history behind it. The problem with this one is that history is so clouded with tall tales and legends that it is tough to derive fact from fiction and simple exaggeration.
The original Bowie knife was about twelve inches long take or leave a few centimeters. It was also two inches wide and about a quarter inch thick. The back of the knife has a soft inlaid metal that had the purpose of catching the opponent’s blade during a ruckus. There was also a brass quillon set solidly in place to protect the hand.
The Bowie knife continues to grow more famous as the tales and legends grow. Today, the Bowie knife can mean an assortment of styles and designs. The sad part to all of this history is that he original Bowie disappeared to never be found again.
There are many nice looking Bowie knives on the market today manufactured by top names in the business.
Cold Steel knives, known for their use of the VG-1 steel have manufactured some very good looking Bowie knives. The Natchez Bowie knife is an absolute work of art. Cold Steel has used a black 5.38 inch Micarta wood handle for this knife. The blade is a strong 11.75 inches long. You will just have to see this knife to enjoy it.
Cold Steel has also created the Laredo Bowie knife constructed with the VG-1 San Mai III steel as well. This knife comes with the 5.19 black linen Micarta handle which I think makes the finest knife handles out there. The blade is ten and a half inches long.
Now, I really like what Emerson knives have done with the Bowies. They make what they call a Combat Bowie. This thing looks meaner than a snake. I think if Jim Bowie would have had one of these way back when, he may have added a few more enemy soldiers to his list of kills.
The CQC-13-SFS Emerson Combat Bowie comes with a gruesome looking combination edge, half being serrated and the end half being plain. The blade length is 3.85 inches long and the handle is 5.15 inches long bringing the knife to a full nine inches. The blade material is 154CM satin.
Emerson’s Bowie knives may not be as long and big as many on the market, but these bad boys look tough. They are also built for use and not just to hang over the mantle next to your coon skin cap.
I would like to throw in that Ka-Bar and SOG make some fine Bowies. Take a look at the Ka-Bar heavy Bowies when you have some free browsing time on the Internet. Also check out SOG’s line of Tech Bowies. You will not be disappointed.
If you are a Bowie lover like I am, I can guarantee you that you will never find a lack of quality Bowie knives out there on the manufactured knife market. They keep spitting out beautiful and rugged designs every year like sunflower seeds.
Good luck on your Bowie knife hunt and always remember, you can hang it over the mantle, just don’t wear it to the grocery store.
~Cole
The first Bowie knife was supposedly designed by the brother of James Bowie, Rezin in Avoyelles Parish in Louisiana. It was actually made by Jesse Clift, a blacksmith. The knife was created to protect Rezin from some of the company he was keeping.
In 1827, a famous duel occurred across from Natchez, Mississippi on a sandbar in the Mississippi River. James Bowie was a second in a duel but found himself in the middle. Bowie was badly beaten, shot and even stabbed. But, in the end he cut one man to shreds ands disemboweled another with the famous butcher knife.
Later on in 1830, James Bowie was attacked by three no-account hired killers in the brutal state of Texas. The legend tells of Bowie using his huge knife to kill these three rascals. The finale of the fight left a man beheaded, another disemboweled and the third with a split skull.
There is nothing like a knife with a good history behind it. The problem with this one is that history is so clouded with tall tales and legends that it is tough to derive fact from fiction and simple exaggeration.
The original Bowie knife was about twelve inches long take or leave a few centimeters. It was also two inches wide and about a quarter inch thick. The back of the knife has a soft inlaid metal that had the purpose of catching the opponent’s blade during a ruckus. There was also a brass quillon set solidly in place to protect the hand.
The Bowie knife continues to grow more famous as the tales and legends grow. Today, the Bowie knife can mean an assortment of styles and designs. The sad part to all of this history is that he original Bowie disappeared to never be found again.
There are many nice looking Bowie knives on the market today manufactured by top names in the business.
Cold Steel knives, known for their use of the VG-1 steel have manufactured some very good looking Bowie knives. The Natchez Bowie knife is an absolute work of art. Cold Steel has used a black 5.38 inch Micarta wood handle for this knife. The blade is a strong 11.75 inches long. You will just have to see this knife to enjoy it.
Cold Steel has also created the Laredo Bowie knife constructed with the VG-1 San Mai III steel as well. This knife comes with the 5.19 black linen Micarta handle which I think makes the finest knife handles out there. The blade is ten and a half inches long.
Now, I really like what Emerson knives have done with the Bowies. They make what they call a Combat Bowie. This thing looks meaner than a snake. I think if Jim Bowie would have had one of these way back when, he may have added a few more enemy soldiers to his list of kills.
The CQC-13-SFS Emerson Combat Bowie comes with a gruesome looking combination edge, half being serrated and the end half being plain. The blade length is 3.85 inches long and the handle is 5.15 inches long bringing the knife to a full nine inches. The blade material is 154CM satin.
Emerson’s Bowie knives may not be as long and big as many on the market, but these bad boys look tough. They are also built for use and not just to hang over the mantle next to your coon skin cap.
I would like to throw in that Ka-Bar and SOG make some fine Bowies. Take a look at the Ka-Bar heavy Bowies when you have some free browsing time on the Internet. Also check out SOG’s line of Tech Bowies. You will not be disappointed.
If you are a Bowie lover like I am, I can guarantee you that you will never find a lack of quality Bowie knives out there on the manufactured knife market. They keep spitting out beautiful and rugged designs every year like sunflower seeds.
Good luck on your Bowie knife hunt and always remember, you can hang it over the mantle, just don’t wear it to the grocery store.
~Cole
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