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A Bowie knife is a specific thing, even though the term is loosely applied to most any large hunting knife. A Bowie knife has distinguishing features that make it very specialized in certain ways and very versatile in others. The principal difference between a Bowie and most hunting knives is that a Bowie was designed to be a dual-purpose device in a specific regard: It was designed both for utility and as an implement of self-defense. The design carries the name of its original carrier, Jim Bowie, a legendary frontiersman and one of the fighters at the Alamo.
The Bowie knife is distinguished from most other knives by its distinctive blade shape. This blade features a “clip” at the end. This feature may look somewhat familiar to fans of sabers and other edged weapons of war. The clip makes it easier for the blade to penetrate into flesh with a thrust, one of the principal strong points of this knife. The clip is the angled section found at the tip of the blade. The knife’s wide blade design is made lighter and more deadly by this design and more suitable for fighting.
Bowie knives without the characteristic hand guards do not deserve the name. The hand guard is angled down on the bottom and up on the top. In romantic assessments, this was used by the wielder to trap the blade of another fighter. In reality, this is a popular guard design on many fighting knives as it easily deflects, not traps, the blade of an opponent. This design is also seen on some swords. The downward-pointing lower hand guard ensures that blades are safely deflected away from the user’s hand, which is a primary target in any fight with bladed weapons.
The Bowie knife always has a single edge. This is where it really blends a tool with a weapon. For obvious reasons, double-edges are preferred on many fighting knives. The single edge on a Bowie makes it more practical for the user and lends strength to the blade. The blade is also very thick and wide. In a camping situation, this makes it ideal for chopping and hacking.
A Bowie knife generally has a distinctive hand guard, which is swept up toward the tip on the top and down toward the hilt on the edge-side of the blade. This protects the user’s hand. It is useful for fighting but also prevents the user’s hand from sliding up the blade. On the base of the blade, owners will find a small cutout called a “Spanish notch”. This was often used to cut sinew and cord.
Dave is the owner of an online bowie knife and glock grip extension store.
Choosing bowie knives from the plethora of designs and construction materials on the market today can be quite confusing. You’ll need to choose the right blade material, as well as the right blade size. However, you will also need to know what type of material you want in the handle. Bowie knives feature a number of materials used for handle creation and each offers unique benefits (as well as costs). What are your options?
You’ll find that steel is one of the most commonly used materials for bowie knife handles. While metal handles are frequently added to “modern” evolutions of the bowie knife, you’ll find some knives based on the original design that feature these types of handles. Metal is a good choice for excellent grip, for durability and for longevity. However, be aware that improper storage of bowie knives with metal handles can lead to rust in some cases.
You will find that bowie knives can also feature handles made out of metal. Steel is the usual choice here. You will also find that these handles are usually joined to bowie knives that feature more modernistic designs, such as those with saw-tooth edges on the spine of the blade. Of course, one of the best things about metal handles is that you do not have to worry about the handle wearing out over time, though corrosion can be a problem in some rare cases.
Other options for handle material include plastics, composites, bone and even linen (hardened with a special manufacturing process). Each of these offers unique benefits, whether that be cost reduction, lighter weight or even longer lasting durability. Bone, in particular, is ideal for any bowie knife that you might want to display, as well as for those knives that will actually see use in the real world. However, before you can choose any of these materials, you should know what you want in a handle, as well as what to look for under the handle.
Leather – Leather wrapped handles are also quite popular. Usually, a piece (or several pieces) of high quality leather will be wrapped over a wood or steel handle. The leather used might be any color, ranging from black to blue and all the colors in between. You will also find numerous different types of leather offered, from standard cowhide to more exotic options, as well.
Dave is the owner of an online bowie hunting knives and glock grip extensions store.
Some Bowie knives come with drop point blades. Depending upon your perspective on the matter, this is either more or less traditional than the clip point blade with which Bowies are more often associated. The drop point designs go back as far as the knives and the extremely clipped blades are sometimes entirely modern inventions.
A drop point is similar in design to a clip point, with a few differences. On a clip point, the spine of the blade drops down well before the point, giving it its distinctive clipped appearance. On a drop point Bowie knife, the spine continues almost all the way to the point. This offers a number of advantages to users. For instance, because the spine (the thicker part of the blade) extends farther, the blade is stronger. It can handle heavier tasks than can thinner blades.
The single most important advantage for Bowie knives with a drop point blade is the fact that the entire blade can be used for cutting, whether you are cutting through hide on game or skinning a fish. This is considerably better than other designs that force you to cut mostly with the point.
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Bowie knives were originally designed as fighting knives. A clipped point blade, to put it bluntly, is intended as a death-dealing device. It concentrates the force of a thrust on to the point of the blade and the small size of the initial portion makes it easy to slide this blade into the body when stabbing. It’s no coincidence that many sabers have this blade design, as well. Where lethality is concerned, there are few more effective designs among edged weapons.
When you’re shopping around for Bowie knives, this question of blade shape will be one of the foremost. If you’re planning on cleaning a lot of game, a dropped point may be more suitable. Unlike combat, you never want to pierce the abdomen beyond the shallowest depths. when you’re field dressing an animal. If you’re looking for a knife that harkens back to the combat heritage of Bowies, you probably will be happier with a clipped point blade. It’s easy to see, just looking at them, that such blades were made for fighting and that is an important part of the history of Bowie knives.
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knifes store featuring survival knives.
One can purchase a Bowie knife in a broad range of sizes. To be considered a Bowie, the knife should be at least 6″ long. Many models hover around 12″ in length. There are even large examples of Bowies out there, but their practical value is arguable. Most often, Bowie knives are between 10″ and 14″ in length, excluding the blade. This means that one has several options, depending upon toward which use they intend to put the knife.
Bowie knives were designed to be combination tools. Remember, however, that Jim Bowie used his knife for both fighting and general frontier work. Most individuals will not have any real use for a fighting knife and, thus, will need to purchase a Bowie that offers them a very reliable, specific function that doesn’t require that the blade be intimidating or deadly, as was the case in Bowie’s life. Today, Bowie knife blades are chosen for the actual work they can perform.
For skinning or cleaning an animal, the clipped point on a Bowie knife is a huge advantage. It basically allows the user to employ what amounts to a smaller knife and to avail themselves of the agility and control advantages inherent in smaller blades. The fact that the blade does have a hefty portion makes it suitable for dealing with bone, as well. The Spanish notch is sometimes used to cut sinew. With a high-quality, sharp blade, a smaller Bowie is an excellent hunting implement.
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One has to take their own body into account when they purchase Bowie knives, as well. A person with small hands or a young person will likely find a 12-inch Bowie a bit much to handle with any precision. A smaller knife is ideal. For those with very large hands or who have a great deal of experience with blades, long Bowies are excellent options. The clipped point offsets the size of the blade, in some regards, and can provide an agile cutting point for precise work.
Remember that there are legal issues with large knives. Bowie knives are intended to be carried in sheaths and, in many cases, this is the only way they may be legally carried in some jurisdictions. One should make certain that their knife is visible on their belt, as well, to avoid running afoul of concealed weapons laws. In many areas, knives of over 6″ in length will be illegal for public carry. Be sure to check ahead before showing off one’s knew Bowie knife!
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knife store featuring hunting knives.