Bowie knife: description, shape, purpose, interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:42

A wide range of different piercing and cutting products is presented on the modern knife market. Judging by consumer reviews, Bowie-type knives are especially popular among hunters. The birthplace of these blades is the United States of America. From the 30s of the 19th century to the present day, the Bowie knife has been considered a universal version of edged weapons. Along with the legendary Colt, this blade has become a symbol of the United States. Information about the history of the creation of the Bowie knife, interesting facts, as well as a description and purpose of this cutting product is contained in the article.

Introduction

The Bowie Knife is a legendary American edged weapon, the origin of which has been created by many legends. According to experts, in the manufacture of any clear standards for these cutting products are not provided. Bowie knives are available in several varieties.

Differences in the model range of knives affected the length of the blade and the shape of the handle. Only the shape of the cutting part always remains unchanged. The purpose of the knives does not change either. These cleavers are considered universal cutting products that can help out both on a hunt and in a combat situation.

Description

The Bowie knife is a piercing-cutting product, with an S-shaped or straight bronze guard and a butt beveled at the very end. The blade is characterized by the presence of an arcuate concave bevel towards the point. A similar specific form of a knife among professionals is called a clip-point. It is convenient to inflict stabbing blows with such a product, like a dagger. In addition, this large knife has a well-honed, razor-like blade edge. The handles are flat and made of wooden plates. They can also be from the horn of an animal. The plates are fastened with screws or special rivets. The American Bowie knife is carried in a sheath. Today, there is no information about what the design of this legendary blade should be. According to experts, a real Bowie knife should be at least 240 mm long and 38 mm wide.

Who made the blade famous?

The Cleaver was named after the legendary Colonel, hero of the Texas Revolution, James Bowie. The sphere of activity of this peculiar person was very wide: on the one hand, he was an officer in the American army, and on the other, a dodgy businessman who, in achieving his goal, did not disdain anything. Bowie traded in land and livestock, and also resold South African slaves, who were called "ebony" at the time. For your life BowieI had to fight with the Indians and the sheriffs. Developing his business, James acquired connections with pirates. Bowie had a very rabid temperament and also proved himself to be a very vindictive person. This character allowed him to make many enemies. The Texas Revolution, in which he took a direct part, gave the state of cowboys independence from Mexico. Killed during the defense of the famous Fort Alamo.

James Bowie is a real son of his era. Like Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, Buffalo Beam and other notorious scumbags, Bowie joined the pantheon of heroes of the Wild West. But world fame for this man was brought by the combat knife he often used. There are many legends associated with this monstrous cleaver, made by his older brother.

About versions of origin

In the Colonel's life, slave trading, hunting and smuggling were the main activities. According to one version, the brother of James Bowie was directly involved in the creation of this edged weapon. According to Rezin Bowie, a person who is connected financially with smugglers, pirates and other dark personalities cannot do without a reliable means of protection. In those years, only a knife could be such a tool. It can be used as a cutting tool for hunting, and in case of danger, used in the company of pirates. The first version of such a blade was ordered from the blacksmith Jesse Clift. Rezin Bowie took advantage of the design of a 17th century Spanish hunting knife, which was not much different from a butcher's knife. Melee weapons are characterized by the presencesingle-edged blade, the length of which was 24 cm and a width of 38 mm.

The made knife, according to this version, was presented to the legendary colonel by his elder brother. According to some experts, the blacksmith made two versions of the knife. Upon completion of the work, they were presented to the customer. Reese Bowie showed the cleavers to his brother, who already chose a blade with an arcuate blade and a butt with a concave bevel.

Later this version was used as a prototype for a series of hunting knives. There is also a second legend about the origin of the knife. According to her, Reese Bowie, after a successful hunt, butchered the carcass of a hunted animal. According to one version, it was not a hunt, but a slaughterhouse. However, during skinning, the knife, unexpectedly for Reese Bowie, rested on the bone of the animal, as a result of which the hand slipped from the handle to the cutting part. Having almost lost several fingers, Reese Bowie thought about the need to create a new knife that would be more comfortable to hold in his hand. The older brother developed the design of the knife, which later became the weapon symbol of the United States. The knife was made by a neighbor who lived next door to Reese Bowie, a neighbor blacksmith Jesse Clift. The blade was reportedly made from an old hoof rasp. This special large file was used to process the hooves of horses before shoeing. According to other American legends, a piece of a meteorite found by Clift was taken as the basis for the legendary edged weapon. According to another version, meteorite steel was found by a seniorbrother. The handle of the knife was made of wood.

How did it all start?

According to experts, if James had not shown his adventurous nature, the blade created by Reese Bowie would have remained a little-known butcher's large knife. It was the conflict between Colonel and Major Norris Wright that brought the cleaver world fame.

While trading land, James Bowie needed a loan from a bank whose president was Wright. As a result of the refusal, Bowie fell through a very lucrative financial deal. In addition, Wright aspired to the position of sheriff. In the struggle for this post, he used bribery and other dirty methods. By slandering his opponent, who was supported by the colonel, Wright won. In 1826, the first duel took place between Bowie and the new sheriff. Having met a colonel in the city of Alexandria, Wright used firearms. However, the sheriff's bullet hit James' chest watch without causing him any harm. Since the sheriff did not have time to reload his weapons, the opponents met in hand-to-hand combat. During the duel, the colonel knocked Wright down and wanted to stab him using his jackknife. Since during the battle the edged weapons remained in the folded position, the colonel failed to finish off his enemy. The officers were separated, but this incident for the older Bowie was a signal that the younger brother needed a decent melee weapon that would bring him victory in close combat.

End of conflict

In 1927 Reason Bowie gave the Colonel his hunting knife. Soon a new meeting took place between James and Norris.duel, which was the last for the sheriff. This time, Bowie had a huge cleaver in his hands, and Wright wielded a sword. Stumbling on the colonel's bone, it broke. This gave Bowie the opportunity to inflict one steaming and very terrible blow to the stomach on his enemy. Wright's second was also killed with the same cleaver.

About mass production

Details of the duel between the colonel and the major were described in the newspapers. James Bowie became a celebrity. The authors of the notes paid special attention to the unusual cleaver that saved the colonel's life. The forge where this cleaver was made received numerous orders. Due to the imperfection of pistols and rifles, consumer demand has increased precisely for edged weapons. The versatility of the knife was especially appreciated: it could be used as an ax, machete and planer. In addition, the blade looked very impressive. The presence of this knife testified to the courage of its owner. The Bowie cutter was primarily used by the military, cowboys, hunters, robbers and other "gentlemen" who lead a life full of danger and adventure.

News of the "knife boom" in the Wild West has reached England. Wostenholm & Son is the first company in the UK to mass-produce Bowie blades. Seeing a great demand for these knives from the English consumer, George Vostenholme went to the city of Sheffield. Soon the first Washington Works knife factory was built there, employing 400 workers. The production of Bowie-type cleavers was also established in Birmingham. For cutting products manufactured in England, it wasprovided for the presence of the stigma "IXL", which meant "I surpass all."

By 1890, the knife market in the United States was dominated by items imported from Great Britain. According to experts, only two of the twenty knives on the counters in the USA in the 19th century were American-made. The high demand for Sheffield products is due to the presence of an inexpensive but very effective finish on the blades. The English masters decorated the handles of knives with various decorative elements, for the manufacture of which they used "white bronze" - an alloy of copper and nickel. This material was a very effective imitation of silver. Various patriotic inscriptions were applied to the blades as decorations. For example, "Americans never give up" or "Defender of the Patriot".

About blade steel

Today, many edged weapon enthusiasts will say that using rasps to make hunting cleavers is impractical and stupid. However, at that time in America, high-quality steel was used for the production of files. Rasps made from it were much more expensive than other tools. Files with teeth worn off as a result of long-term operation were not thrown away. They were subject to tempering and surface hardening procedures. Bowie knives in the 1830s in the United States were made by blacksmiths from a wide variety of metal fragments: old horseshoes, broken scythes, wheel rims and barrels. Since this steel is low-carbon, the knife from it turned out to be brittle and with a very unstable cutting edge.hem.

Soon there was a new raw material for the production of knives. High-quality Sheffield steel bars were imported from England, which were later used to make edged weapons. In the 20th century, blued steel and stainless steel are used for Bowie knives.

About the benefits of blades

According to experts, in the 1830s, most models of firearms were characterized by a weak rate of fire and poor workmanship. Shooting was accompanied by very frequent misfires. In addition, due to the design features of the weapon, it needed to be reloaded regularly. In close combat, the shooter's chances of surviving were very small. A completely different picture was with knives. The blade, unlike firearms, never failed and was in constant combat readiness. Once in skillful hands, the blade was much more dangerous than the pistol. Knives have found their application not only on the battlefield, but also in civilian life. Since it is convenient to cut the carcass of an animal with such a knife, and if necessary, use it as a means of surviving in an extreme situation, such cutting products were taken with them on a hunt. Due to their versatility, the blades were very popular with the civilian population as well.

About blade design

Depending on the tasks performed, the following Bowie knife blades have been developed:

• Straight butt.
• Blade with reduced spine axis.
• Knife equipped with a straight butt and partially sharpened.
• Blade with beveled butt in shapepike.
• Triangular blade.
• Knife of classic dagger type.
• A product with a double-edged curved blade, like an oriental dagger.
• In the form of a stiletto. Such a blade is made thin, and it contains three or four edges.
• Wave line blade.
• Knife with Japanese tanto blade.

About modifications

Since 1942, American infantrymen have been equipped with Bowie-type MK-II blades. Cutting products marked V42 V44 were used by United States pilots. These knives were used as edged weapons and tools. After the end of World War II, Indochina became the new theater of operations for the American troops. For deep raids in the jungle and fighting at short distances, the US Marine Corps needed new Bowie-type knives. Soon, American weapons technologists developed for the needs of the United States Air Force: the Kabar, M1963, SOG Bowie and Jungle Fighter blades. For the blade of these knife models, the shape of the legendary Bowie cleaver is provided. Serial production of blades was established in Japan.

About production features

Judging by the feedback from consumers, many are interested in how to make a Bowie knife? According to experts, when making such products, a home craftsman should take into account several important nuances, namely:

• To ensure that the guard of the Bowie hunting knife does not cling to clothes and does not interfere, its length should not exceed 70 mm.
• A knife equipped withsharpening from the reverse bevel. During operation, the owner does not have to twist his hand.
• The cutting properties of a Bowie knife will be reduced if its tip is very raised relative to the axis. Such a design will also adversely affect the effectiveness of piercing blows. If in the form of a knife the point is too low, then the blade will lose its chopping properties.

• The blade in the sheath is fixed more securely if the handle is equipped with a special hook. A similar result can also be achieved by thickening the walls of the scabbard. A properly made scabbard will be almost imperceptible on the owner's body.
• It is undesirable to make a knife blade too thin. This recommendation is due to the fact that the maximum force is applied to the tip located in the center of the blade during operation. With a piercing blow, it is transmitted to the handle and blade, and then focuses on the concave part of the blade. When struck with a knife with a thick blade, tissue resistance is not felt. If the cutting part is thin, then such a blade may break.

A real Bowie knife should be strong and sharpened in three directions. If the above parameters are observed, then, as experienced craftsmen assure, a large width of cuts and a terrible power of chopping blows will be achieved.

What do you need for work?

Before you start making a homemade Bowie cleaver, you need to get the following materials and tools:

• Car spring.
• Wood for the handle.
• Regular nails or pins.
• A tube of epoxy glue.
• Aluminum bar.
• Hammer.
• Bulgarian and drill.
• File set.
• Special oil in which the knife handle will be impregnated.

Progress of work

It will not be difficult to make a Bowie-type cleaver at home if you follow the following sequence of actions:

• Because the spring as a raw material has a curved shape, the master will first have to align it. To do this, the steel must be subjected to a tempering procedure. The spring is heated on coals in a special oven. It should just cool down in the air. According to experienced craftsmen, tempered steel is much easier to work with. The spring is processed on the anvil with a hammer. As a result, it should be a steel plate.
• At this stage, you need to make a cleaver template. Then the drawing is glued to the cardboard and applied to the workpiece. Using a marker, the outline of the knife must be transferred to the steel plate.
• Using a grinder, cut out the profile of the knife. Since the metal may overheat at this stage of work, it must be periodically moistened with water.
• Process the workpiece using a belt grinder. You can also use files or a grinder. At this stage, you need to ensure that the surface to be treated does not overheat.
• The blade will have good cutting properties if equipped with bevels. They are first drawn on the workpiece with a marker, andthen cut out with a grinder.
• Equip the handle of the cleaver with four holes for the pins. Hole diameter should match the thickness of brass rods or regular steel nails.
• Harden the workpiece in a furnace or fire. At this stage, you need a magnet. It periodically needs to be applied to the surface of the blade. If the magnet is not attracted, then the hardening procedure can be stopped. Then the blade must be dipped in a container with motor or vegetable oil. Be very careful as the oil may catch fire and splatter in all directions.
• The handle is made of two wooden plates. According to the contour of the workpiece, they are given the appropriate shape. Then holes for the pins are drilled. After that, the surface of the plates is smeared with epoxy glue. They are pressed against the workpiece with a clamp. Glue should dry for at least a day. When it finally hardens, you can perform the formation of the knife handle. Linseed oil is suitable for its impregnation. Some masters also use beeswax for this purpose.

The blade is polished with special pastes and felt nozzles. After this procedure, the knife will have a mirror surface

About curious facts

Many fans of edged weapons are interested in how much does a Bowie knife cost? The price of such a cutting and piercing product can reach 200 thousand dollars. In some states of America, it is forbidden to carry this knife. There are many legends surrounding these blades. According to one of them, a mouse was skinned with a blade of such a knife. There is also a version that the first knife used by American astronauts was a smaller copy of the Bowie cleaver. According to one of the legends, meteorite steel was used as a raw material for the knife, which was pierced seven times. For this purpose, the masters used the blood and fat of the jaguar.

There is also a legend that a colonel armed with this cleaver was attacked by five assassins. As a result, all the opponents of the colonel were stabbed to death, and he escaped with several minor wounds. There is a legend that James Bowie was able to kill ten Mexicans with his legendary knife before he was shot.