One of the most important questions when considering the purchase of a bowie knife is what it can cut. What can you use that new bowie knife to cut? What are the limitations? Will it cut equally well through skin as through cooked meat or raw vegetables? What about wood and underbrush? What uses can you put that new bowie knife to?
Let's take a look at the question of size. Bowie knives are available in a bewildering range of sizes, from six inches to more than a foot long. Obviously, you won't want to take a six or seven inch knife out for the task of chopping firewood. That's better left to a hatchet or an axe. However, if you have one of the longer bowie knives, they can be quite heavy enough to use as a hatchet (if needs be). You'll find that larger blades are excellent for any task requiring chopping and that bone, wood and even light metal can be cut with consummate ease.
Now, what do these factors have to do with your knife? Why can't a single bowie knife be used to cut through brush and then used to gut and clean that freshly caught fish? Why can't you slice a tomato into paper-thin pieces and then use that same knife to cut up kindling for the night's fire? Well, actually, you can. However, why would you want to? You will find that some bowie knife types are better suited to specific cutting tasks than are others. As an example, a larger bowie knife might be heavy enough and resilient enough to be used as a hatchet, allowing you to clear brush and even chop up small to moderate trees for the night's fire.
You'll find that knives made out of high carbon steel offer a better edge, which is ideal for areas where you need a very precise cut - say when skinning an animal, or butterflying chicken breasts. However, if you were to take that same knife and use it for hacking wood for the fire, you'll find that, while it works, your edge is dulled very rapidly. Therefore, the longer the blade is, the more ideal it is for cutting things like wood, bone or heavy muscle. Thinner, shorter blades are better suited to cutting things like skin, fat or for use in areas where precision is required.
Before purchasing any bowie knives, you should make sure that you are buying a design that will fit your intended purposes. Otherwise, you might find that you are doing little more than throwing your money down the drain and that your knife does not stand the test of time. - 31499
Let's take a look at the question of size. Bowie knives are available in a bewildering range of sizes, from six inches to more than a foot long. Obviously, you won't want to take a six or seven inch knife out for the task of chopping firewood. That's better left to a hatchet or an axe. However, if you have one of the longer bowie knives, they can be quite heavy enough to use as a hatchet (if needs be). You'll find that larger blades are excellent for any task requiring chopping and that bone, wood and even light metal can be cut with consummate ease.
Now, what do these factors have to do with your knife? Why can't a single bowie knife be used to cut through brush and then used to gut and clean that freshly caught fish? Why can't you slice a tomato into paper-thin pieces and then use that same knife to cut up kindling for the night's fire? Well, actually, you can. However, why would you want to? You will find that some bowie knife types are better suited to specific cutting tasks than are others. As an example, a larger bowie knife might be heavy enough and resilient enough to be used as a hatchet, allowing you to clear brush and even chop up small to moderate trees for the night's fire.
You'll find that knives made out of high carbon steel offer a better edge, which is ideal for areas where you need a very precise cut - say when skinning an animal, or butterflying chicken breasts. However, if you were to take that same knife and use it for hacking wood for the fire, you'll find that, while it works, your edge is dulled very rapidly. Therefore, the longer the blade is, the more ideal it is for cutting things like wood, bone or heavy muscle. Thinner, shorter blades are better suited to cutting things like skin, fat or for use in areas where precision is required.
Before purchasing any bowie knives, you should make sure that you are buying a design that will fit your intended purposes. Otherwise, you might find that you are doing little more than throwing your money down the drain and that your knife does not stand the test of time. - 31499
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring rubber training knives and butane lighters for camping.
