There are several different variations on the basic Bowie knife design available on the market. There are, however, essential characteristics of these knives that must be present before a knife can be called a Bowie. The knife did have some design changes during its early years. For example, some of the early Bowies have blades which aren't as clipped as modern versions.
The end of a Bowie knife has what's called a "clipped" tip. This means that the point of the knife lies below the spine of the blade. This characteristic has its origins in fighting. A blade of this style has excellent penetration qualities. It also lightens the blade and makes it more agile when used for skinning and cleaning animals.
Every Bowie knife has a hand guard. The traditional hand guard on a Bowie has an angled top piece which points toward the front of the knife. This is intended as protection for the user's hand. The angle is sometimes said to be used for catching blades, but the proximity to the hand makes it more useful as a deflecting device.
Daggers tend to be double-bladed weapons, as do many other fighting knives. Bowie knives have a single edge. This sets them apart in many ways. One might think that this amounts to having half a weapon versus a double-edged knife, but this is not at all the case. There is another characteristic of Bowies that more than makes up for the lack of two edges. The single edge actually makes practical work with the knife much easier. These knives were designed to be tools as well as weapons, after all.
A Bowie knife has only one edge. Some knives are sharpened along the false edge created by the clip, but this is a user modification and more characteristic of sabers than of knives. The single edge on a Bowie has enough mass behind it that it can function almost like a machete or a hatchet when needed, making them very versatile knives. The agile end of the blade meant that one didn't need to carry separate knives for rough and precise work. These knives have their origins on the American Frontier. In that era, a knife was as likely to be used to prepare food as it was to defend oneself, and this unpredictability made the Bowie a very useful tool to have on-hand. These knives were first make by Jim Black at the request of their namesake owner, who designed the blade. - 31499
The end of a Bowie knife has what's called a "clipped" tip. This means that the point of the knife lies below the spine of the blade. This characteristic has its origins in fighting. A blade of this style has excellent penetration qualities. It also lightens the blade and makes it more agile when used for skinning and cleaning animals.
Every Bowie knife has a hand guard. The traditional hand guard on a Bowie has an angled top piece which points toward the front of the knife. This is intended as protection for the user's hand. The angle is sometimes said to be used for catching blades, but the proximity to the hand makes it more useful as a deflecting device.
Daggers tend to be double-bladed weapons, as do many other fighting knives. Bowie knives have a single edge. This sets them apart in many ways. One might think that this amounts to having half a weapon versus a double-edged knife, but this is not at all the case. There is another characteristic of Bowies that more than makes up for the lack of two edges. The single edge actually makes practical work with the knife much easier. These knives were designed to be tools as well as weapons, after all.
A Bowie knife has only one edge. Some knives are sharpened along the false edge created by the clip, but this is a user modification and more characteristic of sabers than of knives. The single edge on a Bowie has enough mass behind it that it can function almost like a machete or a hatchet when needed, making them very versatile knives. The agile end of the blade meant that one didn't need to carry separate knives for rough and precise work. These knives have their origins on the American Frontier. In that era, a knife was as likely to be used to prepare food as it was to defend oneself, and this unpredictability made the Bowie a very useful tool to have on-hand. These knives were first make by Jim Black at the request of their namesake owner, who designed the blade. - 31499
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring SOG bowie knives as well as humidors for storage.
