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.
Bowie knives always have clipped points. This feature is the end part of the blade where the center of the blade dips below the spine. Though this feature is attractive, it offers far more than looks. In a fight, this narrow portion of the blade is lethal in its ability to penetrate deep into the body with little effort. This creates what is called a false edge along the back of the blade. Some users sharpen this edge. Outside of fighting, however, this modification has little practical usage and may make the knife more dangerous to the user.
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.
Bowie knives are always single-edged knives. The back of the blade is sometimes altered to provide more utility. On some knives, there are saw portions or a sharpened section along the false edge of the blade clip. These are user customizations, however, and this knife is always a single edged weapon when manufactured to traditional standards. While double-bladed knives may be a bit more deadly, they are very impractical for any kind of work and oftentimes endanger their user when pressed into service for such mundane tasks as cleaning game.
Bowie knives are useful tools but, in many jurisdictions, they are illegal to carry. These knives, after all, are weapons and are designed to be lethal. Before heading out of the house with one's Bowie strapped to one's leg, check local laws to make sure carrying such a fearsome knife is legal. - 16887
Bowie knives always have clipped points. This feature is the end part of the blade where the center of the blade dips below the spine. Though this feature is attractive, it offers far more than looks. In a fight, this narrow portion of the blade is lethal in its ability to penetrate deep into the body with little effort. This creates what is called a false edge along the back of the blade. Some users sharpen this edge. Outside of fighting, however, this modification has little practical usage and may make the knife more dangerous to the user.
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.
Bowie knives are always single-edged knives. The back of the blade is sometimes altered to provide more utility. On some knives, there are saw portions or a sharpened section along the false edge of the blade clip. These are user customizations, however, and this knife is always a single edged weapon when manufactured to traditional standards. While double-bladed knives may be a bit more deadly, they are very impractical for any kind of work and oftentimes endanger their user when pressed into service for such mundane tasks as cleaning game.
Bowie knives are useful tools but, in many jurisdictions, they are illegal to carry. These knives, after all, are weapons and are designed to be lethal. Before heading out of the house with one's Bowie strapped to one's leg, check local laws to make sure carrying such a fearsome knife is legal. - 16887
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring Cold Steel bowie knives for sale as well as humidors for storage.
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