A bowie knife – named after Jim Bowie, who allegedly carried one – and pronounced either with a long “o” or long “u” sound, is a large knife with a blade that’s usually around 12”, and a comfortable handle, usually with a guard. The blade is single edged and usually has a clipped point.
They look ostentatious, but the truth is they can also be very useful as camp knives and survival knives, among many other uses. As an all-around camp knife, a bowie knife can be practical for processing trees, building structures, making camp furniture and tools, and much more.
A bowie knife might seem like an unwieldy pattern for a sportsman, especially considering the size and width of the blade and handle, but the leverage the knife blade can deliver can be useful in breaking down large game – though it might be a bit much for birds and small game.
This aspect of design also makes bowie knives very versatile. The large blade, which has a lot of weight forward, is also practical for chopping. Unlike many other knife patterns, the bowie straddles that middle ground between a large fighting knife and a machete and can fill both roles effortlessly.
Another common pattern is a D-handled bowie, which was apparently common in the South of the United States. These had a D-shaped guard around the handle, much like a sword’s guard, which protected the user’s hands. It also made the pattern a lot more effective as a fighting knife.
The wide, flat blade of a bowie knife also proves practical for digging. Though it is inadvisable to drive the blade of a knife into the ground (this can cause corrosion and will certainly dull the blade) in a pinch, a bowie can serve as an impromptu trench shovel. There are better tools for it, but much worse ones as well.
Some bowie knife variants even have a sawback configuration, in which the back of the blade is serrated. These versions are more effective for making crossgrain cuts in wood, and can be used to trim vegetation, square small timbers, saw through bone, and other similar camp tasks.
Yet what does not often get talked about is the collectible value of a bowie knife. Perhaps not all are works of art, but many are. Many bowies are paired with fine, tooled leather sheaths, sport damascus blades with attractive patterning, and boast handles of rosewood, horn, bone, or other fine or semi-precious materials or inlay work.
All of this makes bowie knives not only valuable for their utility but for their collectibility, as well as for their historic significance. Maybe you can’t see yourself with a 15” bowie knife strapped to your belt for EDC, but if you’re a serious collector and you don’t have at least one in your collection, you’re missing out.
Where to Get a Real Bowie Knife?
Looking for a real bowie knife? Make your first stop BudK. First and foremost, they carry a wide range of attractive and practical bowie knives in their collection, many which are tough enough to stand up to the rigors and demands of hard camp chores and other serious use, if not abuse.
The other thing is that BudK also carries a lot of other historical novelties and what you might call “cool stuff.” Their online catalog is rich with throwing knives, ninja stars, survival and spy gear, boot knives, trench knives, automatic knives, and a whole lot more. They even carry a selection of display-quality and battle-ready swords.
For more information, visit their website – then start enriching your collection today.
