Special Interests - Groups & Societies > The Cutting Edge
St. George's Notes XI - The Bowie Knife...
Major 2:
Yes Sir , Leather
those are Randall made ..their Shop is just down the road
St. George:
The butcher knife/trade knife stayed in use throughout the era - they were the most commonly-available knives, with the 'named' knives being supplied to the hardware trade and mail order.
The 'Arkansas Toothpick' - a double-edged affair with a wide ricasso and narrow point - fell out of general use after the Civil War - it's primary value being that of having a fearsome name.
Actually 'using' a large double-edged weapon for anything other than straight thrusts and slashes is difficult, as they don't lend themselves to general camp chores or skinning nearly as well as a Bowie-style does.
The value of a smaller double-edged dirk or concealment dagger is high - but that's a specific use, not a general one.
On the other hand - those Trade knives were used for everything...
Vaya,
Scouts Out!
The Elderly Kid:
Just for the sake of clarity: in the 19th century, "Arkansas Toothpick" was used for just about any large knife suitable for fighting. The use of the term strictly for the large, double-edged dagger dates from Raymond Thorpe's 1947 book "Bowie Knife." It's still available and is a very enjoyable read, but it is about as reliable as Wikipedia. Likewise, just about any large, single-edged knife was called a Bowie. The most popular design by far was the wide-bladed, clip-pointed knife, but there were many other designs. The sad fact is, nobody knows what James Bowie's knife looked like. After his heroic death at the Alamo, Bowie became a huge celebrity and suddenly all sorts of people "remembered" innumerable stories about Bowie and his exploits with his knife, which they had personally witnessed. Make of it what you will. The only reliably documented instance of Bowie using a knife in battle was the Sandbar Fight on the Vidalia sandbar off Natchez in 1827. Contemporary news reports describe his weapon only as a "large knife" or "large butcher knife." All other knife battles in which he participated are strictly hearsay, "remembered" by anonymous people after his death. Whatever really happened, it set off a craze for the Bowie knife which lasted until the end of the Civil War, when the six-shooter took its place.
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ChuckBurrows:
--- Quote ---Just for the sake of clarity: in the 19th century, "Arkansas Toothpick" was used for just about any large knife suitable for fighting. The use of the term strictly for the large, double-edged dagger dates from Raymond Thorpe's 1947 book "Bowie Knife."
--- End quote ---
yep......
Norm Flayderman's recently published book "The Bowie Knife Book" available from www.knifeworld.com is the newest and IMO one of the best books on Bowies - it's 520 pages of some of the most beautiful color prints as well as lots of primary documentation for about $80.00 plus S/h - a great price for a great book....
--- Quote ---Likewise, just about any large, single-edged knife was called a Bowie. The most popular design by far was the wide-bladed, clip-pointed knife, but there were many other designs.
--- End quote ---
Here's one of the earliest known Bowies, made for Jim's brother Rezin by Searles - it is close to the description of the blacksmith made butcher knife that Rezin says he gave to Jim prior to the Sandbar fight.......
--- Quote ---Bascally, with Jim Bowie and the Alamo.
--- End quote ---
Actually the term Bowie Knife was in use prior to the Alamo, earliest published use is IIRC 1834 and some makers were making knives considered to be Bowies by 1829-30, by which time Jim's rep as a knife wielding ring tailed roarer was well in place - earned or not
Angel_Eyes:
Thanks pards,
"ask and thou shalt receive", there is a wealth of knowledge out there, makes you feel blessed to know so many smart people.
AE
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