Are Bagwell Bowies the Greatest Bowies Ever Made?

Bill Bagwell, legendary knife-maker Bowie Combatives Instructor, and founding member of the American Bladesmith Society, was perhaps the greatest proponent of the American Bowie Knife. When he created his Bagwell Hell’s Belles Bowie design, he quite possibly created the greatest fighting bowie of all time. His custom bowie knives are considered grail blades worldwide, and it is my absolute honor to share my humble collection with you, my Rolando Estocada audience. In this video, I share the precise purpose behind their design, their bespoke features, and how they shaped my practice of Bowie Knife Combatives. I hope you enjoy this video!
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[@user-ir3vs5br6m]

Man I was lucky enough to know him personally and actually was blessed enough to forge a few knives out of his forge and even ended up making a knife for his wife Sidra Bagwell. Got two of his knives and a sharps rifle his wife gave me after he passed away

[@antipasngoc1611]

Back in 2020, I was able to get ahold of Bagwell on the phone and was put on his backlog for a dogbone carbon steel piece. He told me his death was falsely reported 3 times in the past, and I was shocked when I found out he really did pass in 2021. Erik Fritz and Greg Covington are two knifemakers that were taught Bagwell's unique tempering techniques.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Is Covington still active?

[@oofz91]

Covington is amazing. I have a couple of his pieces.

[@BigDaddySwingingMeat]

The distal taper is crucial. Good to know there are living knifemakers that have knowledge of this dying art form.

[@Appalachiangangster]

​@RolandoEstocada Greg Covington is still active under the Name Covington Combat Weapons, he mostly does vietnam era stuff now but might do a Belle on special order

[@josephcampos990]

I am lucky enough to have a custom bagwell made just for me by him.

[@BigDaddySwingingMeat]

I've often wondered which living knife makers have mastered the art of the distal taper and unique heat treatment that Bill would speak of in his videos. He was one of a kind.

[@seantpowers6305]

This channel is amazing! What a gem! I’m sharing with my likeminded friends. Your stuff is right up there with Lynn Thompson, James Keating, and Bill himself. I really really appreciate the content and seamless blend of philosophical and physical form which really is the quintessence of the martial arts. This is wonderful.

[@RolandoEstocada]

I’m humbled and I thank you! More to come! 🙏🏽👊🏽🔥

[@powerplay4real174]

I felt the same way with my Trail Master as a combat knife and you really have to practice with it if you're planning to have control moving the blade in a defensive manner, you'll need to swing and practice with the live blade and with caution. Bill Bagwell was a phenomenal knife maker with knowledge to boot. 👍📸

[@oxman1800]

Wow great video, thanks. And you are a lucky man with those bowies. I have one of the Ontarios and it’s a great piece but I would love to have a custom Bagwell.

[@RJ-oo3vf]

Wow, one extremely beautiful pair of bowies! Almost too beautiful to use.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! I am one of a few lucky Bagwell Custom owners who also practice with their blades. These beautiful blades have taught me a lot about quality athletic and martial movement. I learn every time I train with them. 🙏🏽

[@RJ-oo3vf]

@@RolandoEstocada I used to have a Ontario SP 18 Frontiersman which was made after the Bagwell design but I sold it. It's no longer available anymore but it is nothing in comparison to the real Bagwell bowies especially the custom ones you have. Again, your Bagwell bowies are (at least for me!) way too beautiful to use. 👍👌

[@liquiddw2]

Wow! What insight and mastery! I greatly appreciate you keeping his memory alive by passing on these traditions. Keep it up and never give up.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@BigDaddySwingingMeat]

@@RolandoEstocada Now that Bill has passed away, can you recommend any new knifemakers that make similar style fighting bowies?

[@ArizonaTengu]

The comment from Bill Bagwell referring to the skeletal structure is on point. Being 6’4” tall allows me to use some unique heavy weapons for kanabojistu. I’m not particularly heavy with being 175lbs at my peek. But swinging a 4’ club that weighs 7lbs is normal. I excel where shorter and stronger individuals fail. I would’ve really liked to have a knife from this man. I’m always looking for the “perfect” fighting knife for EDC. I got my first custom Bowie on trade from a lesser known knife maker who made it earlier in his career. It’s the first one I came across that has a sharpened clip point. It took a couple of years of handling to really start learning what a Bowie knife is supposed to be. Of course, it doesn’t compare to that of Bill Bagwell, but it helps me understand what I want out of a knife. Someday maybe I’ll have a good Bowie.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Bill really understood torque and anatomy. He was insistent that my blades be built for specific purposes based on my unique musculo-skeletal structure, despite my athleticism and strength. I didn’t truly understand or appreciate it until I sparred and accidentally threw a “backcut” movement with my fist that stopped the session. When I asked my partner what the problem was, my partner (an MMA competitor) said that he thought I broke his jaw. Mind you he was wearing headgear and a mouthpiece. It was then that I started to understand the Bowie and the movements attached to them, and the specific importance of weapons training and how they translate to force generation.

[@ArizonaTengu]

Anatomy and kinesthesiology are super important for any martial art. There’s a reason why historically the master would tailor the katas, and training regime to particular students. Similarly, there’s various Gung Fu styles that are specifically designed for particular body types, heights, and weights. Learning your opponent’s body type-which includes their ancestral genetics-will give you a basic quick review of potential strategies they’ll take. With my first experience of learning how important it is to even H2H was when I met Grandmaster Atchison last year, and he immediately started tailoring attacking strategies when he first met me. Given the peculiarities of kanabojistu. I’ve had to make my own kanabos, because it’s a dead style for last 900yrs or so. Making my own 7lbs weapon allowed me to balance it properly unlike the available commercial ones at the moment. Currently working on a tetsubo design for the last several years, but I simply don’t have the skills to make it myself. Anyhow, we’ve lost a valuable treasure in mass producing weapons. It’s easier to understand the intuitive extension of the body that a weapon is supposed to be if you have a master craftsmen making it specifically for your needs.…or you have a variety of designs to try out before making a decision. All the production knives I’ve tried from TOPS, Blackjack No. 7, Emerson Karambit, Toor, Havocworks, and others all fall short. Possibly the only one that’s come close to what I need is a 29 Knives 5” balisong from Chris Olofson, but the scales prevent it from being closed all the time because of the latch design pressure. The only way, I think, that people will understand the importance of weapon design on knives again. Is if masters of the art start emphasizing that combat is more than just taking out the local thug for self defense. Self defense, or rather combat, is also against other martial arts practitioners. Where being well trained and well equipped can make a big difference in outcomes. Just like master musicians get masterfully crafted instruments. We, in my opinion, should be seeking the best equipment to express ourselves too.

[@dwaynevidrine1138]

Can you recommend any currently active knife makers that can make a Bowie knife with the features of a Bagwell Bowie knife?

[@RolandoEstocada]

The design is reminiscent of the Randall Model 8 Bowie, which is an excellent design and I frankly adore. Although I have not handled one I imagine it will perform just as well as any of their products. My upcoming episode compares and 11” Bowie to the 8” Randall Bowie

[@edi9892]

That was really interesting. This reminds me of my own experiences as a blade collector: I purchased the Albion Kingmaker sword because I really loved the look of it, but when I picked it up and swung it around, it just didn't feel right to me. The wheel pommel dug itself into my wrist on too many occasions and it felt simultaneously heavy and too light. The prior has to do with the intended use, as there are many swords with wheel pommels but they all handle differently thanks to slight alterations to their design (some are more restrictive on purpose!). The latter is because it's a more thrust-centric sword and thus has quite a hefty counterweight making it overall heavy but taking away blade presence at the same time. I later realized, that for me, a lighter sword with more blade presence just feels better. Combine that with how difficult it can be to find the perfect grip, you can clearly understand how the idea came about that the weapon found its owner rather than vice versa...

[@World0fWowcraft]

so great that you keeping the old west-style knife fighting alive 👍

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@johnanon658]

I got a fortress off of ebay, but returned it b/c its edge alighment was a little off. Now you got me wondering if it wa supposed to be like that!

[@robertpka7228]

Incredible blades! Thank you for sharing.

[@jtr109]

Those are some beautiful knives. And your recollections of Mr. Bagwell and your detailed descriptions of your knives are very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have a Damascus Bagwell similar to yours, two Hell’s Belles with coffin handles and a Devil’s Daughter. I kick myself that I never had him make one for me with the dog bone or the bird’s head handle.

[@antiquebowieknifechannel4611]

Very interesting stuff.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you!

[@THCBLADEWORKS]

The videos just keep getting better. Love it. 👍

[@glenrobinson916]

Looking forward to the next one!

[@jorgefernandez6407]

I'm new to your fascinating channel. It's excellent, subscribed!!!

[@h__n1092]

Amazing!

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you!

[@trentcostello4358]

❤ wow

[@shanghaiyancey]

Interesting insights and review of your Bagwell Bowie knives. They are indeed, works of art by a Master Bladesmith. He used to have a booth at the SOF conventions in the 1990's in Las Vegas, and I always enjoyed talking to him. He was knowledgeable on so many subjects. His Bowie knives were the finest and lightest that I have ever held. At the time I put my name down on the waiting list to get one, but he was so busy with previous orders, I never got far enough to send in a tracing of my hand. I look forward to more of your reviews.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! I’m very lucky that I had a chance to speak with him as much as I did (he didn’t do email). His insights were very clear and powerful.

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

they look so awesome,i love bowies

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Great video! Great knives! ⚔️👍🔥

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! 👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽

[@a661992]

You’re one lucky man. I’m happy I have my gambler from OKC

[@RolandoEstocada]

You’re lucky also!

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Excellent video and content Rolando! As I commented on one of your earlier Bowie videos, I still kick myself for selling my Bagwell Hells Belle back in the 1990s or early 2000s, but I still have the Ontario Hells Belle Bowie.

[@RolandoEstocada]

The Ontarios will be grails, now that Ontario is gone also. 🙏🏽

[@stevenledwith]

YES

[@74verseveld]

Thank you very much for this upload... Highly appreciated.. Awsome video 👌👌👌.... One question... Why are the frog studs on the sheath out of the middle??.... Is that for left or right carrying... And what does it do if it's in your belt???

[@RolandoEstocada]

Hey brother! Bill had had specifics on how to carry and that’s why he designed it that way.

[@74verseveld]

@@RolandoEstocada thanks... Yes everything is well thought out 😉... Thanks for this awsome video... You have a wonderful collection of these awsome bowie's... 👍👍👍

[@OldSlabsides45]

Hi Rolando, why did you choose dogbone handles vs other options? Thanks!

[@RolandoEstocada]

Hey! Coffin handles were on the Ontarios so I had experience with them. The Dogbone had a meatiness to them and Bill made them so that they were for “serious business.” VERY trustworthy.

[@LivingTheKnifeLife]

Is that a TFW Minasbad blade I see in the background there?? 👀

[@RolandoEstocada]

Yes!

[@LivingTheKnifeLife]

@RolandoEstocada Thought so! Awesome looking, Bagwell blades. Salamat Po 🙏

[@74verseveld]

Rolando are the blades totally flat grind??. Or a bit convex??... As bill liked the historical bowie knives.. Very curious what he did with his blades😉

[@RolandoEstocada]

Convex IIRC. 😊

[@johnanon658]

220 lb phillipino. Holy fuk Anyway, thanks for sharing. Definitely not the general bowie design insights i was expecting on these customs!

[@mathewrculbertson]

How tall are you?

[@RolandoEstocada]

5’10”

[@botswanabanger]

Your blades are beautiful. That said, and with all due respect, I am dubious in the extreme about modern Bagwell- developed-and-inspired Bowie knives and their associated assumed tactics. Bagwell-ism may be interesting and fun, but I think it probably has little to do with historic Bowie design and use. By the way, his credentials as a “Bowie combatives expert” are very questionable. He was a football player in his youth, but a big out-of-shape cutler in his maturity, and not a martial artist, as you should appreciate, being a martial artist yourself. I question the utility of “Bowie combatives” as elaborated by Bagwell and others; trying to impose anything beyond basic fencing techniques with a 12 inch blade on an opponent is mental masturbation and a recipe for disaster. Training these techniques on a similarly equipped enemy is pure fancy. Two people armed with big Bowies trying to fence with each other will almost certainly result in fingers and even limbs flying around the room and both people sliding around in gouts of blood while they bleed out. Real fights with historic Bowies were very short and brutal, because it was designed to be a heavy duty fight-stopper that yielded immediate results as a potent tool of physical assault. Think of the difference between Iaido and Kendo. Actual Bowie use would look more like Iaido, or Iaijutsu; with little back and forth and a reliance on an overwhelming and final attack. The Bowie (Bow-ee; it’s a Scottish family name and pronounced the same way musician David Bowie pronounced it, at least until French and Spanish speaking people began referencing it in Louisiana and Texas. The Bowies were fairly recent Scottish immigrants) was specifically designed to offset the advantage of swords, pistols, and other knives because James Bowie learned the hard way that he needed that. The big folder he carried almost got him killed once. The big butcher knife, or camp knife, his brother gave him worked at the Sandbar Fight, but needed improvement. So he developed the long, massive design we see in the Musso, Jesse Robinson, Neill, and Sweet knives, which he carried thereafter and gave to close associates. It was designed to instantly bash through lighter edged weapons and completely penetrate an enemy and/or dismember him. It was intended as an instant fight stopper. The question has long arisen as to what constitutes a real Bowie; the answer is that there were so few real Bowies made that people began assuming that any camp knife, especially with a clip point, qualifies. Norm Flayderman was wrong, although he collected a lot of nice Sheffield imitations and some American specimens. To call a small double edged Michael Price dagger an actual Bowie would probably have caused Jim to snort his whisky out his nose. His invention was big, heavy, meant to deliver a monster back-cut, to keep its operator’s hand off the blade, and to completely chop/stab through enemy defenses and gain 12-14 inches of lethal penetration, not unlike modern hollow point handgun ammunition. That’s my take on it, after roughly 65 years of interest in the knife and research into it, and 51 years of martial arts training. Regards to you, and thank you for sharing your collection with us.

[@12clr12]

I had Bill make me a Bowie back in 89 and that was the worst Bowie I ever handled. It was way too heavy, way too slow, and the most akward knife I have ever put in my hand.

[@donalharris3724]

@rtclr12 Sure you did. I expect you taught Jimi how to play guitar too.

[@baduktiger7661]

Short answer is no, they aren't the greatest ever made. I'm a Musso fan myself.

[@Truetoeverybody]

Is this a sales add or a brag show? 😂

[@Conversationstarter101]

440 anything is unacceptable

[@johnanon658]

I had one. The blades springy, are well tempered to be tough enough for their size.

[@BigDaddySwingingMeat]

440C is actually a mid range super steel, that's why Boker uses it so often in their knives. On the edge retention chart, as well as the corrosion resistance chart, it's superior to 1095 steel.

[@Conversationstarter101]

@@BigDaddySwingingMeat nobody that builds tanks that can slice dice chop baton ect. & The different job comeback doesn't work either because their are steels that can do it all with proper heat treatment & I want 1 example of a hard use 440 or 420 anything just 1

[@BigDaddySwingingMeat]

@@Conversationstarter101 440c (which a lot of people confuse with 440a, which is poor quality steel) is known for superior edge retention, not toughness. If toughness is your main concern then 8670 carbon steel or CPM 3V would be the top of the field in that category. 440c is good for EDC pocket knives and certain self defense/fighting blades, not batoning wood.

[@cruzerlououtdoors1940]

Very cool blades. I’ve always wanted a Bagwell Bowie , Hells Belle. I have a Cold Steel Larado Bowie and it’s a nice blade but it’s quite a bit heavier than a Bagwell but still a very effective fighter. Maybe one day the knife gods will smile on me and I’ll find a Hells Belle either an original or an Ontario.