Discover the Ontario Bill Bagwell Hell’s Belle Bowie | Cold Steel | Bowie Fighting Techniques

The Ontario Bagwell Hell’s Belle Bowie Knife has become the stuff of legend over the past decade. It marked one of the definitive moments in production Bowie Knife design, as it all but mirrors the legendary custom fighting Bowie knife of Master Smith and Bowie Knife Master, Bill Bagwell. The Ontario Hells Belle, made with the direct collaboration and oversight of Bill Bagwell himself, is the fastest Bowie Knife I have ever handled. It is the epitome of the Keating/Bagwell Bowie Combatives paradigm, executing powerful backcuts and snap cuts with overwhelming speed and power.
Light, dexterous, and exceptional, this out of production Bowie knife is on full display in this video. It is incomparable in every regard, and this episode explores its full capabilities as the optimal Bowie Knife for hardcore aficionados and practitioners.
GUEST APPEARANCE BY THE COLD STEEL 1917 Bowie Knife!
I hope you enjoy this video!
‪@csknives‬

[@ArizonaTengu]

Some of the younger viewers may not even be capable of appreciating the valuable information there is in your videos. The money I spent buying combat knives that were utility knives could’ve got me a decent used car, and I don’t even own any of those things anymore. There’s probably a greater market for combat/fencing knives than there are guns honestly. Most places in the world allow the ownership of knives. Not the same for firearms. Mexico is a good example where people are allowed to own martial arts weapons so long as it pertains to training in traditional/historical martial arts.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! I think most of us came up during that era of cheaply made martial weapons posing as the real thing. My hope is to start the conversation around making more of them - with better materials and craftsmanship. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@ArizonaTengu]

@RolandoEstocada Not just cheaply made junk but also the “tactical” combat knives that are really utility/bushcraft oriented. I have a knife that cost me $400, made from 1095, a 14” blade with a sharpened false edge, and has a single bevel. The thing is junk. Yes it is made from quality materials, but the handle design is way off. It has to many hot spots that create blisters. The blade design is terrible for cutting through fabric. Not to mention that it isn’t even balanced properly for proper flow drills. A lot of gun guys are knife guys, which is most of the quality market, but a martial artist who is a knife guy is a different animal. My Espada XL just came in yesterday, which I got per your recommendation, and it is a solid knife. Definitely a good purchase at $140. That’s something that immediately gives a positive response for people who are trained.

[@RolandoEstocada]

@ArizonaTengu this really resonates with me, and I think with many of the subscribers of the channel. A big part of my mission with this channel is to introduce the idea of philosophy of use relating to martial weaponry as tools of wellness and optimization. What created, in my opinion, the kind of tools you mention are market-reactive perspectives that do not add long-term value. Having a collection of 500 knives worth $90k can only provide value to the owner if they add to their overall health and wellness. This is where the traditional practices come in, but also the new research relating to movement optimization to combat sedentary lifestyles. A firearm can, of course, simplify the act of killing, but it does not add to the health and wellness of the owner, due to its limited scope and purpose of use. I think that this is where we can draw upon many elevated knife and sword cultures, to create new works of art to achieve this newborn vision of an optimized warrior and scholar.

[@ArizonaTengu]

@RolandoEstocada It’s a conversation worth having. Seeing the entire world is in serious decay. The gun to martial culture is what rail housing is to architecture. The hyper focus of form follows function negates any sense of higher purpose. Take for example the book, “On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society” by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. It systematically breaks down just about every aspect psychology concerning warfare, and the science of training people to kill. But it has no higher purpose of elevating man or society. It’s simply an extraordinary book of analytically derived conclusions. Whereas I can make a simple quote, and ultimately arrive at the same conclusion from an other source: “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” -Heraclitus You know, there is also something soul destroying by having weapons made through automation. The sword smith in Japanese culture was viewed as a sort of priest. His piety or lack thereof was reflected in his weapons. While the Saints of the Orthodox Church aren’t inclined to commenting on matters of war. They nevertheless remark how prayer while undergoing any task sanctifies the area we are working. We could use more men like Bill Bagwell, although they don’t need to achieve his mastery, but reintroduce a sense of piety to weapons making. Warriors need tools of the best quality in order to achieve their goal of administering justice, and implementing the will of heaven on earth.

[@RolandoEstocada]

@@ArizonaTengu well said my friend, well said. I am in agreeance.

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

I completely agree Rolando, the Ontario Bagwell Hell's Bell Bowie is a really good "budget" bowie, especially being lively in the hand.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you my friend - I hope they bring it back since Ontario has new owners.

[@robertpka7228]

Love it! I'm glad Bill stuck to his guns in the design process.

[@RolandoEstocada]

I am too! Now we get to enjoy his work through this. His custom hells belle takes advantage of differing anatomical leverages to optimize flow.

[@stephengriffn9277]

Yes, Mike was the one who sold me the knife and recommended his kydex sheath, which is slimmer and nicer than issue. Always thought the frog protruding from the sheath and thrusting into waistband was very simple and functional way to carry it.

[@RolandoEstocada]

That’s awesome. I met him at a Dwight McLemore Bowie workshop. He spent time refining my backcut technique. He is sorely missed.

[@stephengriffn9277]

Thanks for your work on the video. About 20 years ago, I bought one at a show in Indiana and a river city kydex sheath to go with it. I religiously read Bagwell's column in SOF for years. If memory serves, his book that was compiled from those articles was missing the discussion of the draw cut and I always wondered why. All the best, cheers.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you for your kind words. You bought from Mike Sastre for the sheath? Bill’s book is awesome - I still read it. 🙏🏽🔥👊🏽

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Great video (again), but now I'm having flashbacks to the junk mall/flea market knife era of the 80s. I also really appreciate that you connect sub-optimal design to injury potential, which makes me think of those hideous 80s Japanese style sword "reproductions" and their horrible weight and balance--sometimes they were all that was available to the student if they wanted something better than a bokken for training. I'm glad we all powered through those rough early evolutions to where we are today. Looking forward to more!

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you brother! My hope is that with this channel I can start the conversation around a different kind of philosophy of use - martial practice and health optimization through quality movement training. 🙏🏽🙏🏽😊😊

[@markstallman1670]

Perfected movements Amigo!

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you! I’ll tell you - made possible by a wonderfully crafted Bowie knife!

[@lyonmandan]

This is a great knife and I love that you are talking about it, but because it is no longer produced, it is difficult to find😢

[@RolandoEstocada]

Very difficult. 😥

[@scdub]

Didn’t know that model existed - will have to keep an eye out. Great content - just subbed. 👍

[@RolandoEstocada]

Thank you and welcome to the channel!

[@Matchoo2]

Fantastic video 🫡

[@RolandoEstocada]

👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽👊🏽

[@THCBLADEWORKS]

Great knife 👍

[@RolandoEstocada]

😊😊😊😊

[@johnmutton799]

It's a pity they don't make them now!

[@ArtVSMayhem]

The only one I could afford was the Spec Plus Frontiersman bowie. (Basically a Hells Belle sized blade with the thick powder coating and the rubber handle.) Some people out there were converting them to more of the "Hells Belle" we have at home. (still got it) I did finally get one of the Gambler bowies and I love it.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Fantastic!

[@h__n1092]

the frontiersman is much thinner and liter then the bagwell line. Not even close. Had both of them and trained with it a lot.

[@xKaidoh]

I wish that Lynn Thompson would leverage his connections at CS to recreate this through CS and call it the Bagwell Legacy of something lol.

[@RolandoEstocada]

I. see him doing it only if the market is there and if he can do it with a really good steel. I also see him getting rid of the Spanish notch.

[@GreenKnight1979]

I brought my Hell's Belle to another accomplished custom Bowie maker, and he straightened out the devil's horns and rounded them. I suppose that was a desecration of sorts.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Well, what matters is that they work for you. I’m putting together an episode to explore how the devils horn works with the Spanish notch on the Bowie. It doesn’t work for everyone BUT it is worth sharing. 🙏🏽🔥👊🏽

[@louiespringin]

Hello mr Rolando i own older versions of the larado and natchez in sk5 and O2 tool steel I think and i am surprised that knowing Lynn Thompson that he didn't make these knives a bit lighter and streamlined more like the hells belle.I mean both those knives where designed to be big self defense knives in the end being faster and lighter to carry would have only made both those good knives even better for what they where intended for.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Hi! I’m wondering if he wanted to make it more like a true fighter but he ran into cost issues.

[@TravisMcKnight-lk7gg]

As a frontier knife 🗡️ cutting and butchering huge animals on multiple rugged environments, mountains , woodlands , swamps , deserts , So in those environments they are practical carrying for hunting, and combat came to be the second realized advantages of the Bowie blade derivatives and versions. A frontier blade , covers all those needs pretty well , main reason is blade length and reaching the vital organs in combat , same reasons it was in butchering and hunting needs cleaning game . Mountain men always had them .

[@RolandoEstocada]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@TrentCostello]

Did somebody say bagwell bowie? ❤

[@RolandoEstocada]

Oh yes. 😊😊😊😊

[@lyonmandan]

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the gaucho facon knife as a parallel to the Bowie.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Give me time on this one as I am still researching the CS Facon. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@mathewrculbertson]

My brother has one! :)

[@RolandoEstocada]

Lucky man! NEVER sell that one!

[@puddintame6310]

In your opinion, how does this knife compare to the Cold Steel Laredo?

[@RolandoEstocada]

Sit tight! That’s one of my text episode. 😊

[@h__n1092]

I had both, liked the Laredo over hells belle for the balance. But the downside, and probably Bagwell said that it isnt true fighter due to its too small of a guard

[@h__n1092]

​@@RolandoEstocada in another note, most of the Laredos has a better steel. (bagwell is stainless)

[@joco762]

Old school mall ninja/sword nerd checking in lol.

[@RolandoEstocada]

Stand together 😂

[@johnashley642]

So, who makes great fighting Bowies now? Bill was 1 of 1. Has any modern makers pick up the mantle?

[@RolandoEstocada]

Take a look at my Bowie playlist as I review Bowie knives that I personally own and recommend. It’s very tough for me to recommend others otherwise because like you said - Bill was 1 of 1. 🙏🏽🔥👊🏽

[@h__n1092]

Fisk, Crowell etc.. Greg Covington makes nice bowies that are more affordable

[@whisper8742]

So where's the comparable knife today?

[@RolandoEstocada]

In terms of speed - the Laredo.

[@AesirUnlimited]

Isn’t this knife discontinued?

[@RolandoEstocada]

It is.