Most Dangerous Knife In America! Bowie Knife and Everything You Need To Know About It.

Welcome to everything you need to know about the Bowie Knife. We are talking about the Sandbar Fight, James Black, Sheffield England, Civil War, WW1 and WW2, the legacy of modern knife making with Buck Knives and the greatest custom makers of all time, as well as Rambo, Crocodile Dundee, and all the magic and mystery surrounding almost 200 years of history!
Guys! We have a secret! We are starting a website! These two links go to FortWild. These links will disappear soon. More to come!
This is our Website! Buck 120: fortwild.com/p...
This is our Website! KA-BAR USMC: fortwild.com/p...
KaBar USMC: amzn.to/3C1GGLP
Buck 119: www.buckknives...
Buck 916: www.buckknives...
Buck 124: www.buckknives...
TOPS M-Pat: www.topsknives...
Coffin Handle Replica: www.crazycrow....
Huge thanks to Mark for making time check out Knife Magazine here: / @knifemagazine
Check Out the Antique Bowie Knife Channel Here: / @antiquebowieknifechan...
The Bowie Knife By Raymond Thorp Online: archive.org/de...
0:01 Introduction
1:25 The Curse Of the Bowie Knife
1:47 The Sandbar Fight/Brawl The Start Of The Bowie Knife Legend
3:26 Why The Bowie Knife Become Popular in the 19th Century
6:16 The Story of James Black Creator of Bowie Number 1
9:09 Interview with Expert Mark Zalesky From The Antique Bowie Knife Association Introduction
9:40 Mark Zalesky Talks About James Black Knives
9:59 Mark Zalesky Talks About The Evolution of The Bowie Knife
11:21 Mark Zalesky Talks About Sheffield England Bowie Knives
12:23 Mark Zalesky Gives His Definition Of What A Bowie Knife Is
13:00 The fate of the Bowie Knife after the Civil War
13:42 Bowie Knives During WW1
14:18 The Bowie Knives During WW2 and the Kabar USMC Story
15:50 How Buck Knives and the 119 Special/120 General helped save the Bowie Knife
18:24 The Roll Westerns like The Iron Mistress, Alamo, and The Adventures of Jim Bowie had in the Bowie Knife history
19:46 "Bowie Knife" by Raymond Thorp The Book That Stoked The Legend.
20:35 Rambo Knife, Crocodile Dundee, Cold Steel Natchez/Laredo, Bill Bagwell's Battle Blade Articles the modern place for Bowie Knives
21:20 Peter Kohler/Dark Timber Knives And The Modern Legacy Of James Black
21:54 TOPS Knives Carrying the Torch For The Modern Bowie Knife Production
22:21 The Bowie Knife As Art With Tashi Bharucha and the Unnamed Society
22:54 The Bowie Knife Legacy

[@darktimbercustomknives6248]

All I can say is holy shit, and thank you! I can’t tell you how honored I am and how my heart swelled up to be mentioned in this video. Thank you Zach from the bottom of my heart you just made my Christmas.

[@zacinthewild]

Great to hear from you! You’re definitely carrying that torch👊

[@imugi-16]

You have incredible passion for knives, and it shows in your work!

[@TheLK157]

Pls let me come apprentice you, I lost my restaurant from the coof, I’ve always wanted to be a bladesmith

[@donniegombel]

Do we know where J. Bowie's gravesite is??

[@aml8444]

Trying really hard to find one of the knives he shows from you 21:26!!

[@hogheadtb6489]

I retired in 2008 and I carried a Buck 120 for four deployments in Iraq and one deployment in Afghanistan. I left it with a young Spec-4 on my last deployment and he has had it for fourteen years and it is still going strong. Thank you for the story.

[@davidrichter9164]

Thank you for your service.

[@bobwhatley3335]

@@davidrichter9164 l

[@brotherbrovet1881]

I carried a K-Bar from '85-'93.

[@michaelsmith2733]

I could never get the hang of sharpening a Buck knife , my favorites are my K bar and my tops both carbon 1095 easy to bring to a razor sharp finish.

[@nanovox9418]

Bet that knife went to hell and back, would love to hear it tell a story, also thank you for your sacrifice

[@bobsmoot2392]

My father carried a Case Bowie in Italy (WW2) in the 339TH Infantry. I still have it. It, and he, went through a lot together. Precious heirloom.

[@DinnerMintsOG]

That's crazy I have my grandpa's ❤

[@SergeantExtreme]

Heh, those were the Ka-Bar knock offs that the troops hated.

[@kennethdoughty644]

Perhaps a Collins #18/V44 ?

[@tom-c1j2p]

so your old man is 110 years old ?

[@mgee669]

Easily the best review supplying the most accurate thorough information. Thanks!

[@PontifexByzantinus]

Great video! As a native Texan and lifetime knife enthusiast, the classic Bowie will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@Master_Yoda1990]

Oh, Bowie knives are great. I have a 10 1/2 inch Bowie with an antler handle and it's a great piece of functional art.

[@magnagermania9311]

As an european i absolutely adore bowie knives, they are so perfect.

[@mozartreno]

I have a WWII KBAR from my father. He gave it to me in 1954 when I was four years old. It has a USN insignia on it. Cheers!

[@andrewgarrett4959]

I've been a hobby knifemaker for 18 years. My favorite projects are always Bowies. I like to imagine being a blacksmith in the 1830s or 1840s at the edge of the frontier, trying to put my spin on the 'Bowie Knife" for spendy pioneers heading west to find fortune. A current project is to imagine what an 'Idaho Style Bowie' might have looked if one had ever materialized during the great western migration. Thanks for the video!

[@sonsofkojimarip]

Do you take commission work? I'd love a custom Bowie

[@hekpacobctac616]

If you are smith, then try to do a Damascus steel.

[@Blrdman]

Could you imagine how sharp the guys knives were that he could widdle on hickory for an hour and still shave hair.

[@ra8640]

Zach needs a contract. Great telling of history. Zach's voice is very clear and not going to put you to sleep. Great Video too!

[@usernameisusername]

Anybody else think that Zac would be really good at making documentaries

[@zacinthewild]

We think this is a pretty good one😁

[@usernameisusername]

@@zacinthewild it's marvelous

[@alpine1600s]

Next History Channel victim eh? 🤣

[@blammular]

@@alpine1600s if he adds more ancient aliens.

[@pg-l4469]

Absolutely! This was amazing!!!

[@superdeluxesmell]

Great work Zac, really great. The references to “slow news cycles”, “side-hustles” and the Marvel universe really gives a sense of how the history operated outside of the usual myths and legends. Terrific.

[@fuglbird]

Thank you. This was the best description of the Bowie knife I've ever seen! Since I read David Crockett a Bowie knife seemed magic to me and I drool a bit every time I see one. 40 years later when going on solo kayaking expeditions in Greenland and New Zealand I looked at Bowie knives but opted for a more humble solution. I settled for a short dive knife for protection in case I got caught in a fishing net, a Swedish Morakniv Basic (stainless steel) for general outdoor activities and a Victorinox Swiss Army Spartan for a lot of reasons. It worked nicely and only set me back $35 ($21+$7+$7). In New Zealand I replaced the Morakniv with a $7 Czech scout dagger with a sawback. I've never ever needed my most expensive knife - the dive knife - but it's always ready. The other $7 knifes are used a lot and they have served me well. I always bring a small sharpening stone on my trips; but I've only used it at home. Modern knives are often made of high quality steel. I still dream about that big David Crockett Bowie knife. The problem is, that I don't need it. Sigh.

[@MichaelSaunders-y2m]

Crocket didn't use a Bowie?

[@emmettyoung7603]

my uncle gave me a bowie knife at 13, it was a rusted hunk of steel. i spent hours sharpening it and making it useful, i still have it and use it in my kitchen as a cleaver

[@roycolglazier1061]

@Zac, this's possibly your BEST vid! You've done us all s great servuce, non-knifers & knifers as well, with a scholarly and well balanded presentation of known history and folklore! As an Arkansas resident & patriot for nearly 50 years, I'm well steeped in the doings in and around Old Washington, AR, 200 years ago, and am truly apprecistive of how you brought it all to life! Thanks & best wishes for a great Christmas, RRC

[@zacinthewild]

Thank you for the kind words! So much great history out that way.

[@bbeneb]

What I don't understand is all these folks saying 'No one knows' when it was built. Resin Bowie is on record as saying the sand bar knife was one that he had made, a butcher knife with a thin blade, no silver on it. He described the one his brother had made as a 9" blade, about 2"wide with a small clip at the point. James Bowie is on record as saying he wanted a cross bar after cutting his fingers on the blade digging a hole during an indian fight, and the knife slipped in his hand, cutting it. This is stuff I've read all my life, it's not "hidden information', but the experts seem to have trouble finding this information, written by the men who actually did it.

[@Reepicheep-1]

'Experts' often discount firsthand accounts and rely on second, third, & 27th-hand accounts.

[@sarahworkman6364]

I used to live in Montana I defended off a cougar attack with my Bowie knife it was made by old-timer but that knife is what saved my life

[@eddiecastellana9339]

My father has passed but he handed me a buck 119 special that was so hard that I couldn’t sharpen it with the coarsest oil stone we had at the time. That knife is still in a display case at my mother’s house. Buck knives are my introduction to the hobby of the “knife craze” in my life. I don’t think I could ever spend the money on a Chris Reeve or a Hinderer and especially any custom variant but I will always be proud of the buck knives!

[@davidj.lebaron709]

There is really something very special, about handling a real piece of American History. I own a spring mountain buckboard, that once carried 275,0000$ in gold money, before it was disassembled, and buried, by Harvey Logan, and, other elements of the Wild Bunch. I have it stashed on the Old Homestead, on the Arizona Strip. I have found a Wells Fargo stagecoach, hidden in a limestone cave, with all of it's harness gear. Should be worth a million dollars! I need to check the rear boot for mail bags!!!

[@Bar_D_Forge]

One of those new makers here. I love building Bowie's and just won novice class in Sam Towns bladesmiths Bowie build challenge here on youtube... Heard some new stuff here and that was cool...that was a well put together piece on the history and obscurity of the actual Bowie... Those unnamed society builds are absolutely stunning so check em out if you haven't yet...

[@donwaldroopoutdoors3665]

Who doesn’t love a Bowie , it’s an American icon

[@camman532]

I would love to see more documentary style videos like this. It was super fun and interesting to hear the story of the blade and connecting it to some of the stuff I love today

[@RandoCalrisiann]

I live in Rogers Arkansas, a few miles away from AG Russell's store. I met and spoke with him many times before his sad passing. Shopped in the store very often. I have many knives of all types. The big Bowie is my favorite style of knife. I've also visited now called Old Washington Arkansas where James Black lived and worked. I love the mystery and lore around this great American icon of a blade. You did a very wonderful job making this video. Thank you so much. I'm just sad it took me this long to see it in my feed and watch it lol. Again thank you, but now onto looking into my next purchase. You gave me that itch again to get more blades and go enjoy using them out on my family's property here in the beautiful Ozarks.

[@trakyboy5128]

This was fun 😊 Butcher style knives was extremely common during the 17 and 18th century and coming into the more modern times of the Great West. This style was brought over with us from Europe the basic design of the knife changed from maker to maker there was no hard-facet world to it but basically it had to be able to also skin so it had a bit of a curve towards the front half and it also allowed for people in the kitchen to do chopping and stuff because the blade was higher than the handle so in other words if you were to sit the knife blade down onto a flat surface and you're gripping handle in your hand your knuckles would not be touching the table top just the sharp edge of your blade would be touching it that allowed you to do the slicing and dicing which is where a lot of modern kitchen knives come from. Bowie's knife partly because he wanted it to be slightly modified for I guess you could say stabbing purposes but also because they've been sharpened so many time it took a slight daggerish form to it that's where you now get the drop point. Some nights from Arkansas were known as the Arkansas toothpick because of its very sharp point and narrowness. What this guy is saying about what we know of the Bowie knife today is exactly true it just kind of evolved and grew over time to what it is today which happens to be a very excellent multi-purpose Bushcraft / hunting knife. This is what the mountain men preferred to carry with them because they needed to fight with it cook with it skin with it everything with it.

[@roostermasa0956]

When ever I go into the woods or on my family friends property I carry a Bowie knife. Love the videos keep it up Zac.

[@zacinthewild]

Perfect setting for a great carry!

[@joshaaron3587]

Awesome episode. Subscribed. One thing you missed regarding WWII the Bowie didn't evolve to the KA-BAR, the Marine Raiders actually carried the V44 Collins knife which was literally a Bowie knife. Superb job though!

[@M60gunner1971]

Is this accurate my boi?

[@garrettdemoss9465]

Being from Bowie Texas (Named after Jim bowie and home of the worlds largest Bowie knife), I only clicked the video to make sure you pronounced it right... Good work and keep spreading the good word.

[@josephlewis7443]

I made a 7" cutting edge 4" straight sharp drop point Bowie in 2003. 1/4" A-1 Stainless.

[@thomasfallone744]

Professor Zac, preach on! Your content is fun, philosophical and intellectual! Many thanks!

[@zacinthewild]

Glad you dug it🙏! This one was a ton of work and a ton of fun! So many ins and outs with the history!

[@johnnyd667]

Great job Zac and crew! Everyone who digs knives needs to have at least 1 Bowie in their collection.

[@zacinthewild]

Totally agree!

[@GeorgeRuiz1]

This is one of the best written and researched knife videos I've ever seen.

[@av8orAH64]

Thanks for the informative Bowie history lesson. I own both of the anniversary versions of the Buck 110 and 120. I also have a K-Bar USMC although mine is labeled US Army (no since giving free press to my esteemed brothers from another mother) I am proud to have these Bowie-inspired knives as part of my collection. I have been watching you for years. I must admit that I miss Knife Banter and wa wa wa WOW (Wednesdays). I tuned in to watch the original gang's shenanigans, camaraderie, and fun. You guys had the chemistry to make a fun show that garnered a lot of views. I tuned in to see you Ben, Kurt, and Jaimie because it was just entertaining. Made me want to move to Utah to find friends like you guys. Cheers Zac.

[@shawnsynnestvedt5292]

This video was excellent. Love it. Since i was a kid looking at hardware store and outdoor store displays the Buck knives have always stood out to me more than any other that I remember. Thanks for doing this Zak. Hope to see other awesome knife history inspired videos.

[@zacinthewild]

The 120 was my grail knife before I knew what a grail knife was😁

[@shopnwoods9901]

Great video! I've loved the Bowie since I first saw it as a little kid in the 70's. It's the American knife. I think even the Buck 110 folding knife is based off the Bowie and it's one of the most popular folders of all time I think.

[@cameronbuckner254]

Bowie knives are just the best! I have a Tops Prather War Bowie that I absolutely adore! And you're right, alot of the myth of the Bowie is created through story and, well, myth! But gosh darn it a big clip point fixed blade is just the best haha! Another great and informational video like always Zac! Really loved you digging into the history on this one! I love what you're doing with this channel! The KZbins and the Knife/EDC world is better with you in it!

[@zacinthewild]

Thank you so much🙏! Totally agree there’s nothing better then a big old clip point blade!

[@bruceleroy8063]

That one's on my short list. Wish it came uncoated. You can't beat the glint of steel for deterrent factor.

[@nunninkav]

When Zac did the Tops walk through, I razzed them that no one had the Prather War Bowie in their pocket. Lots of scandi folders instead.

[@douglasmcclure9492]

Tops is 1 hell of a knife i got the blue dakota drifter 1 pound knife its a bad boy

[@arctodussimus6198]

I’ve been carrying a knife since I was 8 years old (that was 1967). Bought my first Bowie knife in 1987, a Western W-49. I have gone through dozens of them since then. Still have my Western Bowie, and maybe ten others. Favorite Bowie is a handmade Iron Mistress, and my edc knife is a TOPS Prather War Bowie. Thanks for pronouncing the name correctly. I have talked to some of Jim’s descendants who told me people were mis-pronouncing their name even before Jim made it famous.

[@Samson-cz1hl]

Since Crocodile Dundee i am in love with that knife. It is just an awesome knife. Brutal Form. Looking both beautiful and intimidating. It is a brute with a tender soul...

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

More of this type of content good sir! Your abilities as a narrator and enthusiasm for all things knife are infectious.

[@kolbusfletchus]

This was excellent. I would love to watch more like this. You are a wonderful narrator. The content you were able to scrape up from history combined with wrapping it all up with the present day relevance and current artists, projects, and availability is very well done. Thank you!

[@RJsKnives]

What a great video! Loved the history and the quality of this video. Thanks for diving into the murky waters of Bowie history and tracing it to modern times. Really cool stuff!

[@ItsAWasteOfTime]

Thanks for making a really interesting video on the history of the Bowie knife. The video caught my eye because I acquired one many years ago, though I can't remember how as I'm 71 years old. The knife itself is is quite heavy and has a two-piece wooden straight handle held on with rivets. The blade itself is of typical 'Bowie' shape and very discoloured not silvered/ chromed. The blade is very hard and heavy and has the name 'Bowie' stamped close to the cross-guard (obviously made after the event). I still use it for gardening as it's blade, though old, still cuts well and acts like an axe and makes light work sharpening big stakes for fencing. Thanks again for letting me know how it all originated 👍

[@alexkarman4679]

The Bowie knife was a trailing edge camp knife (perfect for dressing game) that had its tip clipped just enough to create a point to still be able to thrust with, although it was not well suited for that regardless, because it was so wide. The fact that people became so adept at fighting with it merely demonstrates how adaptable people are.

[@aaronwidder9624]

Amazing content Zac! This was like a series on the History Channel! Awesome job! The bowie is as American as baseball and apple pie! It's awesome to see the History into this knife 🔪👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@zacinthewild]

Totally agree!

[@heybabycometobutthead]

Apple pie isn't American

[@bkanderson2659]

Great mini-documentary! This was really well done. I've always loved bowies - one of the first ones I ever saw was one Grandpa had made for him while he was serving in Dutch Harbor, AK, in WWII, with a handle made from aircraft plexiglass. It's been a fun ride ever since. Keep up the good work!

[@jorgefernandez6407]

What an EXCELLENT documentary! I thoroughly enjoyed watching every minute of it! It's by far, the very best Bowie knife documentary I've seen to this day!!! Thank you for presenting this to us... Subscribed!

[@zacinthewild]

Thank you very much!

[@danielhuff1397]

This is the best video I've ever watched on the subject of Jim Bowie and his legendary blade. Well done, thy good and faithful researcher!

[@jack_batterson]

Probably the best discussion about Bowie knives I've seen. Well, researched!

[@dmitrynova]

Kyle Royer makes some beautiful knives including bowies. I once had a strange experience with a Japanese sword. I asked to hold it in a shop in Geneva and something strange happened - i felt as if it was my sword, as if we became one, as if it called to me, and when i was looking at it - it was as if i was looking through it, through the metal while perfectly realizing it was metal and can't physically be looking through metal... I don't know, i never had a feeling like that before or after. It wasn't forced by imagination, i held i few other swords just like that one prior, it just came over. It was incredibly sharp though. So sharp you had to respect it! Edge of broken glass kinda sharp, the kind of sharp you can't see where sides connect... And i'm not even a knife fan, i don't collect them, i don't care about exhibitions, i even clicked on this video cuz youtube recommended it for some reason. ..i still regret returning that sword, but i couldn't afford it and i couldn't bring it back home with me.. but there was something, i didn't want to let it go, like it was mine... I don't know, i think only people who experienced something similar can understand what i mean. I hope it found itself a good and caring owner

[@daveburklund2295]

Wonderful video! I enjoy how you point out the marriage of cold, practical utility and romance in this knife. It's a tool but so much more. It's like the kukri of America, or the machete of America.

[@DarylOster]

Having owned and used all 3, the kukuri is still my favorite to use (but not the best to carry every day)...

[@daveburklund2295]

@@DarylOster I own and use all three as well. I like my kukri a lot. I don't have the cultural attachment to it that other folks do, but it's a great tool.

[@Gerald-do9yg]

Zac, l really enjoy all your videos! This one is really a standout, has to be one of the best, most balanced, informative, enjoyable accounts I've ever watched. I'm 69 by the way, so l grew up with all that myth, legend, history and dramatic license! Loved all the TV and movie clips you included! Like our great country, the Bowie had many cultural and national influences. While initially a weapon, it has many practical uses, even in the 21rst century! Thanks again, keep this good content coming, Blsgs, gg

[@dadventuretv2538]

This was awesome. Love my Hen and Rooster Solingen steel Bowie with stag horn handle. I’ve used it as a machete, to dig holes, chop wood, cut kindling. You name it, this knife has done it for me. Although I haven’t killed anyone with it yet. Over 14 inches of massive Bowie beauty. Blade has scratches and has been notched and resharpened but she still looks beautiful to me. Probably bc of what we’ve been through together.

[@jasonmccomas7220]

Love the history lesson. I’ve watched many videos on the history of the Bowie knife and cheers to you for such a great and informative video on this historic blade shape!

[@christophersutley7625]

Honestly Zach you should do more videos like these. This was an awesome quick documentary on the Bowie knife

[@auggieedc205]

Zac, you continue to make the best knife-related content on KZbin, your mix of Knife Knowledge, passion for all things Americana, and history buffitude really speak to me lol we are of the same mind! As I sit in my mancave admiring my newly acquired Hinderer Ranch Bowie, watching this video made me appreciate it even more! Keep it up!

[@auggieedc205]

I kind of feel like I'm watching an episode of the old History Channel show "Tales of The Gun." but for bowies lol love it!

[@zacinthewild]

Thank you so much for the kind words! The Ranch Bowie is a great one!

[@Jonahch2v9]

Bought an Ontario Air Force Survival knife when I was a young Air Cadet. Today, it's part of my Search and Rescue gear.

[@papabeartools]

This is an awesome video!! We obviously LOVE knives, and to learn some of the best history on one of the most iconic knives history has is just bliss for us. Thank you for a very very well put together video.

[@grattof]

Great video Zac! Good storytelling and information. I'm not from the US but I've always loved the Ka Bar from the US Military. Since I was a kid I would see them in movies or videogames and I always wanted one. I'll buy one for my collection very soon.

[@zacinthewild]

They are such iconic knives!

[@ryancosta839]

Check out the Ontario and Spec Plus versions as well.

[@grattof]

@@ryancosta839 I'll check them out. Thanks!

[@karlost23]

Nice vid. I think your coffin handle is the closest to the original. I have an early WWII Marine "knuckleduster" fighting knife (pre Ka-Bar) they had while mobilising in New Zealand. There's a military history of the Bowie in NZ in the 19th century around Von Tempsky's Forest raiders, as he had some made for his troop based on his experiences knife fighting in the Americas. They were _big_ fighting knives (for the guerilla style operations in The New Zealand Wars that he favoured by all accounts) likely with a small guard similar to Bowie's own modifications.

[@andrewjordan7967]

Thx for the video. Good job. Very informative and entertaining. My grandfather said that a man without a knife is half a man. Grateful that we have this heritage in our country. Long live cutlery. Keep 'em sharp.

[@GOxHAM]

Really great video! Lots of fun stories, folklore, and history around the bowie knife. You guys are killin it!!!

[@zacinthewild]

Thank you!

[@joshuaritzheimer1382]

Thank you for making this awesome video! I don't know if I've ever learned so much in a short amount of time and been entertained! Great job guys!

[@zacinthewild]

Means a ton!👊

[@davidweeks1997]

Love it. I think of the Bowie knife the same way I think of the .30-06. If I had only one choice to live, work and survive by, what would it be? The one thing I'd add to the Bowie knife is salt water tolerance, so I can use it on dives/spear fishing too.

[@patriot4258]

Great video, I have a Randall #14 with a 7.5 inch blade for many years hunting , fishing and camping etc. love my knife and would never trade it.

[@jschiek8054]

Fascinating, and gorgeously presented! Thank you!

[@daveshikingandbiking8274]

Love the history lesson on the Bowie Knife! Thanks for your hard work!

[@zacinthewild]

It was a blast to make and research!

[@RonStochler-oz1qk]

Believe it or not the Old Timer Bowie knife you started your show with was an inexpensive model, but has a great killer design and actually has great reviews as well.

[@mikeforester3963]

10:50 There's a point here. In Germany for several hundreds of years now there have been hunting knives in use which nowadays are more worn as a tradition than for actual use, and that's the "Waidblatt" or "Standhauer" which very much looks like a Bowie Knife but with a drop point tip and a bit of a short machete blade profile. Its historical use was to combine gutting and coup de grace wild game as well as to hew away brush from hunting stands, hence its second name Standhauer (stand-hewer). Blade length ranges from 7"-10" and its got a cross guard. In contemporary pieces the upper false edge is not sharpened anymore (legal reasons). Anyway, the Bowie Knife is one of these True Americana things. Great background video on that.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Great video concept! You did a great job on a historical blade. Some of the knives of founding members of the American Bladesmith Society would make for excellent topics. The Loveless drop point, Bill Moran, Buster Warenskis. ..Thanks for your efforts on varying your channels content - keeping it fresh! 👍 😃

[@zacinthewild]

So many legends in one comment! I’m going to have to start digging in.👊

[@gmorel1916]

This. A series of content like this would be amazing.

[@B-leafer]

Historically, I didn't notice any mention of either Edwin Forest, or Musso...both of which had different, yet iconic designs. Bark River currently makes a near exact (slightly upgraded) copy of the Edwin Forest bowie which arguably was used by Jim Bowie at the actual infamous sand bar fight. Also prior to Kabar and Buck, there was Butcher and Sheffield (mentioned) who had their day perpetuating the Bowie mystique. During the Civil War, the "D-guard bowie" was used infamously by many southern soldiers. Later Randall and A G Russell and more recently Bill Bagwell were icons of Bowie culture, also briefly mentioned.

[@kennethmeyers]

Jim's brother Rezin built the knife on there family's plantation in Mansure La. At the time had been jump by 2 men on his way home from Marksville. His brother went to the kitchen and took a 12 inch french chef knife and clipped the point. There are still some Bowie family in the Marksville area. This is all documented at the court house in Marksville LA.

[@hardrock1826]

Amazing presentation. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing this history of the much loved and revered Bowie Knife. Bravo.

[@GusCraft460]

I’m a blacksmith and I’d like to clear up a few points. First is the Bowie knife’s signature shape, it’s not a design that anyone came up with, except sharpening the false edge. If you forge the bevel if the blade’s tip instead of grinding it then it will naturally take that approximate shape. Clean it up a little on the grinding wheel and you’ve got a knife that looks just like a Bowie knife. Second is that no heat treatment has ten steps (also the secret to Damascus steel’s strength isn’t related to its heat treatment, and heat treating it would actually ruin Damascus steel). Heat treating has only two steps: hardening aka quenching, and tempering. Black may have had a certain way he did heat treatment that was particularly effective, but there’s no way he could’ve written it down. Blacksmithing can’t be taught through written language. It can’t even be perfectly taught through video recordings. Blacksmithing is either something you teach yourself through trial and error, or you are taught it by another blacksmith working at the forge in person. Without accurate measurements for how hot the forge or the steel is, a blacksmith judges based on the color of the glow of the hot forge and steel. It is impossible to describe the color of hot steel with words. A minor change in hue could be a difference of hundreds of degrees.

[@TB-ni4ur]

There are plenty of heat treatment/annealing procedures that have more that "two" steps.

[@GusCraft460]

@@TB-ni4ur but those aren’t for steel. Chocolate can be tempered, but it is a completely different process than you would use to temper steel. You could also use a more complicated heat treatment process for steel if you wanted to achieve some very specific material properties, but that takes machinery and precision that aren’t found in a blacksmith’s shop. That’s only for ultra high end manufacturing with modern machinery.

[@TB-ni4ur]

@@GusCraft460 Well he had an unknown process and here we are talking about it hundreds of years later LOL. Maybe he knew something you don't...

[@GusCraft460]

@@TB-ni4ur and maybe it was given to him by aliens. It’s not proof of anything.

[@willtrax71]

Holy Cow I thought it was named after “David”, the Bowie Type is such a useful design and I think Tops has nailed it really well. Great Video my Friend and I’ve had my issue Kabar since 1991 lol still amazing .

[@monsterslayer4317]

Nice piece! All the way from James Black to Bill Bagwell. Well done.

[@ergezinger]

Bowie knives are absolutely magical. I have been obsessed with Bowies for as long as i can remember. I even clip point mod most of my knives. Probably started when i was watching Rambo with my dad when i was 3. I sleep with the Condor Undertaker under my pillow. My money on the original would be the Edwin Forrest Bowie. The Bowie is also the original way to kill a vampire in the Book. The Bowie knife is the most knifiest knife that ever knifed.

[@zacinthewild]

I’m using your knifeest quote in the next bowie video I do🤣

[@ergezinger]

@@zacinthewild the thumbnail of Ben holding the Condor Undertaker to the sky on the Blade HQ video is like the desktop background in my dreams.

[@AleksandarPasaric]

Wow, don’t know how much time and effort took you guys to produce this video, however I know that knife channels will have to step up their game to keep up with you guys! Looking forward to more fun and educational videos and Thank you Zac and Jamie for keeping us informed and entertained!

[@donbrown1091]

Well done history lesson of my favorite knife! This was great! Thankful to stumble upon this video!

[@johnmorganjr769]

When I hear 'The Sandbar fight', the model you are holding comes to mind 💯'

[@miaouew]

Bowie Knife story: My friend's uncle was a biker and just about the most far-gone alcoholic you could ever imagine. He is dead now but I remember sometimes he would be walking around with a tank top on and you could clearly see this nasty, gnarliest scar you can imagine on his upper back near the left shoulder blade. We're talking a full on indention into the skin, looking like a freaking baseball-size chunk was taken out of him. Right in the center was the unmistakable scar of a big old knife. Apparently he had gotten into a bar fight in the 1980's and someone had come up and stuck a bowie into his back upper shoulder during the fight. It was still stuck nearly to the hilt when he arrived at the hospital later. He was so drunk that not only did he not feel it when it happened, the paramedics and doctors who removed it said that the alcohol likely saved his life, as the shock may have otherwise caused his death in one way or another. He said he had little memory of the incident.

[@twodogshawkeye9968]

I live 35 minutes from Washington Arkansas. Even played jimbowie in the skit for the first Jim Bowie James black festival

[@brockmitchell3989]

I used to work for a metal factory in Texas that made the brass metal parts for many Buck knife pocket knives. That was back around 1995 to 1996 before I joined the US Military.

[@Marine_0317]

I served two tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan; I can attest that the Bowie knife served me well in Close Quarter engagements. I learned that it was faster than having to reload or reach for my Desert Eagle. I still carry it till this day. Thanx for the video and Semper Fi

[@baileystutzman6096]

What kind of knife did you have?

[@Coltydabrewski]

Smells like bullshit

[@Yeti21173]

Marine with a Bowie knife and desert eagle? 😂bullshit

[@Bodhi1satva]

Terrific video! Love all the history!

[@realbuffstuff]

Great presentation! Thank you very much!

[@TimothyWalsh-b1e]

The story of James Black's secret methods of tempering and heat treatment of blade steels is really great. Today hardening and tempering of metals is well documented information throughout manufacturing and industry. Machinists and tool makers today still have virtual "tribal knowledge" for metal working that many people still view as magic and mystery.

[@JamesMBC]

Zac's the man! This video actually fills a void of a proper account of the Bowie knife made by a knife guy.

[@RobeonMew]

Jim Bowie not Jim Bouy

[@RobeonMew]

I can't watch as you keep mispronouncing it so bad you're saying another item altogether

[@RobeonMew]

Respect the craft; Bouy

[@RobeonMew]

Pronunciation is evidence of research

[@thomabow8949]

Correct!

[@rubenducheny2788]

Terrific!! Very informative. Thanks.

[@WyldIndigo]

REALLY Interesting , thank you . There was so much I did not know.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

All over planet Earth, just about every culture on the planet HAS a unique knife variety of one flavor or another & they all have some fairly extensive myth/legend/lore around it.

[@FARACI1]

Awesome review for knowledge. Thank you.

[@elessartelcontar9415]

The first Bowie knife was designed and made by Rezin Bowie, Jim Bowie's brother. Before departing for The Alamo, Jim buried his actual renowned Bowie knife. He took another similar knife with him. He was sick and secluded during the battle when he was found by the Mexican soldiers. They shot and killed him in his chambers. He was famous and The battle at the Alamo was huge news and reporters went to his mother's house to tell her the news and get her response for the newspaper. They told her he was shot and died. She paused a moment and said, "I'll warrant that none of his wounds were in his back!" They weren't; he had faced hugely overwhelming odds while very ill and faced his death head on fighting until he was killed by many enemies. His mother really knew what kind of man her son was. His brother Rezin dug up Jim's knife from where he buried it.

[@mikchrungBLADES]

I've been making Bowie knives for a long time and I didn't even know it's rich history.! Thank you Zac.

[@jimwebevstr4128]

To coin a phrase from one of my favorite movies now that's a knife

[@ThunderstoneWV]

Appreciate this video! Great history lesson. I need an OG Bowie!

[@Davivd2]

Watching Rambo as a kid in the 80's made me want to have that knife. There were survival knife knock offs all over the place back then.

[@basednorsegael1089]

I own a lot of knives and the classic musso style Bowie is the one that gets me going. The Bowie knife is just such a fantastic design.

[@wadeevans8739]

What a great video! So much information in such a small amount of time. Thank you. When I went to Boy Scouts from Cub Scouts, My daddy gave me a German made stag handle knife in the Bowie style with about a four inch blade. That knife went everywhere with me. Well not to church or school. It was lost in a great hurricane. I still miss it when I am outdoors. I replaced it with a Buck 119. Thanks again for your work.

[@grimmmickey5125]

All I ever use are fixed blades and my favorite is for sure my bowie

[@FLYFfly]

Excellent video 👏 I am also one of those crazy guys that collects knives from childhood 😅

[@rockfieldlangley1955]

Great video! I really enjoyed it. It's sad how many people leave out James black and Arkansas when they are talking about the history of the Bowie knife. I got to go to that museum when I was in grade school and see those knives in the museum. At the time Old Washington was set up as a historic town. It was the best school trip I ever took.

[@ssosaking]

A claw and a fang, very well said

[@joemartini8775]

Iv had mine for 30 years and it's still going strong it does have a new sheath.