The Bowie Knife is a large bladed knife invented by James Black and popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie, for whom the weapon is named. It was the Close-Range weapon of Jesse James. A variant called the Bowie Hunter was used by Theodore Roosevelt.
Description[edit | edit source]
Bowie Knife[edit | edit source]
- Length: 9 inch blade
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
- Material: Steel blade
Bowie Hunter[edit | edit source]
- Weight: .75 lbs
- Total Length: 12.5 inches
- Blade Length: 8 inches
The Bowie Knife is recognizable for its long blade often with a noticeable clip point. Those made by inventor James Black were known to be exceptionally tough yet flexible, his exact technique for manufacturing the weapon having never been duplicated. While the bowie shown on DW was 9 inchs long the blade length of Bowie knifes used in the wild west varied between 5 to 12 inches long.
Use[edit | edit source]
The Bowie knife was popular with Confederate soldiers during and after the American Civil War, Jesse James among them. After the Civil War the Bowie became extremely popular with people in the old west. It was extremely versatile, and was often used as a utility tool, as well as a weapon. The clip point allowed for a quicker and deeper puncture upon insertion and more control when cutting. Bowie knifes served both as weapons and tools. It can also be thrown; although this is usually a method of last resort, as the knife is not designed for this purpose.
