Bowie Knives: The Blade. 

Thoroughly explained and accurate too. The quality of video here is beyond anything else I've seen. Keep up the good work (hopefully others will follow) !!!

Excellent video. Very informative. New subscriber after watching this video. I was beginning to think that I was the only person who thought a Bowie knife had to have a ten inch blade. And one more thing I'll say, I appreciate you pronouncing the name Bowie correctly.

Well said. Great discussion. Agree with pretty much all you said. Bark River's A2 is awesome. Their heat treat is really well done.

John, I'm not into stainless steel blades either. I prefer carbon steel blades. They can call me traditional all day long, and I'll revel in it and ask for more. A big ol' Bowie with a 10" high carbon steel blade is simply a gift from God. I have an idea in the works for a tradition full tang Bowie of the above specs. It would have osage orange scales, 'blued' and ever-so-slightly recessed pins impressed with 5-point stars (5 total), a German silver guard (Bagwell type of course)...and 'contrasting' spacer, and a brass end cap. Older, more 'deep orange' color scales are a must have. I have some good osage orange blanks of the aforementioned type in a bag somewhere. I pulled some very old fence posts from the ground years ago. My idea would have the blade slightly 'rough textured or finished' to impede an imperfectness of the days of blacksmith-made days. It would be cold blued slightly to accentuate the silver and the brass. Of course, a nice edge on the clip point 2" long, would be a must-do for those wicked back flicks! This would be a Bowie to use...not to abuse....on some collector's shelf. ha! I love the hell outta nice Bowie knives, I surely do! Extra fine video, my friend, as usual! Thanks a million. My depression dropped at least 75% watching your video. Ohh forgot, John....why hell yes, Mr. Bill Bagwell was/is right! as you said...and always has been. haha! (agreeing with you) He is our modern day Jim Bowie plus, for certain! Stay sharp John, as always!!

Good video that's full of serious information, you really know about knives & that no joke. This is like a class lesson in video form.

Magnifiques couteaux !! Je vais en faire un bientôt !!!

Very informative video. Thank you.

My Bowie is the Track of the Wolf 15" Bowie. 1075. I've steeped the blade in vinegar for hours and put a sweet looking patina on it; put a brass guard on it and black Canvas Micarta scales w/ stainless steel pins. It's been a super-tough tool that accomplishes any task. It was so much fun! Think I'll build me another!

Great information .. you know your Bowies, uses, and construction.

You're spot on, on all counts. I'm a Chef, as well as, a competitive thrower...Thanks for posting. Subscribed!

nice Bowie Knives bro!!

Good video. Yes indeed, Bagwell was SO right. His sharpening tips were splendid too!

there are many great Bowie knives with less than 9 inch blade in the 1800s most of them I've seen arent over 7 inch blades

The first three knives from the left are my style for sure. My favorite would be the 2nd one, next the third. Would love to own one.

Great video. What is your opinion on the cold steel Laredo bowie knife? I like the look of its length and slashing/sheering capability with that full flat grind.

Nice video, here in Mexico bowie knives are really popular, more in the north part. I've been using the cold steel laredo for a while, I must confess that is kind of "overpowered" I'm just one of those guys who go to the forest just for walking, and I live in the City so the places where I usually go aren't really dangerous or wild, probably a victorinox is all what I need but I fucking love bowie knives, also I love the kabar usmc, it was my first knife.

Ok I like the BUCK 119 but after seeing your videos of choping and getting shooled on blade philosophy I see it Bowie like knife, understanding is important and it's in this video.

This is so interesting but for me, living and working in Grizzly habitat and guns being difficult to acquire here in Canada I’m thinking to acquire a Bowie knife for self defence if a grizzly jumps me. I do have a cheap Chinese made Bowie with an 11 7/8 blade but even this seems small when thinking of defending from a grizzly. Probably the thrusting capability is most important. So how big can I go with a large, tapered fighting Bowie? Where can I find such a knife?

I made one from a machete from 1948 made from Sheffield steel . I'm keeping this one . Mine Has an 11 blade . Unfortunately if I leave my property with it they can lock me up for 3 year's

A few quick questions: Where can I find examples of your work? Do you make custom bowies still? I may look you up in the future if I'm in need a quality battle blade.

Which of the cold steel Bowie's u like best, tm Laredo, Natchez,

Cool video man, thank you. I do find your views on steel to be outdated. There are now many stainless or tool steels that I'd personally love to have in a bowie knife. A nice modern stainless can run circles around any simple carbon steel in edge retention, provide a relatively care-free experience, & more than enough toughness & edge stability for even a large bowie. Heat treats are so dialed in now that even hobby makers can consistently produce a bowie knife in CPM154 or Elmax or fill in the blank that will be a superstar performer. Many of the positive attributes that folks apply to simple carbon steels are more romance than fact. And I'm not saying that 5160 or 1095 or my favorites like 52100 or CruForge V can't make stellar bowies; they certainly can...I'm just saying that higher alloy steels can as well. Thanks again brother, I really enjoyed the vid, great stuff for a knife lover like myself!!

Would you recommend the trailmaster as a fighter/utility?

great video , I've been reading a lot about Bowie knives but I could never buy one I like... costwise

What's it take for you to make a knife? Very interested. I'm impressed so far

Is there a production or semi-production Bowie that is an 80/20 design? It's a bummer that Ontario's bagwell line is extinct, as that's as close to what I'm thinking of. Cold steels loredo and Natchez models look close as far as their blade shape and clip design... But something's holding me back from them.

Ножи красавцы!

My favorite Bowie design is the Western W49.

How much is a bowie knife made by you in terms of price

thank you somebody sais bowie knife right

so you wouldn't consider a Kabar or a Randall model 1 to be a bowie knife?

Hi John- great video and bowies. Please check your Western Maine Defensive Tactics Facebook page. I have a question there for you (using someone else´s Facebook page, as I don´t have one).

I bought a 6 inch bowie knife , its a good looking knife , the thing is it has " ORIGINAL BOWIE " professionally wrote doown the blade , I paid £20 for the knife , & I think it is worth a lot more , has anybody out their ever seen , or heard of this - 6 inch blade , & 4 & a half inch horn handle - I personally think ive getting a bargain !!

2:53 bronze did not rust ;p

Bowies yes are a American knife but a lot of them were made in Sheffield England originally

A Bowie can even be 8 inch.. My biggest one is a 13 inch blade.. My most little one is 23 cm.. Both real Bowie's..

Can you make me a bowie