Bowie KnivesTo find a truly American knife design, look no further than the Bowie. Designed by Colonel Jim Bowie, who later died in the battle of the Alamo, the first Bowie knife took shape in the hands of James Black, a well known blacksmith working in the trailhead town of Washington, Arkansas. Bowie carved a wooden model and Black made two steel versions, one that matched Bowie’s pattern and a second with Black’s own improvements. Bowie chose Black’s knife.

Since 1830, the Bowie knife has become smaller and streamlined. The usual pattern today is the Sheffield, a version developed in England for marketing on the frontier in America. With a slimmer drop point blade and a false bevel on the forward third of the spine, the Sheffield knife resembles Black’s pattern but lacks the weight and cutlass quality strength of the original Bowie. The first Bowie, which Colonel Bowie presented to his brother Rezin, ended the lives of three men in the famous Sandbar Duel, proving the weapon to be more sword than belt knife. Some early Bowie knives were over thirty inches long.

Black’s knives became famous for their strength and flexibility — his secret method was rumored to be Damascus steel, though none of his original work resembles the Damascus steel of today. The process he worked alone behind his leather curtain is now lost. After a severe beating left Black blind and unable to work, he no longer remembered the methods he had used.

Some of Our Favorites

A Classic Bowie knife from one of the finest American companies, W.R. Case & Sons.

From Bear & Son in Alabama, the Damascus Bowie follows the pattern common on the frontier — Bowie blade and coffin handle.

From the premier cutler of Solingen, Germany, this Puma Stag Skinner Bowie shows the best of both European and American traditions.

Read All of Our Bowie Knife Reviews Below


Bowie

Swamp Rat Modified Bowie Knife M6 | Collectors Fixed Blade w/ Micarta Handle

The M6 isn’t part of the Swamp Rat Knife Works current production but is sometimes available in new or used condition...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Crocodile Dundee Knife Replica | Bowie Australian Frontier Fixed Blade by Down Under Knives

Bowies large enough to suit Crocodile Dundee were common on the American frontier but are much harder to find now. Today,...
JT Hats
1 min read

Cold Steel TrailMaster Genuine Bowie Knife | High Carbon Steel w/ Kraton Handle SK-2

The Cold Steel Trail Master isn’t just a knife with a Bowie-style blade. The Trail Master is a genuine Bowie knife...
JT Hats
1 min read

Jungle King Bowie Hunting Knife by Trademark | Fixed Skinning Blade w/ Survival Kit, Nylon Sheath

This heavy, fixed-blade Bowie knife from Trademark holds much more than a sharp edge with two different compartments of gear and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Primitive Bowie Knife Replica by Trademark Global | Brass & Stainless Steel Reenactment Blade

Trademark Global’s Primitive Bowie clearly is too much knife for today’s hunter or fisherman, but it will fit right in at...
JT Hats
1 min read

Becker Knife & Tool Combat Bowie, Black BK-9 | Ka-Bar Survival Full Tang High Carbon Steel Blade

Becker Knife & Tool once produced a wide variety of survival knives built to the specifications of founder Ethan Becker, who...
JT Hats
1 min read

SOG Revolver SEAL Folding Bowie Knife FX21-N | Locking Black TiNi Survival Saw Blade

More than a folding knife and not quite a fixed blade, the SOG Speciality Knives & Tools FX21-N Revolver SEAL shows...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Desert Fighting Combat Knife | Fixed Combo Edge High Carbon Steel 2-5014-9

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2005, the Desert Fighting Knife came about because many military personnel serving in the Gulf region...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Extreme Combat Fighting Knife w/ Kraton Handle | Modified Bowie Fixed Blade D2 2-1282-6

This Extreme Fighting Knife from Ka-Bar works some important improvements into the classic Ka-Bar Marine Corps fighting knife design. If you...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ontario Rothco Survival Bowie Knife | Army & Air Force Military Vietnam Replica

This Ontario Knife Company design issued to pilots during the Vietnam War and now offered by Rothco would make a dependable...
JT Hats
1 min read

Trademark Global Bowie Hunting Knife, Jungle Master | Hollow Ground Sawtooth 15 Inch

Although it’s a massive hunting and survival knife, the Jungle Master from Trademark Global does have some weak points. In spite...
JT Hats
1 min read

United Cutlery Kommando Knife, Tactical Black | Full Tang Bowie with Kraton Handle M48

Though it’s better known for its many styles of fantasy and replica weapons, United Cutlery also designs knives in a tactical...
JT Hats
1 min read

SOG Salute Folding Tactical Knife | Stainless Steel Black Blade FF-11, Pocket Clip

SOG’s FF-11 Salute — which the company refers to as their first Fusion tactical folder — puts all the technical expertise...
JT Hats
1 min read

SOG Bowie Knife for Hunting & Skinning | Black Titanium Kraton Creed CD02-L

With the bulletproof features you need in a good survival knife, the SOG Creed is more than a sharp camp tool....
JT Hats
1 min read

Bowie Knife w/ Stag Antler Handle | Damascus Laminated Steel, Heavy Filework

This very nice Damascus Bowie Knife has a traditional rustic build combined with fine filework on the spine of the laminated...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka Bar Bowie Knife, Black High Carbon Steel | Heavy Kraton Machete 1277

If you need a knife heavy enough for chopping wood, the Ka-Bar 14-1/4-inch Bowie could be a match. The tactical black...
JT Hats
1 min read

Zweibruder Coast Grandpa Bowie Knife w/ Stag Handle | Full Tang Curved False Edge

The Coast Grandpa knife — made by Coast Knives of Portland, Oregon, but designed by Zweibruder (Puma Knives) — shows the...
Ken
1 min read

Coast Bowie Knife w/ Leather Sheath | High Carbon Stainless Steel 14 Inch

There are Bowie-style knives, and then there are real Bowie knives. The Coast 14-inch Bowie Knife is a real Bowie —...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar US Army Vietnam Commemorative Military Knife | High Carbon Steel Bowie Blade

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2006, the U.S. Army version of the Vietnam Commemorative Knife is the real thing, with a...
JT Hats
54 sec read

Smith & Wesson Survival Military Knife | Bowie Sawtooth Special Ops SW3G M9

Smith & Wesson’s updated version of the Ontario Knife Company M9 Bayonet, the SW3G Special Ops M-9 includes the essential features...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Puma Stag Skinner Bowie Knife | Full Tang Solingen Stainless Steel

The knives from Puma’s Solingen, Germany, factory always look more like weapons than the average factory-made knife, and the Puma Stag...
JT Hats
55 sec read

United Cutlery Steel Apocalypse Dragon X-10 | Fantasy Bowie Collectors Knife

United Cutlery says the Dragon X-10 from the Steel Apocalypse Collection took inspiration from the genre of science fiction and futuristic...
JT Hats
53 sec read

Buck Special Fixed Blade Bowie Hunting Knife w/ Cocobolo Brass Handle | Brown Leather Sheath

The frontier look of the Buck Special dates back to the days when Buck Knives was a two-man shop. This striking...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Puma IP Scout Bowie Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel, Stag Handle

Natural stag handles which vary in shape and pattern from knife to knife give each Puma IP Scout Bowie the unique...
JT Hats
51 sec read

Damascus Bowie Knife w/ Stag Bone Handle | Bear & Son

I’ve always wondered about the story K-Bar tells of the trapper who killed a wounded bear with one of their Bowie...
JT Hats
56 sec read

Blackjack Trailguide Hunting Bowie Knife | Antique Ivory Micarta Handle

The Blackjack Trailguide, a full-sized skinner, offers collectability as well as practical value. The wide Bowie-style blade with false double edge...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Maxam Knives Painted Wolf Faux Antler Fixed Bowie Knife

This interesting display Bowie by Maxam Knives of Dallas, Texas, was created as a canvas for the hand painted wolf themed...
Ken
50 sec read

Gil Hibben Signature Edition Rambo III Bowie Knife | Movie Replica Blade

Created by Gil Hibben for Sylvester Stallone’s recurring role as John Rambo, this striking Bowie style fighting knife appeared in the...
Ken
50 sec read

Puma Bowie Stag Hunting Knife | Solingen Stainless Steel Full Tang Fixed Blade

Even though the high carbon stainless steel blade of this 11″ traditionally styled Bowie knife is only 6″ long, some who...
Ken
50 sec read

Classic Bowie Knife | Stainless Steel, Wood Handle, Leather Sheath | Collectible, Functional

This Classic Bowie Knife really takes you back to the days when most men in a western town could be seen...
Ken
1 min read