Bagwell Bowies, Bowie books & legends redeux

[Chanchu]

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I have been looking into bowie knives for the last few month's just for the hell of it. Got a CS trail master as a gift and that started it off. Started to research them for fun. Then picked up a Ontario 'Bagwell' bowie.. A production copy of Bill Bagwell's custom forged blades- quite nice actually. Custom ones are far out of my reach.

Mr. Bagwell is considered the "Hattori Honzo" of American bowie knives by master of arms James Keating. From the photos on the web and the way the production ones ( Ontario Bagwell "Gambler" etc.) feel in the hand- I quite believe it.

Anyone own or have any experiance with Mr Bagwell's blade's- production or custom?

http://www.anvilmag.com/review/108d5.htm

Mr. Bagwell's book "Bowie's big knives and the best of battle blades" is quite interesting enjoyed it.. ( above link review)

http://texasbobjonesknives.com/image/DSC01342.JPG

http://www.historynet.com/the-bowie-kni ... review.htm

Also picked up a tattered copy of this book (directly above) "Bowie Knives An American Legend" Highly recomended for anyone interested in American weapons history, dueling etc. I was amazed at the depth of this book somewhat hard to read but full of information on the history of the Bowie knife. Many strange versions like the seven star bowie filled with mercury to give power to the blow and the lasso bowie thrown with a rope- I'm not kidding, quite strange. Any one interested in western fighting arts may like to read it- Highly recomended. ( As a Bowie knife history)

http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/au38/029.JPG

Bagwell custom Bowie

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'Hells Belle'

[Andy_S]

SNIP
Many strange versions like the seven star bowie filled with mercury to give power to the blow and the lasso bowie thrown with a rope- I'm not kidding, quite strange. Any one interested in western fighting arts may like to read it- Highly recomended
SNIP

And I thought the Flying Guillotine was a Shaw Brothers invention....interesting that such odd contraptions have a history in the western world. One rather wishes revolver had never been invented: Who knows what interesting martial material might have arisen in the Olde West....?

How big was the biggest bowie? Knife or sword?

Speaking of outsized cutlery:
I am surprised that with the ongoing Afghan unpleasantness, we have not heard more (or, indeed, anything) of the once-feared Khyber knife. From what I understand, this fearsome chopper was rather like an overgrown bowie.

[Chanchu]

They were many huge bowies 20 inch blade and more some were made by cutlers for show knives not really carried, the mercury filled ones very rare only saw two examples- had a metal tube on the back integral with the blade, A news paper account of American civil war rebel's with the 'lasso bowie'

Andy most of the Bowies were made in England for export to America "Sheffield Steel IXL brand" and others amazing works of art! Quite deadly many many people got chopped up they put a tax on them of 100 dollars to try to stamp them out in Mississippi did no good. Made it a felony atempted murder charge to stab someone with a Bowie knife but shooting them with a pistol could be forgiven or even ok.. Seem's the anti bowie laws were the first American attempt at weapon's control laws- fines taxes banning and regulation.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/193146412X?tag ... NHE3MF4PX&

This book is one hell of a book got a broken down copy for a good price, its full of historical information the Author stated that he was surprised at the extent of the use of this weapon in the states from about 1827 until after the civil war. Sample reveiw of Norm Flayderman' bowie book from Amazon

"This is the most incisive, complete and thorough history of everything that can be known about the much-storied bowie knife. It exhaustively examines its legendary origins, its lineage and its significance as a unique historical weapon. This book is superb in all departments, from its many stunningly rendered photographs of breathtakingly crafted cutlery, to its scholarly and authoritative exposition and analysis. The book also examines the bowie's history and its surrounding mysteries and legends with peerless erudition and insight. The end result is a superb and completely satisfying book. I acquired it two years ago and am still continually returning to its text and well-annotated photographs and prints. A classic. "

The book is a bit hard to read and disorganized in some ways- Yet- its one of those tomes that you can read over and over again and find more interesting bits in.

Yes no word on the Afhgan knife from military people coming home that I have seen

http://www.trocadero.com/101antiques/it ... tphoto.jpg

http://www.gnwtc.com/wea171.JPG

[Michael]

And I thought the Flying Guillotine was a Shaw Brothers invention....

Are you suggesting it wasn't an authentic CMA weapon? May a kungfu llama visit you soon!

[Andy_S]

A kungfu lama? Easy there: I am English, not Welsh.