Most Dangerous Knife In America! Bowie Knife and Everything You Need To Know About It.
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- 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
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.
Great to hear from you! You’re definitely carrying that torch👊
You have incredible passion for knives, and it shows in your work!
Pls let me come apprentice you, I lost my restaurant from the coof, I’ve always wanted to be a bladesmith
Do we know where J. Bowie's gravesite is??
Trying really hard to find one of the knives he shows from you 21:26!!
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.
Thank you for your service.
@@davidrichter9164 l
I carried a K-Bar from '85-'93.
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.
Bet that knife went to hell and back, would love to hear it tell a story, also thank you for your sacrifice
Made my first Bowie knife in 1990, carry it in the woods all the time , while living in Alaska a friend and I got caught out hunting when a cold front moved in and the temp dropped to -80. I used that knife to cut up a six inch birch tree and split it to make a life saving fire. It has since been carried with me every year, Including while in the Army. It is at this moment on a pistol belt slung over a kitchen chair. It will go to my oldest son who was born in Alaska. At the time I made it, I also made a small piggy back knife for the same sheath, I lit count on how many moose, caribou, bear, deer, elk and beef that thing has skinned. The Bowie is more useful and lighter then carrying a small ax or hawk. Great video.
BS 😂
@@GuitarGuy650 that's opinion, I wasn't the only one their. I also spent a few weeks in the hospital, because of frost bite.
Amazing story. I'm big into the outdoors, but still learning. Bought (wish I could make) my first Bowie last week. That will live on my pack.
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.
That's crazy I have my grandpa's ❤
Heh, those were the Ka-Bar knock offs that the troops hated.
Perhaps a Collins #18/V44 ?
so your old man is 110 years old ?
Easily the best review supplying the most accurate thorough information. Thanks!
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!
Do you take commission work? I'd love a custom Bowie
If you are smith, then try to do a Damascus steel.
Could you imagine how sharp the guys knives were that he could widdle on hickory for an hour and still shave hair.
Funny, I could swear that I've read about Damascus steel in different books made before 1973, or 1873
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!!!
Great video! As a native Texan and lifetime knife enthusiast, the classic Bowie will always hold a special place in my heart.
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.
As an european i absolutely adore bowie knives, they are so perfect.
Anybody else think that Zac would be really good at making documentaries
We think this is a pretty good one😁
@@zacinthewild it's marvelous
Next History Channel victim eh? 🤣
@@alpine1600s if he adds more ancient aliens.
Absolutely! This was amazing!!!
Just a reminder that the Bowie is an EXCELLENT hard working large game butchering and skinning knife. I have used mine for elk and buck. The long blade makes certain large cuts (such as a hind leg removal) far less work than a smaller knife. And when packing out bloody quarters in the dusk in bear country, it is comforting to have a Bowie on your belt. I have used mine to cut brush and split firewood, too, and these jobs are in the province of a large heavy blade, not some cutesy art piece. The Bowie still has a solid place in the hunter's/outdoorsman's world, and likely will forever.
Why is there such a long wait to get one ??
Bought my Bowie at the age of 12, with my paper route money. I was heavy into scouting and backpacking. I still have it and a lot of stories that go with that knife!
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.
a bowie is still what i carry into the woods to cover unexpected and expected problems, if i want to split wood or if a wild animal got the drop on me away from my firearm the big chunk of clip pointed steel is gonna be my talisman to get me home again.
This is by far the most underrated RUclips channel I've ever seen it's such high quality and professional material
Jamie does a great job making it look so dang good!
@@zacinthewild you give him good stuff to work with lad, don't sell yourself short
100% agree
wouldnt know the truth if it bit you cause it aint on u tube only the censored crap they allow mostly somebodys bull shit tale
Fantastic video. It's a privilege to see our knives in the company of other incredible knives and knife makers. Several of us here learned a lot, and we're looking forward to more videos like this!
One of your pocket knives saved my life thanks for building a excellent knife buck
You guys should be verified!
over 40 plus years i have owned at least 10 x 110's, i'd wear them things plum out in the oilfields and on drilling rigs, if Buck company only knew what we would put them through they simply wouldn't believe it was possible a knife could stand that much torture and abuse and still keep working
i'll even add this, i'd see roughnecks bring out a cheap knife and it would hold up even a couple days "to do this job i'm describing you had to have a good knife everyday to do your job" i'd laugh at them and tell them "go buy a damn Buck 110 and be done with it man"
anyway i'd thought i'd share this
"because, it's true'
Buck knives have saved my hide multiple times
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.
Crocket didn't use a Bowie?
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.
'Experts' often discount firsthand accounts and rely on second, third, & 27th-hand accounts.
Love this “mini documentary” style video, I learned a lot. Bowie knives aren’t always my favorite but I’ve always loved my buck 119 my dad bought me in high school, the same knife he’s always carried hunting, fishing, and camping.
I love the buck 119. I just wish it was at least an inch longer. It's only 6 inches. Which is plenty lethal but it doesn't scream Bowie
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!
I have never seen a video so focused, well researched, and entertaining focused on the steel we all love to carry. Bowie knives are all what we grew up thinking was a "man's" knife, but modern iterations of the design have left us with the lessons learned by history. I think your interpretation and shout outs at the end have done more to show the progression and history of the knife (or any knife design at that) than any one historian could do.
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!
I just picked up a 119 and it’s My favorite knife!! Next to my troodon.
I never learned so much about Bowie that I did from your video. WOW. My best knifes that I own are: WW2 Marine Raider Stiletto by Camillus, WW2 Sheffield's daggers, WW2 V2 by Case, 225 Q by Cattaraugus and a ton of WW2 Mark 2's by Ka-bar, Camillus, Union, Robeson, PAL. Always good to know how to use a knife for defensive issues. ... Gulf War Veteran/Cherokee America 1990-1991...
Zac you and Jamie are absolutely doing the best work for both the knife community and general related interest out right now. Love you guys and the entire progression to this point. Very few contemporary channels come off with a true interest and care to detail as you guys are doing. So please keep it up and stand strong in doing your own independent production because they are definitely coming with offers for you to give them the heart and soul you guys exude in this genre. Merry Christmas and you guys deserve a special gift this Christmas ❤
This comment means a ton. We have been working really hard on this project and have some awesome stuff coming soon. Merry Christmas to you and the only gift we need is awesome people like your self watching and supporting to get us to our bigger goals!
Great stories guys,i have several with my Buck 120 from the 70s till this day 1/5/24 it has saved my ass plenty of times defending myself,I give them as b day gifts to my 1% biker buddies to this day
Just as a note of clarification, the knife Jim Bowie carried at The Sandbar fight was not his Bowie knife, it was a butcher / hunting knife loan to him by his brother. The Bowie knife as has come to be known, was not made for a considerably time after The Sandbar fight. This came from Rezin Bowie himself in a letter of complaint to a news paper that had misrepresented the knife and his then dead brother.
Lies
@@joedoe8655You calling second hand information on both sides of the stories lies. How dare you!
@@joedoe8655 - Get back under your bridge, troll.
I've seen the letter from Rezin Bowie myself.
And it's very unlikely that he would lie about what happened on that Vidalia sandbar.
I have a KA-BAR. Bought it when I became a Marine in 2011. I honestly haven't taken it out of my truck, ever, but I'm going to UA in the spring and I think this is one of the two knives I'll bring.
how r things?
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.
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
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.
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.
@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
Thank you for the kind words! So much great history out that way.
Love this story on the bowie knife. Back in the early 80's I made my first and only handmade knife and yes, it is in a bowie form. I was recently made an offer for it, and it was above what I ever thought it would be worth. I turned it down as I just can't let it go, plan to leave it to my son.
Well obviously, you should make more. Time permitting, of course.
@@MnemonicHack actually I plan to make several this coming summer as I have the materials I need. Since I will be retiring soon I thought I would make a few as gifts for this coming Christmas to give to the guys I have worked with for the last 20+ years before the time comes to put down my wrenches. Will make one for my son as well for his coming 21st birthday to go with mine that he will get this year.
@@rogerhancock8732 sounds cool nice dude
Great video Zak, you guys put alot of work into this one and it turned our amazing 👊
Thanks! We had a blast with doing something a little longer and polished.
Good steel, didn't care for the blade profile. GOOD KNIVES came out of Solingen, I just had the privilege of restoring 2 from the 50's that were left to rust
Omg congratulations brother best knive video on RUclips
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
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...
A true knife geek-fest. You guys are really knocking out of the park. I have a really vulgar Schrade version that I can’t legally take out of my house, but I love it to bits.
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.
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!
Great history, thank you for posting this. Some of the finest examples of of the Bowie were reputedly made by the Wostenholm works in Sheffield, England and Wolstenholm collaborated with one of my grandmother’s relatives, Joseph Rogers who went on to produce and sell Bowies world wide. Bowie had knives made for his friends by Wolstenholm. The Sheffield Foundries and especially Rogers were regarded as the producers of some of the finest carbon steel blades in the world. I have a later style buffalo horned hunting knife made by one of the last foundries to survive shortly before its closure in the mid 2000’s.
Holy cow!!! That wasn't the typical knife video but something else! Quality content. The Buck 119 was the first quality fixed blade i ever owned and i have a mint condition 1970s one now. It has influenced my taste in hunting knives to this day. A true classic born of a great historical knife
As a german guy I can say I´m a proud owner of an original BOWIE KNIFE!
Some say in hard times like these cold steel is your best (only?!)friend...-
Well,could be true...! 🤔
I am filipino am also knife enthusiast and i chose bowie knife because of comforts and effectiveness .thrust,chop are there in one hands.
I was in the Marine Corps from 1993 to 1998. I always carried my kbar with me when we were in the field. Or on deployment. Glad I was never in a position to have to use it in a self-defense situation.
I like the Bowie knife so much I got it, and by CB handle tattooed on my right forearm, it goes from wrist to elbow.
Professor Zac, preach on! Your content is fun, philosophical and intellectual! Many thanks!
Glad you dug it🙏! This one was a ton of work and a ton of fun! So many ins and outs with the history!
Jim Bowei's brother described the knife in his book. He took an 1832 butchers knife, had a French clip cut into the end and used a Spanish infantry mans guard placed at the base of the blade. Most Bowei knives I see today have a Texas clip and standard flat guards and most are way to wide.
Why the umbrage my boi?
THATS RIGHT EVERY KNIFE IS A BOWIE KNIFE, ALL MARKETING BS
One account of the sandbar fight I read long ago described his knife as approximately 9 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide....
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.
Perfect setting for a great carry!
All I ever use are fixed blades and my favorite is for sure my bowie
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.
Great job Zac and crew! Everyone who digs knives needs to have at least 1 Bowie in their collection.
Totally agree!
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
Zac you guys are absolutely crushing it lately. I flippin loved this video. Super cool that your videos have so much differentiation and yet stay true to what you, and this community is passionate about.
I had 10 Bowie knifes, I gave 8 to my grandson and I kept 2 of the best ones that I like
I’ve seen you in different videos but this one is my favourite
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.
The 120 was my grail knife before I knew what a grail knife was😁
More of this type of content good sir! Your abilities as a narrator and enthusiasm for all things knife are infectious.
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.
That was awesome! I bought a D guard Civil War style Bowie knife recently that I love. The Massive 14” blade was made in Nepal.
I have carried a K-Bar for over 30 years. The day I graduated from Maine Corps boot camp, I bought my first K- Bar. It is the perfect knife. It's not too big or too small. Easy to care for. It can be used for nearly every purpose a knife can be used for. The Bowie knife may be a good knife, but it doesn't compare to a K- Bar.
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.
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!
Thank you very much!
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.
This is one of the best written and researched knife videos I've ever seen.
I use a becker knife and too
Bk 9 a 9.5 inch clip point bowie style made of blackened 1095 chrome moly. It chops well and is great for batoning etc. I fortuneatly I have never had to fight withit.
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!
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.
Having owned and used all 3, the kukuri is still my favorite to use (but not the best to carry every day)...
@@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.
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.
There are plenty of heat treatment/annealing procedures that have more that "two" steps.
@@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.
@@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...
@@TB-ni4ur and maybe it was given to him by aliens. It’s not proof of anything.
Excellent production, thanks! Lots of good info...my compmements!😊🎉
The Buck Custom Shop 904 Sub Hilt Bowie captured my imagination 40 years ago and remains the most beautiful, elegant and lethal manifestations of blade craft I've ever seen.
Best mini documentary I've ever seen, Zac I love your vids, this is easily the best one yet, keep up the good work man, livin' the good life!
Jamie knocked the edit out of the park here!
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!
Awesome documentary, I am a big fan of Bowie knives and have seen a few documentaries on the subject, but I still learned a lot. Great content!
Stoked to hear you learned something! I think at this point I’ve watched everything and read just about everything out there😁
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.
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.
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!
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.
Honestly Zach you should do more videos like these. This was an awesome quick documentary on the Bowie knife
I would define a modern bowie as a large cross guard clipped knife for the purpose of self-defense, hunting, and bushcraft. I would describe classic bowies as a large fighter knife.
I bet the original is still around somewhere, Knife's last a long time my oldest was from American revolution and still useable now I Carry a early western Bowie from boulder Colorado. I also have one made from a industrial age Giant saw blade .
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 RUclipss and the Knife/EDC world is better with you in it!
Thank you so much🙏! Totally agree there’s nothing better then a big old clip point blade!
That one's on my short list. Wish it came uncoated. You can't beat the glint of steel for deterrent factor.
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.
Tops is 1 hell of a knife i got the blue dakota drifter 1 pound knife its a bad boy
Really great video! Lots of fun stories, folklore, and history around the bowie knife. You guys are killin it!!!
Thank you!
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 🔪👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Totally agree!
Apple pie isn't American
Bought an Ontario Air Force Survival knife when I was a young Air Cadet. Today, it's part of my Search and Rescue gear.
In 74 in the B Co 1/508th PIR weapons platoon a short Hawaiian named Sanchez had a Bowie Knife in the field... it darn near reached his knee hanging off his waist. We paratroopers were a flashly bunch. I carried an AF Survival knife on my LBE over my heart. It was like a 14" Mini Bowie.
Zac, you continue to make the best knife-related content on RUclips, 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!
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!
Thank you so much for the kind words! The Ranch Bowie is a great one!
Who doesn’t love a Bowie , it’s an American icon
Most people couldn't care less.
@@NelsonJ1 ok then have a blessed day
@@donwaldroopoutdoors3665 Also, the modern Bowie with the cross guard is an English design that was sold to Americans. James Bowie was racist slave trader. That's very American, and one of the reasons he was celebrated.
@@NelsonJ1 ok im not one to argue and be negative,
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!
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...
The more you learn about the sandbar fight, the less impressed you are with the knife and more impressed with Jim Bowie's ability to "no show" massive amounts of damage. He was the 19th century version of Jason Voorhees.
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!
Is this accurate my boi?
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.
They are such iconic knives!
Check out the Ontario and Spec Plus versions as well.
@@ryancosta839 I'll check them out. Thanks!
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!
Means a ton!👊
This showed up in my feed so I checked it out. It basically is a regurgitation of knife nerd lore without explaining the fighting technique that must influence the knife design. The purpose and execution of the backcut is what makes the bowie somewhat unique. Jim Bowie at that time in Louisiana would have encountered French and Spanish knife and sword techniques.
I have a Western W49, a big, beautiful example of the classic Bowie. I also have a Buck 119 that is so old that it does not have the model number stamped in the blade, it only has the Buck logo, it is 95%. I am very proud of both.
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
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.
Love the history lesson on the Bowie Knife! Thanks for your hard work!
It was a blast to make and research!
It's the one pattern of knife that I would buy primarily for collecting. I personally don't have much use for them outside of collecting but it is definitely one of my favorite designs.
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!