A bowie knife may be the most recognizable basic knife pattern of all time, and it just so happens that it is a highly utilitarian one too. Here are 6 features of a bowie knife that will prove its efficacy in the field.
A Wide, Heavy Blade
The definitive feature of a bowie knife is its wide, heavy blade which is hardly one step beneath a machete. The center of gravity in a bowie is fairly far forward, which can make a bowie very effective at chopping.
Even though it is generally inadvisable to stick the blade of a knife into the ground, this pattern can also be effective for makeshift excavation if you’re missing a trench shovel. Not the best use for a bowie but it is a possibility.
A Clip Point Profile with a Swedge
A bowie knife’s definitive calling card is its clip point profile. They are typically finished with a swedge or even with a false edge. This makes this profile highly effective for penetration, which is in league with the fact that historically it has been seen and used as a fighting knife.
The clip point of a bowie knife makes it highly effective for piercing and thrusting, so it can also be effective for detail work such as carving camp tools or furniture, or for cleaning harvests as a hunting knife as well.
The Type of Grind
Bowies are typically made with either a hollow grind or a flat grind. With a hollow grind, you can maintain a very fine edge that can be effective on a hunting knife for cleaning and processing harvests. A flat grind is better for general purpose utility and for chopping as a blade with a flat grind is less likely to bind in material.
A Large, Comfortable Handle
Most bowie knife patterns feature large, generous handles with finger swells and other prominent features that make the knife comfortable to grip and wield. This helps aid in control of the knife and will improve indexing.
A Pommel (and Sometimes a Lanyard Hole)
Some bowie knife patterns feature a pommel or at least a swollen end. This is a very useful feature where it is present because it can help a user’s hand maintain control of the blade. Specifically it can help prevent a user’s hand from slipping off the back of the blade.
Sometimes a bowie will also have a lanyard hole through the back of the handle, through which a lanyard can be inserted, which will also aid in control of the knife as well as retention, especially if and where the knife is used for chopping.
A Crossguard
Bowie knives are also almost always designed with some sort of crossguard. This is a strip of metal that crosses the blade where it meets the handle (hence the name) and is a critical safety feature because it helps prevent a user’s hand from slipping up and onto the blade while using it.
Some bowies are also made with a “sub hilt” which is sort of like a type of crossguard that sits between the main guard and the index finger. This feature helps to aid in withdrawing the knife from a target when it has been used to execute a thrusting maneuver.
Where to Get a New Bowie Knife
In the market for a new bowie knife? Check out BUDK first. In addition to bowies, they also carry a wide range of other knife patterns and profiles, both fixed blades and folders. They also carry boot knives, neck knives, automatic knives, stilettos, karambits, and much more. Visit their website and get in touch with them directly if you have any questions about what they sell.
For more information about Crossbows and Best Otf Knife Please visit: BudK Worldwide Inc.
