Fishing Frenzy

Not all knives sold as Bowie knives really meet the standards for this legendary weapon and tool. There are distinguishing characteristics that make this knife what it is and which give it its characteristic durability, utility and, when necessary, lethality. This knife design is born of the American Frontier when people needed tools that were as versatile and durable as possible.

Bowie knives always have clipped points. This feature is the end part of the blade where the center of the blade dips below the spine. Though this feature is attractive, it offers far more than looks. In a fight, this narrow portion of the blade is lethal in its ability to penetrate deep into the body with little effort. This creates what is called a false edge along the back of the blade. Some users sharpen this edge. Outside of fighting, however, this modification has little practical usage and may make the knife more dangerous to the user.

The blade on a Bowie knife is usually at least 1 inch wide, often wider. This thickness offers the blade incredible durability. The knife can safely be used for all manner of tough work, from chopping small wood in a pinch to blocking powerful blows in the course of a fight. The weight of this blade is offset by another important characteristic of these knives: the clipped point.

The end of a Bowie knife has a blade where the tip falls below the spine. This is a rare feature, sometimes seen on cutlasses and swords. It is principally designed to provide penetration when the knife is used for fighting. It also has the effect of making the knife lighter and more agile, which is as useful at camp as it is in a fight. When cleaning animals, the lighter portion of the blade at the end provides excellent control characteristics.

A Bowie knife is generally a very large knife, being anywhere between 6 and 12 inches long. While there are longer models made, they are essentially novelty items. A real Bowie is as precise as it is large and deadly.