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Choosing bowie knives from the plethora of designs and construction materials on the market today can be quite confusing. You’ll need to choose the right blade material, as well as the right blade size. However, you will also need to know what type of material you want in the handle. Bowie knives feature a number of materials used for handle creation and each offers unique benefits (as well as costs). What are your options?

First, you will find that wood is one of the dominant choices on the market today. These handles can be utilitarian, but they can also be beautiful. Some bowie knives feature solid wood handles, but most make use of a two-part handle, made of wooden scales held together by rivets run through the wood and through the tang of the knife. Knives that make use of wooden scales are usually “full tang,” while those with a solid wood handle use what’s called a “rattail” tang. Full tangs are preferable to rattails, as they provide better stability and longevity in your knife.

You will find that bowie knives can also feature handles made out of metal. Steel is the usual choice here. You will also find that these handles are usually joined to bowie knives that feature more modernistic designs, such as those with saw-tooth edges on the spine of the blade. Of course, one of the best things about metal handles is that you do not have to worry about the handle wearing out over time, though corrosion can be a problem in some rare cases.

Other options for handle material include plastics, composites, bone and even linen (hardened with a special manufacturing process). Each of these offers unique benefits, whether that be cost reduction, lighter weight or even longer lasting durability. Bone, in particular, is ideal for any bowie knife that you might want to display, as well as for those knives that will actually see use in the real world. However, before you can choose any of these materials, you should know what you want in a handle, as well as what to look for under the handle.

Other materials featured in the handles of bowie knives include leather, composite materials and even cloth (though specially treated and hardened). Your choice of handle material will determine how long the handle bears up, as well as how easy the knife is to grip and even quite a bit of how attractive that knife actually is.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie hunting knives and glock grip extensions store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

Your new bowie knife is an ideal tool for a wide variety of different things. These tools can be used to clean fish scales, to gut deer, to skin prey and to help around camp. They can help you cut wood, remove the bark from sticks and much, much more. However, if you think that a bowie knife would make a great throwing knife, you have another thing coming. Why shouldn’t you use your bowie knife in this manner?

If you’ve paid any attention to YouTube, you have probably seen a few videos of those using bowie knives as thrown weapons. You might also have noticed that they hit the target (sometimes). However, there are a few things that you might not have noticed. While getting a bowie knife to hit the target and stick is a neat trick, there are some issues here. First, notice how close the thrower must stand to the target. With a real throwing knife, you can be further back, and therefore in a safer area.

For instance, if your knife hits the target slightly askew, the point might stick, but the sideways motion of the blade and handle might bend the tip, or the blade. You might also notice that bowie knives are so heavy that you are forced to stand closer to the target in order to hit with enough force for the point to stick at all. While this might not seem problematic, it can be an issue. For instance, it takes very little for the knife to bounce off and come back in your direction. While the knife will likely not have enough force to cause damage, or even to reach you, the potential remains.

Of course, throwing a blade the size of a bowie knife and having it hit the target and stick is a great accomplishment - it looks quite impressive. However, stop to think about the potential for damage to your knife blade. Bent tips and bent blades are just some of the potential problems here. You’ll also find that if you use your knife in this manner, you will void the manufacturer’s warranty. While you might not think much of this now, what happens if you need that warranty?

As you can see, using bowie knives as throwing weapons is not the ideal situation. You can damage yourself, your knife or someone else. In addition, you’ll simply find that you can gain more enjoyment using a knife designed for throwing, rather than attempting to throw a bowie knife.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie knives and glock grip extensions store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

Caring for your bowie knife is essential. Without the proper care and maintenance procedures, you’ll find that your knife does not stand the test of time. What’s involved with proper care? How do you ensure that your knife will remain by your side, a trusted friend in the face of any situation that might occur? Actually, proper bowie knife care is relatively simple and should require very little in the way of materials or additional costs.

Proper knife care for your bowie knife actually starts with proper use. Remember, your knife is not a screwdriver. It is not a hatchet or a hammer, either. While you can certainly use your knife in these capacities in a pinch, it’s really not recommended that you do. Using your knife correctly will ensure that it holds up better and lasts much longer.

Proper sharpening is another concern. Without the right sharpening tools and procedures, the edge of your knife will give out eventually. This is true no matter what type of metal you choose for the blade of your bowie knife. Make sure that you know how to sharpen that blade, though, or you could find that you actually cause more harm than good in your efforts. Use a whetstone or a high quality all-in-one knife sharpener for the best benefits. Also, if you’re forced to use an emergency sharpener (such as a rock in the wilderness) always make sure that you sharpen the knife properly at your first opportunity.

Another important point to consider during care and storage of your knife is sharpening the blade. A dull blade is very dangerous. Make sure that you keep the blade sharpened correctly, using a whetstone and strop, a series of whetstones, or using an all-in-one knife sharpener. Keeping the blade sharpened will help ensure that any cuts made are clean and not ragged, and it will also ensure that the blade is in top condition.

Other considerations when caring for bowie knives include oiling the blade when in storage (to protect against moisture), or proper use of the blade. Remember, this is a knife, not a hammer, screwdriver or pry-bar and should not be used as such if you can avoid it.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie knives and glock grip extensions store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,hunting knife,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

Your bowie knife is a very handy tool, indeed. It provides you with numerous benefits and uses, whether you are hunting, camping, fishing or even just working around your home. However, while that knife is an ideal tool for many different things, from cutting to slicing and even blazing a trail through the underbrush, you’ll find some things that it should not be used for. What should you not use your knife to do?

Many people make the mistake of using bowie knives for purposes for which they are unsuited. For instance, if you choose to use your knife as a screwdriver, you’ll encounter some problems. This will likely lead to a bent tip, or might even snap the tip off your knife altogether. If this happens, you will either need to repair the blade, take it to a professional cutler for repairs, or reshape the blade as is.

Let’s look at using your bowie knife as a pry bar to get an even better feel for why these versatile knives should not be used for such tasks. When prying on something, it generally means that the item is either rather heavy, or it is jammed and stuck. While your knife might fit quite well under whatever that object might be, you can rest assured that you do not want to put the blade there. Even a small amount of pressure can actually bend the blade of your bowie knife, leading to some serious problems.

Chisel - Chiseling is something best left to specially designed tools. While your bowie knife might seem to have the right size and shape, and might even do a good job of it at first, you’ll find that it can quickly become blunted and damaged through this type of misuse. You’ll also find that use like this will void the warranty on the knife, if you have one.

As you can see, bowie knives, while ideal tools for a wide range of different uses, are not designed for some purposes. The basic rule of thumb should be that if another type of knife wouldn’t be right, then bowie knives would likely not be a good fit, either.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie knife and glock grip extension store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

You are using your bowie knife for a particular project when it suddenly drops from your grasp. It lands point first on a rock and when you pick it up, you realize that the tip is bent. Or perhaps you lent your bowie knife to a friend who, for reasons unknown to you, decided that it looked like an ideal replacement for that screwdriver he or she lost a week ago. When the knife comes back, the blade is bent. What do you do about a bent blade on your bowie knife? What are your options?

What should you do, should you realize that the tip or blade of your knife is bent? How do you repair bowie knives with bent blades? The very first thing you need to do is scrutinize where the bend is located. The most common area of damage is to the point of the knife. This might be because you dropped the knife point first onto a hard surface, such as a rock or cement. It might also be because someone attempted to pry with the blade or use it as a screwdriver. Bowie knives should not be used thus.

Many people will attempt to bend the blade back into shape on their own. You might be tempted to try using a pair of pliers, or even a vice clamp. However, what this usually leads to is a broken blade and possibly quite a lot of blood from where the blade fragment gashed you. This does not sound like a lot of fun. You might try to bend the tip back into place, as well, though this usually results in a broken tip and a disfigured knife blade. If you cannot repair the blade yourself, what should you do?

What should you do, then? Your best option is to reheat the blade tip and then reshape it. This will require some serious heat, a hammer, an anvil and some pretty specific knowhow. In fact, you might not be able to accomplish this task on your own at all. It’s a better idea to find a cutler who can repair your knife. Why should you opt for professional help with bent bowie knives?

A cutler will ensure that the blade does not lose its heat temper and will also be able to ensure that the blade regains its proper dimensions. Conducting such repairs at home, on your own, can be an excellent way to ruin that knife blade through incorrect repair techniques.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knifes store featuring Cold Steel training knives. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of an online lighters store.

The question of metal type used in blades has played an integral role for tens of thousands of years. Once, the choice between bronze and copper was significant. Iron came onto the scene and changed all that. Today, you have even more choices, from super high tech steel to high carbon fiber steel and many other types. In fact, if you took the time to look at the question in detail, you would find several hundred different types of metal that can be used for creating the blade for your new bowie knife. What’s the best choice?

However, one of the most important questions that you will need to answer is what sort of metal you prefer for the blade of your bowie knives. What are your options? Why does it matter? Isn’t metal basically the same? Actually, the metal used in knife blades varies considerably. You will find literally hundreds of types of metal on the market, each offering pros and cons to its use. For instance, one particular metal might be ultra hard and hold the best edge, but it might be brittle when used in a longer blade. You might find that some metals are much more resilient and tough, but they do not hold as sharp an edge as other metals.

What type of metal should you choose? Actually, if you do any amount of research at all, you’ll find that there are hundreds of types of steel out there that might or might not offer you any benefits. The best idea is to determine what you’ll be using that knife for. For example, will you be using it as a utility knife, for hunting purposes only, or will you be using it in situations where your life might depend on the quality of the blade?

Bowie knives are rugged, durable and provide tremendous versatility, but you’ll need to choose the right metal for the task. As an example, someone who will use their knife as a general camping or hunting tool will not require the same benefits as someone who does solo exploration in the wilds of northern Canada.

Choosing metal for the blade of a bowie knife can and should take some time. Never opt for the “newest” or “hottest” option on the market. Find reviews of that particular metal type and determine just how well it held up for other users and you’ll have a solid foundation on which to base your own decision.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie knives and glock grip extensions store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,hunting knife,bowie hunting knives,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

Bowie knives are some of the most sought after and prized knives in the world. Their rugged good looks, impressive size and incredible durability and usability make them ideal for numerous situations, from clearing brush to personal protection. However, what actually qualifies as a Bowie knife? To answer this question, you’ll have to understand a little bit about the history of this popular knife. Where did the knife get its start? What did the first versions look like?

Actually, Bowie knives got started in Louisiana. The first one was actually commissioned by James Bowie’s brother, Rezin. The original knife was a little over 9 inches long (blade length), had no cross guards and did not have the clipped point that is such a hallmark of Bowie knives today. The next version of the knife differed slightly. In fact, the number of versions between the knife commissioned by Rezin and what you would recognize today as a Bowie knife are truly not known. What is know is that James Bowie eventually commissioned a blacksmith by the name of James Black to create a knife based off a wooden version that Bowie had made. The result was unique.

The blade should be at least six inches long. It can exceed this length, though. You’ll find Bowie knives with blades as long as twelve inches, or even longer. The blade should be at least one inch wide, though longer knives might be up to two inches in width. The blade should only have a single edge, running along the bottom of the edge. These may or may not have a Spanish Notch - an area supposedly designed to trap an enemy’s knife blade, but more likely used in a utilitarian manner.

The classic look is what most purists accept as a true Bowie knife, though even here, there is much disparity. Some collectors even accept Sheffield Bowies as true Bowie knives (these feature a sharpened back curve on the point, where the clipped portion curves up to meet the knife’s spine).

Finally, the knife should have only a single edge, though some versions with saw-teeth on the spine have been produced, based on a military design that saw use during the Vietnam war (and featured in films such as the Rambo series). Of course, the status of a particular knife will vary with each person, depending on whether they are purists or just knife lovers.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie hunting knife store featuring the Cold Steel jim bowie knife. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of a specialty lighters store.

Air travel has certainly become more troublesome since 9/11. However, most travelers would agree that the new restrictions are not without cause. That said, understanding these new restrictions can be a bit problematic. For instance, are you allowed to carry a bowie knife aboard a plane? You might be surprised by the answer to that question - yes, you can. However, you’ll have to follow some special rules setup by the TSA to maintain safety aboard planes.

First, you will need to make sure that your bowie knife is not packed in your carryon luggage. While you can take bowie knives aboard planes, your carryon bag is most certainly not the right place for them. Where can you put them? The only place that the TSA allows bowie knives is in your checked baggage - your suitcase, for example. This type of baggage is checked at the ticket counter, and then sent down a conveyor belt to be loaded in the belly of the plane. While this will certainly keep you apart from your knife for the duration of the flight, it does allow you to travel with your weapon.

However, the news is not all bad. The TSA does allow you to carry a bowie knife with you if it is packed in your suitcase, so long as that suitcase is checked at the ticket counter and is not a carryon item. Of course, there are a couple of further caveats to this, as well. Your knife must be securely packed, sheathed and safe. It cannot be left loose inside your suitcase, nor can you pack it without its sheath. Interestingly, the same rules apply to swords, razors and other knives. If this seems a bit inconvenient, remember, you shouldn’t have any need for your knife during the flight, so packing it away before hand should be no issue.

Next, you will also need to wrap the bowie knife in something - bubble wrap works well. Actually, if you can manage it, you should box your knife, wrapping and all. This will provide the utmost protection for baggage handlers and inspectors who might come into contact with your luggage and the knife itself. As long as you follow these precautions, you can carry anything in your suitcase from a bowie knife to scissors, swords and even firearms (broken down into component pieces, of course).

You should also understand that your bag will likely be inspected during the loading process. No matter how well packaged it might be, it will show up in the x-ray machine. Therefore, having bowie knives wrapped securely will prevent injury to the inspectors, as well as potential injury to baggage handlers. You will find that traveling with bowie knives or even with swords and other bladed weapons is not a problem so long as you follow the proper procedures.

Dave is the owner of an online bowie knives and glock grip extension store.

categories: bowie knives,bowie knife,hunting knives,hunting knife,bowie hunting knives,Hunting,Fishing,Camping,Outdoors,Survival,Recreation,Hobbies

Considering the leniency of America’s weapons laws, it might seem like a no-brainer that you can carry that new Bowie knife out in public. However, before you head out the door, you should stop and check your state’s laws governing knife carrying in public. While Bowie knives might not be mentioned specifically, you’ll find that there are rules governing blade length and method of carry for all knives and some knives are excluded almost universally. You’ll find that quite a few states take a dim view of butterfly knives (balisongs), as well as switchblades and other automatic knives. Bowie knives are no exception to this rule.

Your first step will be to investigate your state’s particular laws. For instance, in Alaska, you can carry any type of knife concealed or unconcealed, except for automatic knives (there are a few provisions, of course). So, if you live in Alaska, carrying that Bowie knife around on your hip is perfectly fine. However, should you decide to visit Washington DC, you should not carry your knife with you. The nation’s capital does not allow any knives to be carried unless they are folding knives with a blade of 3 inches or less. This includes fixed blade knives, folding knives, dirks, daggers, etc, as well as concealed and unconcealed knives.

Of course, there are additional complications to this question. For instance, in Arizona, having a permit to carry a concealed weapon allows you to carry any sort of concealed weapon, from a knife to a gun. This includes Bowie knives. However, having such a permit in Texas does not carry the same legal rights, as Bowie knives are still considered illegal (In Texas, the knife must remain in your car, unless you are hunting or otherwise engaged in a (legal) activity that requires such a knife even if you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon).

In addition, you’ll find that Arizona lets individual cities and towns create their own laws governing what knives can be carried and how they can be carried legally. Therefore, should you travel from Flagstaff to Tucson, you might find that your knife is not legal. Check ahead to avoid legal problems.

These are just a few examples of the confusion that can result from trying to carry a knife in public. The best course of action if you are not sure about your state’s or your city’s laws governing knives like Bowie knives is to leave it at home, or leave it in your vehicle, in plain sight. Remember that even putting your knife in the glove box might be construed as concealment, putting you in hot legal water with local authorities.

Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knife store featuring hunting bowie knives.

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Knives have played a role in human affairs for millennia, dating all the way back to the Stone Age and before. Throughout its long history, the knife has gone through repeated evolutions and refinements, becoming more and more an ideal tool. Today, you’ll find knives specifically designed for many different tasks, from the humble butter knife to modern military knives such as those used by the Navy Seals. However, in all of history, few knives have attained the fame (or infamy) as the Bowie knife. What is a Bowie knife?

First, unlike many other types of knives in the world, the Bowie knife is a single edged implement. Any knife with two sharpened edges is immediately disqualified from consideration. In addition, the blade is at least six inches in length, though they are often quite a bit longer than this, particularly in the case of modern day reproductions. The blade of a Bowie knife is usually at least an inch in width, though these can be up to two inches wide, as well (longer blades are proportionately wider).

What makes a knife a Bowie knife, though? Most people today will find that only the last version of this famed knife is usually labeled under that particular moniker. Generally, these knives have a blade length of at least six inches, though longer blades are available, as well. Bowie knives also usually have an upper guard, that is bent forward. This was used to catch and deflect an opponent’s knife during a fight.

One of the most notable features of these knives is the clipped point. While most knives feature a point that is directly in line with the spine of the blade, Bowie knives have a point that is lower than the spine. This offers several benefits. First, it provides the knife with better penetrative abilities. In a knife fight, for instance, the Bowie is much better at penetrating an opponent’s flesh than traditional knife models are, thanks to the unique design of the blade’s tip.

These are only three of the features that define Bowie knives. Of course, the single edge of the blade is yet another defining characteristic, as is the Spanish Notch that many of these blades feature. Yet another feature is the upward sweeping curve of the blade tip, designed to provide better performance and handling when butchering or skinning a carcass. If your knife has these characteristics, it is a good bet that you are holding a Bowie knife, or a derivative of that famed knife style. Before venturing out with your knife strapped on, though, you’ll need to check your state’s laws regarding these blades.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knives store featuring cold steel bowie knives. Additionally, Dylan is also the President of a specialty cigar lighters store.