Interpretations of the bowie always lead back to its historical context as one of the most classic of American knife designs. However, makers from around the world bring new perspectives to the genre as well. From the idea stage to the finished product, variations on the bowie theme continue to push boundaries while holding true to tradition.
“When I think of a bowie knife, I think of a traditional Alamo cowboy, everyday carry, all around camp, chop, skin, fighting knife,” ABS apprentice smith Dave Jacobson smiled. “A bowie should be used to chop wood, skin an animal or fillet a fish, although [the one I made featured in this story] is more of an art piece. It would still be able to stand up to the test. A good test would be to pound it into a tree like a steel spike and see if it holds your weight!”
Despite Dave’s
