What Qualifies a Knife to Be a Bowie Knife?

The Bowie knife is one of the most remarkable tools to ever be created. This knife serves equally well during camping, fishing, hunting or as a form of personal protection. While most people are familiar with the general shape and form of a Bowie knife, understanding what actually qualifies a knife to claim that particular name can be a little difficult.

Because of the intense popularity of Bowie knives, you'll find a wide range of different styles. In fact, there are so many different types, that it can be hard to tell what is real and what is not. For instance, you'll find knives from the Rambo movies that are derivatives of the Bowie knife, but feature a serrated back (spine). You'll find "Bowie" style machetes, as well. The real determining factor in the equation is your own personal tastes. For instance, if you are a purist, then the Rambo and Predator editions are certainly out of the running for true Bowie status.

This begs the question, what will a purist accept as a Bowie knife? The answer is actually pretty simple. The blade should be at least six inches in length, though they can be 12 or more inches long, as well. The blade should also be single-edged, with no serrations along the blade's spine. The tip of the blade should also be clipped; that is, the tip should be lower than the spine (this is a trademark feature of Bowie knives). In addition, the knife should have an S shaped cross guard, with the upper guard tilted toward the point of the knife and the lower guard angled toward the butt of the knife.

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.