is this a BOWIE knife? - The Firearms Forum

reinhard · 06-30-2010, 10:52 PM

hi , i realy dont know anything about knives ,so here are some questions
first of all is this a Bowie knife? when was it made? what is it made off ? except
steel of course and is this a knife of any value?
knife reads on blade GEO W.SHREVE-SAN FRANCISCO other side says ENGLAND
thanks

Bill DeShivs · 06-30-2010, 11:08 PM

It's a bowie-style hunter, not a bowie knife. Popular from the 1870s to WW1. The handle is stag (deer horn.) The blade has been badly refinished.

reinhard · 07-01-2010, 12:21 AM

do you mean that the blade is polished or chromed ?
anny value to this knife?
thanks
Reinhard

The_Rifleman · 07-01-2010, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinhard

do you mean that the blade is polished or chromed ?

Looks like wire brush or a stone.

carver · 07-01-2010, 08:22 AM

Cleaning that blade took away a lot of value, it there ever was any.

Bill DeShivs · 07-01-2010, 12:58 PM

Bad polish. The original finish would have probably been crocus finish (bright polish.) regardless, the crisp lines have been slurred.

Jim K · 07-01-2010, 01:42 PM

No one knows for sure what the original Bowie knife (the one actually made for and used by Jim Bowie) but it was reported to be long and heavy, a lot wider and heavier than most men would want. Later, almost any clip point knife came to be called a "Bowie" and I guess that one has as much claim to the name as any of the millions of others. I believe Shreve was in business around 1900 but the name is so common that searching is difficult.

Jim

wpage · 07-01-2010, 03:49 PM

I like it and it may have some collector value. The handle appears to be buck horn and is well done.

Old Grump · 07-01-2010, 04:12 PM

Bowie knife? In my opinion yes. as far as value goes its value lies in the fact that it is a nice heavy duty utility knife for campground and all around use. Use it in good health and enjoy the fact that it's useful. A knife without nicks and scratches hasn't been used and that to me is a terrible waste.

Of course I was out yesterday shooting great grandpa's old Stevens single shot 25-20 made sometime in the 1890-1900 era, so my reverence for antiques lies in whether or not they are still usable. I am a heathen so you might not want to go by my opinion.

woolleyworm · 07-01-2010, 09:21 PM

I like the overall look of the knife, it would be a great one to have in the field or at the cowboy shoots. You may be able to polish some of the scratches out and get the blade finish looking a little better; but I wouldn't worry about it. I'd use it and enjoy it, it will be a very useful functional knife for many years to come. And yes, I would say that it fits into the Bowie style knife category.

dianalv · 07-01-2010, 09:35 PM

Nice scabbard and the first photograph is very nice too.

Bill DeShivs · 07-01-2010, 09:53 PM

Because a knife fits the criteria of what is commonly called a "Bowie knife" does not mean that it actually is one. This one is a bowie-style hunting knife. It is period-correct for the Colt. It has been refinished by an amateur.
The general consensus among cutlery experts is that the original Bowie knife was basically a large butcher knife. If you do some diligent research, the original knife has been tentatively identified. Search for "Edwin Forrest bowie knife."

reinhard · 07-02-2010, 11:26 AM

thanks for the replies on the knife, the knife was a present ,and will make a nice whole ,on display with a colt
thanks
Reinhard

red14 · 07-02-2010, 11:38 AM

That is a fine present. I would be proud to own it.

reinhard · 07-02-2010, 02:18 PM

thanks, i am proud to be the owner of it this knife , thanks for the compliment on the picture,ill share another one
reinhard

06-30-2010, 10:52 PM	#1
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	is this a BOWIE knife? hi , i realy dont know anything about knives ,so here are some questions first of all is this a Bowie knife? when was it made? what is it made off ? except steel of course and is this a knife of any value? knife reads on blade GEO W.SHREVE-SAN FRANCISCO other side says ENGLAND thanks Attached Images -->

06-30-2010, 11:08 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,478	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? It's a bowie-style hunter, not a bowie knife. Popular from the 1870s to WW1. The handle is stag (deer horn.) The blade has been badly refinished. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

07-01-2010, 12:21 AM	#3
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? do you mean that the blade is polished or chromed ? anny value to this knife? thanks Reinhard

07-01-2010, 08:22 AM	#5
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,552	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? Cleaning that blade took away a lot of value, it there ever was any. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

07-01-2010, 12:58 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,478	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? Bad polish. The original finish would have probably been crocus finish (bright polish.) regardless, the crisp lines have been slurred. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

07-01-2010, 01:42 PM	#7
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? No one knows for sure what the original Bowie knife (the one actually made for and used by Jim Bowie) but it was reported to be long and heavy, a lot wider and heavier than most men would want. Later, almost any clip point knife came to be called a "Bowie" and I guess that one has as much claim to the name as any of the millions of others. I believe Shreve was in business around 1900 but the name is so common that searching is difficult. Jim

07-01-2010, 03:49 PM	#8
wpage Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,471	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? I like it and it may have some collector value. The handle appears to be buck horn and is well done. __________________ "You shall recieve power" Acts 1:8 W

07-01-2010, 04:12 PM	#9
Old Grump Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Little hut in the woods near Blue River Wisconsin Posts: 2,320	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? Bowie knife? In my opinion yes. as far as value goes its value lies in the fact that it is a nice heavy duty utility knife for campground and all around use. Use it in good health and enjoy the fact that it's useful. A knife without nicks and scratches hasn't been used and that to me is a terrible waste. Of course I was out yesterday shooting great grandpa's old Stevens single shot 25-20 made sometime in the 1890-1900 era, so my reverence for antiques lies in whether or not they are still usable. I am a heathen so you might not want to go by my opinion. __________________ "When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil."~~- Thomas Jefferson Roman Catholic, Life Member of American Legion, VFW, Wisconsin Libertarian party, Wi-FORCE, WGO, NRA, JPFO, GOA, SAFand CCRKBA

07-01-2010, 09:21 PM	#10
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,888	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? I like the overall look of the knife, it would be a great one to have in the field or at the cowboy shoots. You may be able to polish some of the scratches out and get the blade finish looking a little better; but I wouldn't worry about it. I'd use it and enjoy it, it will be a very useful functional knife for many years to come. And yes, I would say that it fits into the Bowie style knife category. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

07-01-2010, 09:35 PM	#11
dianalv Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,160	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? Nice scabbard and the first photograph is very nice too.

07-01-2010, 09:53 PM	#12
Bill DeShivs Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Contributor Posts: 1,478	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? Because a knife fits the criteria of what is commonly called a "Bowie knife" does not mean that it actually is one. This one is a bowie-style hunting knife. It is period-correct for the Colt. It has been refinished by an amateur. The general consensus among cutlery experts is that the original Bowie knife was basically a large butcher knife. If you do some diligent research, the original knife has been tentatively identified. Search for "Edwin Forrest bowie knife." __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

07-02-2010, 11:26 AM	#13
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? thanks for the replies on the knife, the knife was a present ,and will make a nice whole ,on display with a colt thanks Reinhard

07-02-2010, 11:38 AM	#14
red14 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N FLA Posts: 3,916	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? That is a fine present. I would be proud to own it. __________________ I never argue, I state my opinion, and support my position.

07-02-2010, 02:18 PM	#15
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	Re: is this a BOWIE knife? thanks, i am proud to be the owner of it this knife , thanks for the compliment on the picture,ill share another one reinhard Attached Images Last edited by reinhard; 07-02-2010 at 03:20 PM..