Windlass primitive Bowie knife
Feb 25, 2019 2:17:35 GMT
Post by bebut on Feb 25, 2019 2:17:35 GMT
Windlass Primitive Bowie
Reason to buy
I bought it as a representative of one type of Bowie knife, also known as the Musso Bowie after the collector who owns one historical example.
Historical
Bowie knives are not one design and were not invented by a single person at a single time, but there are examples of this pattern in museums. Some historians believe that this is the type carried by Jim Bowie towards the end of his life.
Disclosure
Bought with my own money from Atlanta Cutlery from which I have purchase knives from several times before.
Initial impression
Good workmanship, about what you would expect from Windlass in this price range.
Stats
13 inch carbon steel blade with pinned hardwood handle and leather sheath. 1.5 lbs.
Blade, etc.
It came sharp on the main edge, materials and sheath seemed of good quality.
Handling
Good weight to length ratio. It would serve as either a chopper or a stabber.
Test cutting
Stabbed a head of cabbage and hit on an old dry piece of 2 x 4 about 10 times with moderate force and it checked out well.
Conclusions-- pro
Good combat knife (if one sharpened the top edge) assuming one wanted a combat knife this long. It is edging up into the short sword length but because the design is so Bowie it is best called a knife. Good camp knife although my leanings in camp knives are machetes and hatchets.
Conclusions --con
Slick handle would have to be roughened up.
I like other designs that have a more up swept bottom edge but this would certainly be functional.
Bottom line
Good weapon for where firearms are not available, good coffee table knife for historical chat, decent large camp knife.
I later gave it a vinegar patina to give it that used tool look.
I just added a pix of the patina. It came out a little blotchy but the good thing about a vinegar finish is that if you don't like it you can do it again. Generally, I think replicas of historical knives look better with a patina than they do bright and shiny. Next time I am going to heat up the knife and vinegar a little to see if it works better at 100-125 degrees.
Reason to buy
I bought it as a representative of one type of Bowie knife, also known as the Musso Bowie after the collector who owns one historical example.
Historical
Bowie knives are not one design and were not invented by a single person at a single time, but there are examples of this pattern in museums. Some historians believe that this is the type carried by Jim Bowie towards the end of his life.
Disclosure
Bought with my own money from Atlanta Cutlery from which I have purchase knives from several times before.
Initial impression
Good workmanship, about what you would expect from Windlass in this price range.
Stats
13 inch carbon steel blade with pinned hardwood handle and leather sheath. 1.5 lbs.
Blade, etc.
It came sharp on the main edge, materials and sheath seemed of good quality.
Handling
Good weight to length ratio. It would serve as either a chopper or a stabber.
Test cutting
Stabbed a head of cabbage and hit on an old dry piece of 2 x 4 about 10 times with moderate force and it checked out well.
Conclusions-- pro
Good combat knife (if one sharpened the top edge) assuming one wanted a combat knife this long. It is edging up into the short sword length but because the design is so Bowie it is best called a knife. Good camp knife although my leanings in camp knives are machetes and hatchets.
Conclusions --con
Slick handle would have to be roughened up.
I like other designs that have a more up swept bottom edge but this would certainly be functional.
Bottom line
Good weapon for where firearms are not available, good coffee table knife for historical chat, decent large camp knife.
I later gave it a vinegar patina to give it that used tool look.
I just added a pix of the patina. It came out a little blotchy but the good thing about a vinegar finish is that if you don't like it you can do it again. Generally, I think replicas of historical knives look better with a patina than they do bright and shiny. Next time I am going to heat up the knife and vinegar a little to see if it works better at 100-125 degrees.