Not all knives sold as Bowie knives really meet the standards for this legendary weapon and tool. There are distinguishing characteristics that make this knife what it is and which give it its characteristic durability, utility and, when necessary, lethality. This knife design is born of the American Frontier when people needed tools that were as versatile and durable as possible.

Bowie knives always have clipped points. This feature is the end part of the blade where the center of the blade dips below the spine. Though this feature is attractive, it offers far more than looks. In a fight, this narrow portion of the blade is lethal in its ability to penetrate deep into the body with little effort. This creates what is called a false edge along the back of the blade. Some users sharpen this edge. Outside of fighting, however, this modification has little practical usage and may make the knife more dangerous to the user.

The blade on a Bowie knife is usually at least 1 inch wide, often wider. This thickness offers the blade incredible durability. The knife can safely be used for all manner of tough work, from chopping small wood in a pinch to blocking powerful blows in the course of a fight. The weight of this blade is offset by another important characteristic of these knives: the clipped point.

Bowie knives are always single-edged knives. The back of the blade is sometimes altered to provide more utility. On some knives, there are saw portions or a sharpened section along the false edge of the blade clip. These are user customizations, however, and this knife is always a single edged weapon when manufactured to traditional standards. While double-bladed knives may be a bit more deadly, they are very impractical for any kind of work and oftentimes endanger their user when pressed into service for such mundane tasks as cleaning game.

A Bowie knife generally has a distinctive hand guard, which is swept up toward the tip on the top and down toward the hilt on the edge-side of the blade. This protects the user’s hand. It is useful for fighting but also prevents the user’s hand from sliding up the blade. On the base of the blade, owners will find a small cutout called a “Spanish notch”. This was often used to cut sinew and cord.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring Cold Steel bowie knives for sale as well as humidors for storage.

When it comes time to purchase a new bowie knife, you most likely have a specific size range in mind. However, you will find that these knives come in a surprising number of different sizes, from the smallest four-inch bowie knife to enormous machetes that feature the same blade design, but span more than two full feet. Which size is right for your needs? What makes one blade size better than another? Actually, you will find that each size blade is ideal for some rather specific things.

You will find that bowie knives come in blade sizes ranging from a compact six inches all the way up to a full two feet. This tremendous range of sizes is testament to the wide range of uses this blade design can be put to without damaging the knife. However, what size is right for you? In order to answer this question successfully, you will need to know more about your intended uses. While bowie knives are well known for their versatile nature, different blade lengths are more suited to different tasks. How do you determine what’s right?

First, consider the shorter blades. These are generally between six and eight inches in length. These are ideal for any number of tasks. You’ll find that the shorter blades offer benefits if you need to clean and gut a fish, as well as if you need to skin a deer, moose or elk. Because the blades are shorter, you have greater control over the blade’s direction and movement. You will not find this control with larger blades, so you should certainly opt for a smaller blade if you anticipate performing these types of tasks.

The largest range of blade sizes for a bowie knife is between twelve inches and about two feet, though you will find custom blades that surpass this mark. As a note, the larger the blade, the more difficult it is to use in everyday situations. However, they do make ideal solutions for areas where machetes or hatchets have been traditionally used.

Blades larger than about twelve inches are a bit more unwieldy than smaller blades are. However, they are ideal for heavy chopping and can even be used to clear brush in a pinch. However, because of their immense size, carrying these blades can be a bit difficult though you will find that they are more than eye-catching when worn.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knifes store featuring the cold steel bowie knife as well as lighters for camping.