Bowie knife
| Bowie knife | |
|---|---|
"Bowie knife" | |
| Type | Fighting knife |
| Place of origin | Arkansas, U.S. |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rezin Bowie |
| Designed | 1830 |
| Produced | 1830–present |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) |
| Blade length | 5–12 inches (13–30 cm) |
| Blade type | Clip-point |
A Bowie knife (/ˈbuːi/ BOO-ee) is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knives created by Rezin Bowie in the early 19th century for his brother James Bowie, who had become famous for his use of a large knife at a duel known as the Sandbar Fight.
Since its first incarnation, the Bowie knife has incorporated several recognizable and characteristic design features. However, in common usage, the term refers to any large sheath knife with a crossguard and a clip point, although there are exceptions and special cases. The knife pattern is still popular with collectors; in addition to various knife manufacturing companies, hundreds of custom knifemakers produce Bowie knives with different types of steel and variations in style.