What are the Different Parts of a Bowie Knife Blade Used For?
Bowie knives are fantastically versatile, enabling you to accomplish numerous different tasks with a single knife. However, what exactly are all the features of the blade used for? This can be hard to understand, as you'll find bowie knives with different features from another. Part of the confusion is simply due to the modern evolution of the knife, while other models try to remain historically accurate. Here are a few features that you might find and need to understand.
Blood Groove - A deep (relatively) groove that runs from near the back end of the blade to near the point, the blood groove serves a very specific purpose. This groove is used to allow blood to flow out from a stab, ensuring that the blade does not become trapped by suction. However, not all bowie knife models feature this groove, as it is a recent, modern development.
False Edge - The false edge of a bowie knife is the portion of the point that curves inward and upward from the point to meet the spine of the blade. This has little use unless sharpened (these are called Sheffield Bowies). When sharpened, the false edge allows for back cutting, but also provides better performance when skinning, gutting or stabbing, as it increases the tip's cutting surface significantly.
Spanish Notch - Some bowie knife models include a Spanish Notch, while others do not. The true use of this feature seems to have been lost to the mists of time, but today, it serves as a guide to show where sharpening should begin. Some people attest that the notch was placed there to help catch an opponent's blade, but most collectors and historians are skeptical of these claims.
The Tip - The tip of bowie knives is quite unique. Called a clipped point, it provides better punch-through power in stabbing motions, but also provides better tip control, as well. You will find that this unique tip is actually one of the defining elements that sets bowie knives apart from other large, fixed blade sheath knives on the market today. If a knife does not have such a tip, it is not a bowie knife. - 2368
Blood Groove - A deep (relatively) groove that runs from near the back end of the blade to near the point, the blood groove serves a very specific purpose. This groove is used to allow blood to flow out from a stab, ensuring that the blade does not become trapped by suction. However, not all bowie knife models feature this groove, as it is a recent, modern development.
False Edge - The false edge of a bowie knife is the portion of the point that curves inward and upward from the point to meet the spine of the blade. This has little use unless sharpened (these are called Sheffield Bowies). When sharpened, the false edge allows for back cutting, but also provides better performance when skinning, gutting or stabbing, as it increases the tip's cutting surface significantly.
Spanish Notch - Some bowie knife models include a Spanish Notch, while others do not. The true use of this feature seems to have been lost to the mists of time, but today, it serves as a guide to show where sharpening should begin. Some people attest that the notch was placed there to help catch an opponent's blade, but most collectors and historians are skeptical of these claims.
The Tip - The tip of bowie knives is quite unique. Called a clipped point, it provides better punch-through power in stabbing motions, but also provides better tip control, as well. You will find that this unique tip is actually one of the defining elements that sets bowie knives apart from other large, fixed blade sheath knives on the market today. If a knife does not have such a tip, it is not a bowie knife. - 2368
About the Author:
Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring the jim bowie knife as well as lighters for camping.
posted by Frank Potter at 12:43 AM
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