Dave Sabot

Tips on Purchasing Bowie Knives

Choosing a bowie knife can be a difficult process. There are so many different options from which to choose that it can be quite confusing.

You will need to decide if you want a traditional blade, or one of the more modern derivatives. You will need to determine what sort of handle you want, whether you want a full tang or a rattail tang. You will also need to determine what size blade is right for you. The bowie knife is available in sizes ranging from a modest six inches all the way up to more than a foot in length. What's right for you?

Let's take a look at what a longer blade offers. Long bladed bowie knives are quite popular with those who simply want an impressive knife for display. They are also popular with those who need a good knife for utilitarian purposes. What might such a knife do? Longer blades are ideal for chopping things, such as light brush or vegetables. They're great for chopping meat, as well. A longer blade gives you greater resilience and greater force, but less control.

Do you plan to skin game with your knife? Bowie knives are well known for their ability to help hunters skin their kills with ease. However, if this is your intended use, you don't want a large blade. In fact, six inches is likely all you will need to get the job done correctly.
Actually, if you chose to go with a longer blade, you might find that it was harder to control. Control is vital when working with animal skins, as one wrong move with the knife can ruin that pelt. Bowie knives can puncture holes in the hide very easily if you are not careful, so exercise care when choosing your new knife.

Of course, there is the converse of this. If you intend to use your bowie knife for chopping or hacking, then a longer blade is a good thing. The extra length of the blade will help keep your hands clear of whatever it might be that you're chopping.

You will also find that longer blades are thicker and hold up to the abuse better. Thicker, longer knife blades are perfect for tasks that do not require precise control, but do require considerable durability and resilience. So, your intended use will determine just how long that bowie knife actually is.

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