Shop for Bowie Knives or Just Learn a Little History
Posted on June 20, 2008
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The Bowie knife has quite the history behind it. Now, the history may be different than you might imagine, or maybe you’re a Bowie guru. And keep in mind, much of history is passed on word-to-mouth. So, you never know the exact definite facts. 
The Bowie knife is really a style of knife that was made famous by the great Colonel James “Jim” Bowie. Now, if you’re as Texan as I am, than the goose pimples are chasing one another up and down your arms.
The Bowie knife was originally created by James Black. Who the heck is that? Well, Lemme tell you.
Long ago, James Black was hired by a fella by the name of Elijah Stuart to work on firearms and knives while Stuart worked on horseshoes. Later on, Black became a partner to Stuart.
Stuart’s tavern would become famous as the place where Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis created a plan to make Texas independent. Some of the hard-core believe it should’ve stayed that way. I’ll remain neutral in that argument for now.
Anyway, Black fell in love with Anne Shaw, his partner’s daughter and left the business as Shaw would not allow the marriage. With his money from the note from his half of the business, Black purchased some land along the Cossatot River where he established a blacksmith’s shop, dam and a mill.
Things went bad for Black as he was thrown off his land as officials claimed it was Indian land. He also discovered that the note from his former partnership was worthless. Damn the luck.
Black set up his own blacksmith shop in direct competition with Shaw. In 1828 he married Shaw’s daughter despite the objections. Black was soon recognized as the finest blacksmith in the area; which sure put a damper on his father-in-law’s shop.
The fame came after 1830 when Black made the famous Bowie knife for Jim Bowie. Bowie was already famous for his knife-fighting incident at the sandbar duel in 1827. But, the killing of the three assassins in Texas and his death at the Alamo sure made Black’s Bowie knife famous.
Business picked up quite a bit as a slew of pioneers bound for Texas all wanted famous Bowie knives. Black forger his knives in secrecy behind a leather curtain adding a bit of mystery to the whole process. His knives were known to be exceedingly tough yet flexible. It was thought that he had recreated the process of making Damascus steel.
That’s it for story-time folks.
Should any of you be sitting around planning on making your state independent and foresee a major last stand at a mission, please get in touch with me right away. We’ll sell you a Bowie knife and slap a Knife & Supply Company ball cap on your head before you make your final hold-out.
Take Care,
Cole
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