A MONSTER HEAD BOWIE

VANDOO · 28th August 2015, 06:50 PM

I MISSED GETTING A BID IN ON THIS ONE BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE A INTERESTING POST. I THINK IT MAY BE PHILIPPINE AND HAS AN 11 INCH BLADE FLAT ON ONE SIDE AND BEVELED ON THE OTHER SIDE. WOOD SCABBARD, LEATHER BELT STRAP. A COOL BUG EYED MONSTER POMMEL. WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS ONE.? ENJOY

David · 28th August 2015, 07:40 PM

Nice knife.
I'm sorry, but i just couldn't resist posting this other Monster Head Bowie...

Rick · 28th August 2015, 07:56 PM

Some Talibon/Garab elements in that piece .

Not yours David .

Sajen · 28th August 2015, 09:30 PM

Hallo Barry,

I was one of the bidders but decided to let it go after I had discussed this piece with an other member of this forum. I think that it is a Visayan WWII area dagger. At one of the seller pictures you can see that the handle is from blonde wood and stained black. Most proably is it a very soft wood. I think that it is maybe a early "tourist" piece worked for US soldiers. Still a nice piece and the selling price was a very good one.

Regards,
Detlef

Ian · 28th August 2015, 10:50 PM

Detlef:

I agree completely. Probably WWII vintage and could be from Panay or Negros. I too considered a bid but decided against it for several reasons.

Ian.

Battara · 29th August 2015, 01:54 AM

I also agree. The pommel form conforms to some Visayan pieces as well as the beveled edges.

BTW - I don't see beveled edges in David's picture of a Bowie.........

kronckew · 29th August 2015, 01:55 PM

i do not like serrated teeth on a bowie myself. the knife is cool tho.

David · 29th August 2015, 03:13 PM

Can someone explain to me why we refer to a knife like this as a Bowie Knife. According to dictionary definition a Bowie Knife is :a stout single-edged hunting knife with part of the back edge curved concavely to a point and sharpened.
So, without a sharpened clip point is it still considered a Bowie Knife?

Tim Simmons · 29th August 2015, 06:21 PM

It is that it looks like one. What is a Bowie knife??? never mind the truth print the {glorious} legend. I believe a famous American said that, or something like it.. The link says it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgDLPTAGw-k

kronckew · 29th August 2015, 09:49 PM

the clip doesn't have to be curved. what is and what isn't is very subjective.

searles fowler bowie, for example, one was displayed at the alamo (and may still be) (below red background)

they even made them in nepal (the one i'm holding with the aluminum diamond shaped grip inlays)

and one of my favourites, a converted file (the ones with the file patterns on the sides.)

in spite of all the hype, james bowie in his final days at the alamo is actually supposed to have carried only a small 6 in. bladed sheffield bowie with a simple brass guard and wood grip.

David · 30th August 2015, 07:42 PM

Well, it does seem that for the most part one of the qualifications of a Bowie knife is that the top edge, whether clip point or not, is generally partially sharpened.
That doesn't seem to be a a feature of the monster hilted knife currently under discussion.

kronckew · 30th August 2015, 08:21 PM

even that is too limiting

, ie. see the searles-fowler bowie.

AMERICAN KNIFE AND TOOL INSTITUTE

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKTI

Bowie Knife

It is the position of AKTI that the term “Bowie Knife” is too vague and cannot be satisfactorily defined with sufficient precision. Accordingly, any law which provides an offense has been committed by one who possesses or carries a “Bowie Knife” is constitutionally defective.

some say the 'original bowie knife' was more like this traditional chef's knife (minus the japanese character i suspect)

(the absurdities of some of our collecting definitions makes it even more fun

)

VANDOO · 30th August 2015, 09:42 PM

I USE THE TERM BOWIE BASED ON THE GENERAL BLADE SHAPE AND SIZE OF THIS EXAMPLE. IT APPEARS TO BE A FOREIGN BLADE SHAPE ADOPTED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE FOR A HUNTING /FIGHTING KNIFE. THOUGH THIS FORM OF KNIFE (SIZE AND BLADE SHAPE) LIKELY WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE MR BOWIE AND HIS SUBSEQUENT LEGEND IT BECAME THE NAME FOR THEM.
IT IS LIKELY THE FIRST STEEL THAT CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES WAS FROM OTHER PLACES, CHINA, MALAYSIA, ECT. SO WHO IS TO SAY WHAT FORMS ARE PURELY PHILIPPINE WITH NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. A AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE MAY HAVE A SIMULAR SHAPE TO THIS EXAMPLE BUT WOULD NOT HAVE THE FLAT SIDE TO THE BLADE HENCE PHILIPPINE BOWIE. BUT IN THE PHILIPPINES IT MIGHT BE CALLED MOST ANYTHING PERHAPS I WILL MAKE UP A NAME "GRABCRABY"

28th August 2015, 06:50 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A MONSTER HEAD BOWIE I MISSED GETTING A BID IN ON THIS ONE BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE A INTERESTING POST. I THINK IT MAY BE PHILIPPINE AND HAS AN 11 INCH BLADE FLAT ON ONE SIDE AND BEVELED ON THE OTHER SIDE. WOOD SCABBARD, LEATHER BELT STRAP. A COOL BUG EYED MONSTER POMMEL. WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS ONE.? ENJOY Attached Images

28th August 2015, 07:40 PM	#2
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Nice knife. I'm sorry, but i just couldn't resist posting this other Monster Head Bowie... Attached Images

29th August 2015, 06:21 PM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	It is that it looks like one. What is a Bowie knife??? never mind the truth print the {glorious} legend. I believe a famous American said that, or something like it.. The link says it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgDLPTAGw-k Last edited by Tim Simmons; 29th August 2015 at 06:52 PM.

29th August 2015, 09:49 PM	#10
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	the clip doesn't have to be curved. what is and what isn't is very subjective. searles fowler bowie, for example, one was displayed at the alamo (and may still be) (below red background) they even made them in nepal (the one i'm holding with the aluminum diamond shaped grip inlays) and one of my favourites, a converted file (the ones with the file patterns on the sides.) in spite of all the hype, james bowie in his final days at the alamo is actually supposed to have carried only a small 6 in. bladed sheffield bowie with a simple brass guard and wood grip. Attached Images

28th August 2015, 07:56 PM	#3
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Some Talibon/Garab elements in that piece . Not yours David .

28th August 2015, 09:30 PM	#4
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Hallo Barry, I was one of the bidders but decided to let it go after I had discussed this piece with an other member of this forum. I think that it is a Visayan WWII area dagger. At one of the seller pictures you can see that the handle is from blonde wood and stained black. Most proably is it a very soft wood. I think that it is maybe a early "tourist" piece worked for US soldiers. Still a nice piece and the selling price was a very good one. Regards, Detlef

28th August 2015, 10:50 PM	#5
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,203	Detlef: I agree completely. Probably WWII vintage and could be from Panay or Negros. I too considered a bid but decided against it for several reasons. Ian.

29th August 2015, 01:54 AM	#6
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,221	I also agree. The pommel form conforms to some Visayan pieces as well as the beveled edges. BTW - I don't see beveled edges in David's picture of a Bowie.........

29th August 2015, 01:55 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	i do not like serrated teeth on a bowie myself. the knife is cool tho.

29th August 2015, 03:13 PM	#8
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Can someone explain to me why we refer to a knife like this as a Bowie Knife. According to dictionary definition a Bowie Knife is :a stout single-edged hunting knife with part of the back edge curved concavely to a point and sharpened. So, without a sharpened clip point is it still considered a Bowie Knife?

30th August 2015, 07:42 PM	#11
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Well, it does seem that for the most part one of the qualifications of a Bowie knife is that the top edge, whether clip point or not, is generally partially sharpened. That doesn't seem to be a a feature of the monster hilted knife currently under discussion.

30th August 2015, 09:42 PM	#13
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I USE THE TERM BOWIE BASED ON THE GENERAL BLADE SHAPE AND SIZE OF THIS EXAMPLE. IT APPEARS TO BE A FOREIGN BLADE SHAPE ADOPTED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE FOR A HUNTING /FIGHTING KNIFE. THOUGH THIS FORM OF KNIFE (SIZE AND BLADE SHAPE) LIKELY WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE MR BOWIE AND HIS SUBSEQUENT LEGEND IT BECAME THE NAME FOR THEM. IT IS LIKELY THE FIRST STEEL THAT CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES WAS FROM OTHER PLACES, CHINA, MALAYSIA, ECT. SO WHO IS TO SAY WHAT FORMS ARE PURELY PHILIPPINE WITH NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. A AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE MAY HAVE A SIMULAR SHAPE TO THIS EXAMPLE BUT WOULD NOT HAVE THE FLAT SIDE TO THE BLADE HENCE PHILIPPINE BOWIE. BUT IN THE PHILIPPINES IT MIGHT BE CALLED MOST ANYTHING PERHAPS I WILL MAKE UP A NAME "GRABCRABY"