How to Care for a Bowie Knife

You can use a Bowie knife, in lieu of a set of tools, for many tasks. Bowie knives can be either folding or fixed blade knives, and are generally large and hefty. These knives are used all over the world. Here's how to take care of yours.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep knife dry and clean at all times. Of course, some uses of the knife require that it get dirty, but you should dry and clean your Bowie knife immediately following use. If the knife is not kept clean it may begin to rust.

2. Keep knife out of water for any prolonged period of time.

3. Hand clean your knife, never put it in a dishwasher. A light metal rubbing paste and a clean cloth will do wonders.

4. Keep your Bowie knife in a sheath when not in use. Any exposure to the elements could damage the knife.

5. Check the knife's blade often for trouble spots.

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of folding Bowie knives which are newly rebuffed and restored. Many aren't correctly restored and don't work properly. Sellers often buff and clean them to hide shortcomings.
• Although people know James Bowie as the inventor of the knife, his brother Rezin made a claim that he was actually the creator and had given the knife to his brother. Family members attest to the fact that Rezin had commissioned a neighbor, Jesse Clifft, to make the knife.

Resources

• Buy Bowie knives at Knife-source.

[Guri]

on 8/19/2008 Using a leather sheath is one thing, but storing a knife in a leather sheath is another. Leather tends to attract and hold moisture, and moisture leads to rust.

The mystery surrounding the origin of the Bowie knife (there's a difference between "Bowie knife" and "bowie knife") has been with us for over 170 years. Descriptions conflict, it could have been made by any of several cutlers, etc. Some people say the knife has been found, most believe it will never be found.