Isn't a Bowie knife a hunting knife? The answer to that question is both "yes" and "no." Why such an ambiguous answer? To understand this, you will need to look closer at the reality of the Bowie knife as applied to the realm of hunting. Most certainly, you can take a Bowie knife along on a hunting trip. In fact, it's recommended. However, that does not make this a hunting knife.
Most hunting knives are designed for a single purpose. They excel at this purpose, but usually perform very poorly at any other use. For example, a gut hook knife is used for skinning an animal without puncturing the intestines, which can spoil the meat. However, you will find that it is not so great at other tasks. The same can be said for most other types of "hunting knives." A Bowie knife, on the other hand, is a multiuse tool that can serve numerous different tasks.
Many outdoors people end up using Bowie knives for all manner of tasks, some of them very rough. The knives can hold up to this but, in reality, it will affect their overall value and usefulness in the future. A Bowie's real strength is not in the fact that it makes a particularly good hatchet but in the fact that, if there's nothing else around, your Bowie can get the job done. You just may have to look for a new knife afterwards.
There are numerous different designs of Bowie knives, so it's important to point out that a Bowie is a specific type of knife. Some hunting knives have Bowie-style blades-with clipped points and blood grooves-but aren't really Bowie knives. Bowies have hand guards, a throwback to their combat origins. These are usually never seen on hunting knives. If they are, they're minimal and are designed to protect the user from their own blade, rather than the blade of another.
These are just a few of the reasons that a Bowie knife might be considered a hunting knife but is actually much, much more. These beautiful, versatile, durable blades can serve you well for years to come with the proper maintenance, and can ensure that you have the tools you need at all times.
Most hunting knives are designed for a single purpose. They excel at this purpose, but usually perform very poorly at any other use. For example, a gut hook knife is used for skinning an animal without puncturing the intestines, which can spoil the meat. However, you will find that it is not so great at other tasks. The same can be said for most other types of "hunting knives." A Bowie knife, on the other hand, is a multiuse tool that can serve numerous different tasks.
Many outdoors people end up using Bowie knives for all manner of tasks, some of them very rough. The knives can hold up to this but, in reality, it will affect their overall value and usefulness in the future. A Bowie's real strength is not in the fact that it makes a particularly good hatchet but in the fact that, if there's nothing else around, your Bowie can get the job done. You just may have to look for a new knife afterwards.
There are numerous different designs of Bowie knives, so it's important to point out that a Bowie is a specific type of knife. Some hunting knives have Bowie-style blades-with clipped points and blood grooves-but aren't really Bowie knives. Bowies have hand guards, a throwback to their combat origins. These are usually never seen on hunting knives. If they are, they're minimal and are designed to protect the user from their own blade, rather than the blade of another.
These are just a few of the reasons that a Bowie knife might be considered a hunting knife but is actually much, much more. These beautiful, versatile, durable blades can serve you well for years to come with the proper maintenance, and can ensure that you have the tools you need at all times.
About the Author:
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knives store featuring SOG bowie knives.
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