 a bowie knife (pronounced   or  ) is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by james bowie in the early 19th century. since the first incarnation was created by james black, the bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its common use refers to any large sheath knife with a crossguard and a clip point.todd, frederick p., american military equipage, 1851-1872, scribners (1980), pp. 180-181: "the american fighting knife of the mid-19th century was par excellence the 'bowie knife'. the term itself defied definition in those days as it does today, but a rough description would be a large sheath knife, usually with a small cross guard and a clipped point, whose story began in the american southwest about 1830." the "jim bowie knife" first became famous due to bowie's use of a large knife at a duel known as the sandbar fight. the knife pattern is still popular with collectors; in addition to various knife manufacturing companies there are hundreds of custom knife makers producing bowies and variations. ==origin and description== thumb|bowie knife|right|an early bowie of the type made for rezin bowie and commissioned by the bowies to searles and constable. this is a copy of the fowler bowie currently displayed at the alamo. the historical bowie knife was not a single design, but was a series of knives improved several times by jim bowie over the years.walker, greg (1993). battle blades: a professional's guide to combat/fighting knives (hardcover), pages 210 isbn 0-87364-732-7 the earliest such knife, made by jesse clift at bowie's brother's request resembled spanish hunting knives of the day, and differed little from a common butcher knife. the blade, as later described by rezin bowie, was {{convert
Blade_weapons Knives Weapons_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America