Smyrna times., 1904-01-13
THE BOWIE KNIFE.
TRUE STORY OF THE ORIGIN OF THIS
FAMOUS WEAPON.

| washington Blacksmith, who Had
a Great Reputation as a Knife
maker.
Here is the true story of the bOwia
knife and its inventor, James Black
The narrative was written by Dan w.
Jones, former governor of Arkansas
and scion of one of the oldest and
most respected families of Arkansas.
1t was written originally as a chapter
for the novel of southwestern pioneer
life, Aaron Clark" written by the late
Colonel J. n. Smithee, a veteran Jour
nalist of Little Rock, who, weary of
life and its ills, sent a bullet crashing
through his brain while his fellow
tOWnsmen were celebrating the nations
natal day. 1902. Here is Ex-Governor
Jones' story of the origin of the bowie
knife:
James Black was born in a village
in the state Of New Jersey May l, 1900.
His mother having died when he was
quite young, his father married a wOm-
an with whom James could not agree
At the early age of eight years he ran
away from home and went to Philadel-
phia. where he was apprenticed to
manufacturer of silver plated ware
named Henderson, an act subsequently
approved by James father. At the
time of being apprenticed James did
not know his age, and judging from his
size he was placed in the indenture at
eleven years. Some years afterward.
upon visit to his old home after his
fathers death, he discovered his true
age in the family Bible, but did not
disclose the fact to his master. Conse-
quently his apprenticeship expired in
1919, when he was only eighteen in
stead of twenty-one years old. $50
On returning to Washington he OPEN
ed a blacksmith shop and soon had all
the work he could do. At that time
Washington was a frontier settlement.
and nearly all the merF went armed.
the weapon most relied upon being the
knife. All kinds of characters went
there, the most desperate of despera-
does as well as men of gentle mold.
but all understood that each man must
look out for himself. Finding the de-
mand for the knives being so great.
Black applied himself largely 20 manu-
featuring them, and especially to tenn
perinG the steel of which they were
made. 1t soon became known that his
knives were the best that could be oh
tanned, and his reputation spread far
and wide. The shape of the knife was
according to the taste Of the person
ordering it, it being the custom for
each man to furnish the pattern, made
Of wood or pasteboard. of the exact
size and shape of the knife wanted.
Black's experience as a silver platter
during his apprenticeship enabled him
TO plate his knives, either with silver
or gold, when required by the DUR
chaser, which gave them an additional |
charm and higher price. 1t was his
rule after tempering and shaping a
knife and before polishing it. to cut |
very hard wood with it. generally an |
DID hickory AK handle which had been |
used for a long time and had become |
quite tough and hard. This he would |
10 for half hour, and then if the |
knife would not easily shave the hair
rom his arm he would throw it away.
His knives ranged in price from S. to
'oo each, the price varying according
% the quantity of gold or silver used
n plating, the five dollar knife having
10 plating at all; but the temper of
ZACH was the same, each being sub
nltted to the severe test above men,
ioned
About 1888 or 1884. perhaps a little
arlier. James Bowie went to Washing
on and gave Black an order for a
nife, furnishing a pattern and desir-
1g it to be made within the following
ixty or ninety days. when he would
all for it. Black made the knife ac-
ordlng to Bowie's pattern. He knew
'owie well and had a high estimation
I him as man of good taste as well
unhlnching courage. He had never
lade a knife which suited his own
lste in point of shape and concluded
his to be good opportunity to do so.
onsequently after completing the
nife ordered by Bowie he made anotb-
and when Bowie returned showed
lem both to him and explained the
Inference between them. at the same
me giving him his choice at the same
rice. Bowie promptly selected Blacks
lttern. Shortly .after this Bowie be-
lme involved in Il difficulty with three
who assaulted him with
hives. He killed them all with the
life Black had made. After this
hen any one ordered a knife from
lack. instead of furnishing a pattern
formerly. he would order it to be
ade like Bowie's, which was finally
into make me a bowie
life" Thus this famous weapon ac-
Tired its name. Bowie himself was
It a mechanic of any kind. He was
lied in the Alamo with Davy Crock
t, surrounded by dead Mexicans
hom he had killed with that same =
life.
Other men made knives in those days.
fhnNy ma -ff