Bowie Knives on the Big Screen
The bowie knife is named after American folk-hero, pioneer, and knife-fighter James Bowie. According to legend, James commissioned a blacksmith to forge him a uniquely shaped knife for use in an infamous duel known as the Sandbar Fight. The specifications—and even the existence—of that original blade are widely disputed, but today the term bowie knife refers to any large fixed blade with a clip point and cross guard. This can include tactical, survival, and combat knives.
Due to its distinctive and intimidating appearance, the bowie knife has long been the weapon of choice for movie heroes. Here are just three of its notable appearances in film history:
1. Inglorious Basterds (2009)
In Quentin Tarantino’s ultra-violent WWII film, Brad Pitt plays ex-hillbilly-moonshiner Lieutenant Aldo Raine, leader of a small special-forces group known as “The Basterds”. The Basterds sole purpose is to spread fear among the German army through acts of brutality and torture. Aldo “The Apache” Raine accomplishes this in part with his rustic stag bowie knife.
The knife used in the film is a modified Texas Hold ‘Em made by Smith and Wesson. It was modified to give it antique American frontier look. The logo and other markings were polished off, the short steel cross guard was exchanged for a long brass one with curved quillons, and the mesquite fibron handle was replaced with a stag horn.
The knife is most notably featured in several gruesome scenes in which Raine carves swastikas into the foreheads of Nazi officers.
2. First Blood (1982)
Sylvester Stallone plays a one-man army in the role of John Rambo. Rambo is a veteran of the Korean War, recently returned to America. When he wanders into a small town, the corrupt and abusive sheriff takes an instant disliking to him. He unwittingly begins a personal war with Rambo when he arrests him for vagrancy, resisting arrest, and possession of a concealed weapon—a bowie survival knife.
This knife was designed and forged specifically for the film by master knifemaker Jimmy Lile. Lile based his design on the survival knives carried by Vietnam-era pilots. It features a combo-serrated blade, screwdriver cross guard, and a waterproof hollow handle filled with survival supplies.
Lile’s design became so popular among knife enthusiasts, that his model was licensed to United Cutlery for factory reproduction. Lile also returned to design a new knife for Rambo: First Blood Part II.
3. Crocodile Dundee (1982)
In this Australian-American comedy, a reporter from New York travels to Australia to interview legendary outback bushman Mick “Crocodile” Dundee, played by Paul Hogan. Mick earns his nickname with his crocodile skin vest, crocodile boots, crocodile claw neckless, crocodile tooth brimmed hat, and a crocodile skin scabbard that holds a very, very large bowie knife.
There is an ongoing dispute about the design of this knife. Gunsmith John Borwing and sword-forger Dan Watson both claim credit, though most official sources credit Bowring. According to him, Bowring met with producers to discuss the knife’s design before filming began. Their only note was, “Big.”
Mick and his massive bowie knife have one of the most iconic knife scenes ever filmed. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you probably know the line, “That’s not a knife…”:
For a similarly huge bowie knife, check out the United Cutlery Hibben Magnum
