Bowie knives can be expensive purchases, when one opts for a high-quality blade. Knives require special care that means the difference between an item that can last a lifetime and a knife that will end up rusted and dull all too fast. Learning this care is an essential, and enjoyable, part of owing a quality blade. It is also a process. Some things, such as sharpening, take a lot of time to master.
A high-end Bowie knife is usually forged out of high-carbon steel or high-carbon stainless steel. Some very exotic knives may incorporate metals such as titanium. Others even have brass accents along the blade. Any metal is best kept dry and cleaned off at all times. Ideally, the metal’s polish and luster should be maintained. Very exotic knives are sometimes made out of materials, such as non-stainless steels, which are very susceptible to damage from corrosion, rusting and foreign materials.
The knife needs to be kept sharp, as well. For high-carbon steel and high-carbon stainless steel, this means the blade needs to be sharpened on a regular basis. The blade should be kept free of notches and other damage along the edge. If these are caught early, they can often be evened out with the use of a whetstone. The sharper a blade is kept, the longer it will remain serviceable, in most cases. It also means no “catch-up” sharpening when the blade needs to be used after having been neglected.
The military Bowie knife designs are usually among the easiest to maintain. The finishes are dark, the hand guards simple and the design minimalistic in the extreme. Collector’s style Bowies oftentimes have ornate hand guards, lustrous blades and decorative handles. These require very specific types of cleaning, depending upon the materials used. The most utilitarian Bowies require only basic cleaning and a good sharpening now and again to keep them going.
Sharpening Bowie knives requires the right equipment and knowledge. These blades can be difficult to sharpen, even for a very experienced hand. To make the procedure easier, there are many products on the market that allow users to employ guides to maintain the correct angles that make a blade sharp. There are also products that make it easier to accommodate very large knives, such as Bowies. These sharpening techniques take time to learn, but the skill is one which never loses value.
Brian is a business consultant for an online bowie knifes store featuring survival knives.