I've found that since I bought my Delica 4 , everyone in my area has never heard of Spyderco. I really hadn't either. But once they handle it and Feel that razor sharp edge , they all seem very impressed with it . This is case country for the most part with other commonly known knives . A good pocket knife is used around here . There are some who collect some knives but most of the people I know just use them everyday for everything. Don't worry Sal , I'm showing it off and letting the knife speak for itself . I keep it razor sharp
and looking good But remember , knives are part of our history . The Bowie knife was created in Arkansas by Jim Bowie I do believe . :D Also known for the Arkansas stones that are so popular .Give a hill-billy a piece of metal and he'll give you back a blade .. after he's through cleaning a deer with it :)
"When Life feeds you Lemons , Pucker up and Quit Whining"
I get the same thing. The only people who have heard of them are knife people. Everyone else says "well i had this Buck 20 years ago" or something along those lines. Almost everyone asks what the purpose of the hole is :D
Incredible, is all I can say. Just blows me away, still to this day, how little known the brand is over here. But there as well :confused:
O.
Ayoob PE. for Christmas :D
For the record, the earliest Bowie knife was commissioned by Rezin Bowie (Jim's Brother), and made be Jesse Clifft in Louisiana. However, the knife was for all intents and purposes perfected in Arkansas by the legendary James Black. Because of the quality of Black's Bowies... Washington, Arkansas is usually considered the birthplace of the Bowie. That is, unless you are from Louisiana... in which case you probably consider Marksville, Louisiana the birthplace of the Bowie. Personally, I think the Bowie was born on a sandbar across the Mississippi River from Natchez... baptized in the blood of Maj. Norris Wright.
Anyway... none of that is really relevant... carry on buddy :cool:
Don't hit at all if it is honorably possible to avoid hitting; but never hit soft.
- Theodore Roosevelt
"I twisted the knife until I heard his heart-strings sing."
I'm in the military and most people only know Benchmade. I had a couple people pretty impressed with my ti Millie the other day; even more-so when they noticed it was USA made.
On order: Maxamet Native 5
Current pocket hog: S90V Para2
Next up: Something Blurple
Jordan wrote:For the record, the earliest Bowie knife was commissioned by Rezin Bowie (Jim's Brother), and made be Jesse Clifft in Louisiana. However, the knife was for all intents and purposes perfected in Arkansas by the legendary James Black. Because of the quality of Black's Bowies... Washington, Arkansas is usually considered the birthplace of the Bowie. That is, unless you are from Louisiana... in which case you probably consider Marksville, Louisiana the birthplace of the Bowie. Personally, I think the Bowie was born on a sandbar across the Mississippi River from Natchez... baptized in the blood of Maj. Norris Wright.
Anyway... none of that is really relevant... carry on buddy :cool:
Most of this is correct....I love history..... so here is some more none relevant info....
A Bowie knife is a style of fixed-blade knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. It was first made by James Black, although its common use refers to any large sheath knife with a clip point.
The Jim Bowie knife first became famous due to Bowie's use of a large knife at a duel known as the Sandbar duel.
There was an early Bowie of the type made for Rezin Bowie and commissioned by the Bowies to knifemakers Searles and Constable.
The historical Bowie knife was not a single design, but was a series of knives improved several times by Jim Bowie over the years. The earliest such knife, made by Jesse Clifft at Rezin Bowie's request resembled the Spanish hunting knives of the time and differed little from a common butcher knife. The blade, as later described by Rezin Bowie, was 9.5 inches (24 cm) long, 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick and 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) wide. It was straight-backed having no clip point nor any hand guard with simple riveted wood scale handle. Rezin presented the knife to his brother because of a recent violent encounter with one Norris Wright. This is the knife that became famous after the sandbar duel of 1827.
The version most commonly known as the historical Bowie knife would usually have a blade of at least 6 inches (15 cm) in length, some reaching 12 inches (30 cm) or more, with a relatively broad blade that was an inch and a half to two inches wide (4 to 5 cm) and made of steel usually between 3⁄16 to 1⁄4 in (4.763 to 6.350 mm) thick. The back of the blade sometimes had a strip of soft metal (normally brass or copper) inlaid which some believe was intended to catch an opponent's blade while others hold it was intended to provide support and absorb shock to help prevent breaking of poor quality steel or poorly heat treated blades. Bowie knives also often had an upper guard that bent forward at an angle (an S-guard) intended to catch an opponent's blade or provide protection to the owner's hand during parries and corps-a-corps.
Some Bowie knives had a notch on the bottom of the blade near the hilt known as a "Spanish Notch." The Spanish Notch is often cited as a mechanism for catching an opponent's blade; however, some Bowie researchers hold that the Spanish Notch is ill-suited to this function and frequently fails to achieve the desired results. These researchers, instead, hold that the Spanish Notch has the much more mundane function as a tool for stripping sinew and repairing rope and nets, as a guide to assist in sharpening the blade (assuring that the sharpening process starts at a specific point and not further up the edge), or as a point to relieve stress on the blade during use.
One characteristic of Bowie knives is the "Clip-point" at the top of the blade, which brings the tip of the blade lower than the spine for better control. As the goal is to produce a sharp, stabbing point, most Bowie knives have a bevel ground along the clip, typically 1/4 of the way, but sometimes much further running the entire top-edge. This is referred to as a "false edge" or a "swedge" as from a distance it looks sharpened, although it may or may not be. Regardless of whether or not the false edge is sharp, it serves to take metal away from the point, streamlining the tip and thus enhancing the penetration capability of the blade during a stab. The version attributed to blacksmith James Black had this "false edge" fully sharpened in order to allow someone trained in European techniques of saber fencing to execute the maneuver called the "back cut" or "back slash". A brass quillon, usually cast in a mold, was attached to protect the hand.
The curved portion of the edge, toward the point, is for removing the skin from a carcass, and the straight portion of the edge, toward the guard, is for chores involving cutting slices, similar in concept to the traditional Finnish hunting knife, the "puukko" (though the typical early 19th-century Bowie knife was far larger and heavier than the typical puukko).
The first knife, with which Bowie became famous, allegedly was designed by Jim Bowie's brother Rezin in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana and smithed by blacksmith Jesse Cleft out of an old file. Period court documents indicate that Rezin Bowie and Cleft were well acquainted with one another. Rezin's granddaughter claimed in an 1885 letter to Louisiana State University that she personally witnessed Cleft make the knife for her grandfather.
This knife became famous as the knife used by Bowie at the Sandbar Fight, which was the famous 1827 duel between Bowie and several men including a Major Norris Wright of Alexandria, Louisiana. The fight took place on a sandbar in the Mississippi River across from Natchez, Mississippi. In this battle Bowie was stabbed, shot, and beaten half to death but managed to win the fight using the large knife.
Jim Bowie's older brother John claimed that the knife at the Sandbar Fight was not Cleft's knife, but a knife specifically made for Bowie by a blacksmith named Snowden.
The most famous version of the Bowie knife was designed by Jim Bowie and presented to Arkansas blacksmith James Black in the form of a carved wooden model in December 1830. Black produced the knife ordered by Bowie, and at the same time created another based on Bowie's original design but with a sharpened edge on the curved top edge of the blade. Black offered Bowie his choice and Bowie chose the modified version. Knives like that one, with a blade shaped like that of the Bowie knife, but with a pronounced false edge, are today called "Sheffield Bowie" knives, because this blade shape became so popular that cutlery factories in Sheffield, England were mass-producing such knives for export to the U.S. by 1850, usually with a handle made from either hardwood, deer antler, or bone, and sometimes with a guard and other fittings of sterling silver.
Bowie returned, with the Black-made knife, to Texas and was involved in a knife fight with three men who had been hired to kill him. Bowie killed the three would-be assassins with his new knife and the fame of the knife grew. Legend holds that one man was almost decapitated, the second was disemboweled, and the third had his skull split open. Bowie died at the Battle of the Alamo five years later and both he and his knife became more famous. The fate of the original Bowie knife is unknown; however, a knife bearing the engraving "Bowie No. 1" has been acquired by the Historic Arkansas Museum from a Texas collector and has been attributed to Black through scientific analysis.
Black soon did a booming business making and selling these knives out of his shop in Washington, Arkansas. Black continued to refine his technique and improve the quality of the knife as he went. In 1839, shortly after his wife's death, Black was nearly blinded when, while he was in bed with illness, his father-in-law and former partner broke into his home and attacked him with a club, having objected to his daughter having married Black years earlier. Black was no longer able to continue in his trade.
Black's knives were known to be exceedingly tough, yet flexible, and his technique has not been duplicated. Black kept his technique secret and did all of his work behind a leather curtain. Many claim that Black rediscovered the secret of producing true Damascus steel.
In 1870, at the age of 70, Black attempted to pass on his secret to the son of the family that had cared for him in his old age, Daniel Webster Jones. However, Black had been retired for many years and found that he himself had forgotten the secret. Jones would later become Governor of Arkansas.
Doc :D
"Always Judge a man by the way he treats someone who could be of no possible use to him"
Evil D wrote:I get the same thing. The only people who have heard of them are knife people. Everyone else says "well i had this Buck 20 years ago" or something along those lines. Almost everyone asks what the purpose of the hole is :D
That's pretty normal really, most of them buy their knives at Wally World or K-Mart or maybe a flea market someplace.
To them any knife that costs more than $30 or doesn't have the word Buck stamped on it they don't know what it is.
Most of them also sharpen with some kind of cheap Oil Stone so they would have a real fun time sharpening some of the Super Steels. ROFL
A funny story that I tell is I showed this guy I know who is a real gun nut, read he has a ton of guns. I showed him my Strider SmF CC once, he asked how much it costs, I told him and I thought he was going to pass out. :D
I was with some friends and their family (that I don't see often) and we were discussing guns and knives. I pulled out my Ladybug Salt to explain I still couldn't even carry that at work even as small as it is. My friends cousin's wife said, "Well that's just one of those cheapo knives isn't it?"
We explained the difference but she nor my friends cousin had ever heard of Spyderco but they were familiar with those cheap $2 Delica copies they sell at flea markets.
I'm' fortunate here in Colorado. As a LEO, who's academy is actually located in Golden, pretty much everyone in my agency knows about Spyderco, and knows what they bring to the table, , , ,but I suspect we are unique in this regard. I guess knives are like anything else, you are into them, or your not. I watch the TV show Pawn Stars, and occasionally see them talking about high-end electric guitars, , I'm not into guitars, so a guy could bring in the best, most rare guitar in the world, and it wouldn't mean anything to me. Now, spend a few minutes and explain (and show) me the qualities and features that make it so awesome, and I will probably be able to appreciate it. But I still don't play a guitar, and wouldn't want to buy it. The same holds true to people who don't routinely carry knives. Some people just don't have much use for a knife. How many of us on this forum have been asked why we always carry a knife? Very few knife manufacturers are household names, and if they are big enough to be a household name, then they are probably all about mass production; mass production that all too often comes at the cost of quality. In the end, I know Spyderco isn't a household name, and I'm cool with that. I'm also cool with sharing with anyone who will listen, just why Spyderco is a special kind of company.
I find most people who I show my knives to around here haven't heard of Spyderco, but that could because you don't see them in stores around here. I hadn't heard of them until about 2 years ago when a friend of a friend showed me his Military. I started to look into it and found this forum and that was the start for my love of Spydies.
Thanks for the info Doc. That is very interesting.
For the record, the earliest Bowie knife was commissioned by Rezin Bowie (Jim's Brother), and made be Jesse Clifft in Louisiana. However, the knife was for all intents and purposes perfected in Arkansas by the legendary James Black. Because of the quality of Black's Bowies... Washington, Arkansas is usually considered the birthplace of the Bowie. That is, unless you are from Louisiana... in which case you probably consider Marksville, Louisiana the birthplace of the Bowie. Personally, I think the Bowie was born on a sandbar across the Mississippi River from Natchez... baptized in the blood of Maj. Norris Wright.
Anyway... none of that is really relevant... carry on buddy
I stand corrected .. But since I was born and raised in Louisiana ... it's still all good :p
"When Life feeds you Lemons , Pucker up and Quit Whining"
At least you have knife people around there.
I live in big city, so its rare to meet 'knife people', but when I do, they know of Spyderco and many love Spydies. I've met a few LEOs who carry Spydies, at my civi job.
At my military job, most of the guys who have been in for a couple years know Spyderco, but I've seen guys carrying Benchmade and Emerson.
I work at one of the large defense contractor firms, and work with many retired military folks. I would say the majority of them know somewhere between "a good amount" and "a lot" about knives. Many of the folks I hang out with know Spydies when they see them, as well as Benchmade and Gerber. As a sign of the times - many of these people couldn't tell the difference between an old Case Trapper and a Buck 300 at a casual glance. These aren't your Grandaddy's knives anymore...!
Evil D wrote:I get the same thing. The only people who have heard of them are knife people. Everyone else says "well i had this Buck 20 years ago" or something along those lines. Almost everyone asks what the purpose of the hole is :D
Ankerson wrote:That's pretty normal really, most of them buy their knives at Wally World or K-Mart or maybe a flea market someplace.
To them any knife that costs more than $30 or doesn't have the word Buck stamped on it they don't know what it is.
Most of them also sharpen with some kind of cheap Oil Stone so they would have a real fun time sharpening some of the Super Steels. ROFL
The above describes me to a "T" until about 5 years ago when I decided to spend enough money to get what I would call a quality knife. I knew of Case, Buck and Gerber. I'd read on the Inet that a blade was made of surgical stainless steel and think "man, that must be good steel". Never heard the name Spyderco but had seen the hole in the movies. The hole stands out as far as appearance and I did wonder what it was for.
That was me also . I had no idea what was considered good steel . I remember when 440 stainless got popular on all the knives , I remember everyone talking about how hard they were to sharpen lol
"When Life feeds you Lemons , Pucker up and Quit Whining"
Spyderco ?????
But remember , knives are part of our history . The Bowie knife was created in Arkansas by Jim Bowie I do believe . :D Also known for the Arkansas stones that are so popular .Give a hill-billy a piece of metal and he'll give you back a blade .. after he's through cleaning a deer with it :)
