The Bagwell Fighting Bowie

[Brownie]

Bill Bagwell focuses his knife energies on his "Hell's Belle" fighting Bowies. The Hell's Belle is acknowledged by many to be the finest fighting Bowie knife ever made, and those examples hand-forged and made by Bagwell himself are, without a doubt, in a class by themselves.

Bagwell's research and studies into tactics and application of the fighting Bowie knife in a combat environment have not gone unnoticed, and he currently serves as an instructor to selected units of the U.S. Army's Special Forces at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

He has written a book entiltled Bowies, Big Knives, and the Best of Battle Blades. He made his first knife in 1954 at 10 years old. He began his professional knife making carreer in 1969.

I've had the pleasure of training with Bill Bagwell twice in the long knives. A consummate professional both in his knife making skills and his ability to wield them with devastating effect if needed in defense of himself.

Here's a picture of my Hell's Belle in Damascus I had him make for me. The blade is 11 1/8" long and if you close your eyes when holding it, you can't tell there is a blade attached to the handle. Consequently, it is agile and redirecting the blade several times with one pass is just something that needs to be experienced to believe.

The stag handled Bagwell shown was made in 1965. It is mint and has never been sharpened or used. These are just a few of the custom knives from the collection I have.

Thought I'd share them with all of you. Enjoy.

[Dave James]

Brownie Mike told me once that BIll asked for hand size before making them.. is that true to your knowledge?

[Guantes]

B,
Very nice, I like the bottom one.

[Brownie]

Thanks G,

That stag handled bowie is one of the first three knives he made while in college. It has provenance in the form of date made, specs of the knife materials, polaroid picture of the knife, and who it was made for with the shipping address. Worth a pretty penny but I paid a lot more for it than that:eek: :D

DJ,

Yes, Bill likes to have your hand size and whether you will use the knife right or left handed. His Belle's are designed so that when you hold the knife naturally, the tip is dead on straight, they have an ever so slight bend to them, almost inperceptable until you hold it in the hand it was not made for, then it is real noticeable :cool:

Bagwell didn't have to ask for my own handsize, he had seen me in training in LR, Ark and then again in New Orleans before I ordered my first one.

[Dave James]

I know the one Moran I had, that had been passed dwon to me from Dad, had the handle set up for a right hander, it felt just a little off for me...

Knew a gentleman in Chile that carried a Bagwell ever day that had a 9" blade, wicked sharp,, he had, had a teak wood sheath cover in camimen made for it,, quess its at the bottom of the lake now

[argyll]

So Brownie,

This is where you've been hiding out. Would you mind leaving me your knives in your will?:D Just kidding. Take care.

Best regards,

Argyll

[Brownie]

Hi Jake,

Glad you found us over here.

Welcome to our campfire, pull up a seat anytime.

[Manusch]

with a Bagwell bowie it's easy to create a "wall of steel" around you.
reason is the very fine tip and thus the center of the weight is in the handle.
as Brownie said that makes the knife agile & unpredictable,

in a trained hand it's impossible to deflect
as backcuts can be executed in a split second.

[Brownie]

Manusch;

Welcome to the campfire sir.

In training others I refer to it as putting up a "wall of edge". You know your Bagwells I see, good to have you onboard.;)

[Manusch]

Yesss,
to put up an impenetrable "wall of edge" is the adequate and
even a poetical-visual description of what can be done with a Bagwell bowie,
especially with the easier gambler version.
With that fine tip it's not for chopping but a top notch defense tool.

better you protect that tip in a river city sheath, too ;)

thanx for the invitation,
always an honor to sit down at Brownies hideout campfire

[Dave James]

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395533#post3654000


brownie, check this link I have just order this knife :D ,, will recieve it some time in August,, PIGS BEWARE:D

[Brownie]

DJ,

Very nice sticker sir. You'll surely like it. The sheephorn handle is one of the best grips I have ever encountered on a long knife. My Ed Fowler Rambouillet sheephorn handled knife was just fantastic for grip wet or dry and tough as nails.

The 52100 [ think ball bearings ] is tough as nails as well. The high carbon 1010 and 1070 surrounding it will suffice nicely. The Fowler was also 52100, when done right it will hold an edge, not chip out and is very easy to resharpen once it dulls.

Mokum is absolute gorgeous. Always wanted something in Mukum made, you lucky guy you.

My daily long knife also has filework along the spine as well, nice touch to an already great looking knife. That ones a keep for sure DJ.

The edge geometry is just what that knife needs for it's intended purpose. I'm familiar with the steel makers work from SA. He makes some unusual and unique bladeware.

Let us know how you like it when it arrives, I'm jealous it doesn't sit on my belt, and thanks for sharing that prize of a blade with us.

[Mike Sastre]

Brownie,

That Belle sure looks familiar, 'specially since I've got its sister. Waiting on a new one from Bill with the "Tejas" stamp.

[Brownie]

I remember well you letting Bill make mine first of the two of them.

Yes, the two are definately from the same family, the resemblance is striking.

Identical twins I'd say:D

Hope you are well, I sent you an email from a guy selling Bags, Morans, and others in case you knew anyone who was interested.

[Brownie]

better you protect that tip in a river city sheath, too

thanx for the invitation,
always an honor to sit down at Brownies hideout campfire

Manusch:

The Bagwell Belle pictured sits in a custom southern comfort conecealex sheath by Mike, [ the first order of business after receiving it was getting that done ] who just posted his Belle which are twins. You know Mike has his sheathed the same way;)

Pull up a seat at the campfire anytime.

[Mike Sastre]

Brownie,

Got your email in regards to available customs (thanks, Bro'), but Bill called me with one of those "magic windows" that sometimes open up, so had to take advantage. If I hadn't, you'd have got a call from him. Post a picture when it gets here.

[Mike Sastre]

Brownie,

La Tejana arrived today, and she's a beauty!! A little longer than I usually carry at 11 1/4", but I can adapt. Sweet piece of Cocobolo for the handle. Going to break in the leather sheath and check drawstroke before I do a Southern Comfort for it - may have to set up for cavalry draw 'cause of the extra length. Here's a couple pictures and one of the man himself. If anyone is serious about getting a Bagwell, they can call him at 903-938-0905 or 903-445-7558.

[Brownie]

Thats a real nice rendition of Bills Belles' Mike. Congrats on the new addition to that growing family of yours;) .

Bill doesn't look any different than the last time I saw him. When you talk to him again, give him my regards and also pass the same to his lovely wife for me.

[Manusch]

in Paul Kirchner's:"Dueling with Sword & Pistol" from www.paladin-press.com
on page 382 there is a picture of a Bagwell bowie

"Bowie knife duels" are from page 378 onwards

there he quotes a ruling of the Texas Supreme Court of 1859:
"It is difficult to defend against (the Bowie knife),
by any degree of bravery, or any amount of skill.
The gun or pistol may miss its aim. The sword may be parried....
The Bowie knife differs from these in its device and design;
it is an instrument of almost certain death."

that's why a Bagwell bowie is such a superb defense equipment
for close quarter

[Brownie]

Manusch:

Mike Sastre and I have been to the dueling oaks in New Orleans. I've got pics somewhere of my standing on the same spot with a Bowie knife where men lived and died with Bowies in their hands for almost three decades.

It is said that on some days there were up to 50 duels at the oaks in the heyday.

A man who knows how to use one, and use it well, is quite capable of defending himself. Oh, to be able to have trained with the masters in New Orleans during those days and have the knowledge thats been lost to history.

I'm sure Mike will agree [ he has considerable more training on the Bowies than I ] that neither of us feel wanting for self defense if we are carrying a big knife.

I remember walking down streets in New Orleans at 1am with 4 others and we all carried the long knives. We had sat in on a voodoo wedding. The couple were married by the high priestest of N.O. [ priestest Miriam ] only hours before. Quite the experience for this "northen boy":cool:

[Dave James]

brownie,, just spoke with Dwight, and again due to other influeneces I will miss his bowie training,, but he said to pass along his Hello!!

[Brownie]

Scheduling confilicts can do that can't they?:(

Please tell Dwight that I send my regards as well. He is a solid trainer in many things, as well as the long knives and hatchets :D

[Manusch]

Manusch:
Mike Sastre and I have been to the dueling oaks in New Orleans. I've got pics somewhere of my standing on the same spot with a Bowie knife where men lived and died with Bowies in their hands for almost three decades.

Brownie,
years ago Pete Kautz brought some acorns of these NO dueling oaks on Jim Keatings desk who then proposed to seed
"one's own dueling oaks". sure an honorable place to settle neighbouring quarrels :D

[Mike Sastre]

Manusch,

That qoute is by Judge Oran M. Roberts from John Cockburn vs. STATE (Texas) 1859 "The right to carry a Bowie Knife for lawful defense is secured, and must be admitted. It is an exceedingly destructive weapon. It is difficult to defend against it, by any degree of bravery, or any amount of skill. The gun or pistol may miss its aim, and when discharged, its dangerous character is lost, or diminished at least. The sword may be parried. With these weapons men fight for the sake of combat, to satisfy the laws of honor, not necessarily with intention to kill, or with certainty of killing, when the intention exists. The Bowie Knife differs from these in its device and design; it is the instrument of almost certain death." Bill showed it to me when I visited him last Fall, and we had quite a good discussion over it. Hot Tip: Pete Kautz is working on Modern Knives Video Magazine Issue #5 " The American Bowie Knife Special Issue" right now. Segments by James Keating, Dwight McLemore, Pete Kautz, some Bagwell, and a little bit of Southern Comfort. If you're not already a subsciber, at least pick up the single issue - it's all Bowie and 30 extra minutes. www.modernknives.com

[Manusch]

That qoute is by Judge Oran M. Roberts from John Cockburn vs. STATE (Texas) 1859 "The right to carry a Bowie Knife for lawful defense is secured, and must be admitted...

Mike
thanx for the source, I'm quite interested in these historic things,
well, after the secession war judge Roberts was replaced,
and the northerners probably didn't want armed texans,
so they generally prohibited bowie knifes

I'm sure looking forward for the MK Bowie knife special,
am subscriber there since the very beginning.

May be once Pete & Jim do a folder special,
I'd expect then that these brown gauntlets
open a folder with the Brownie pop ?

Harald

[steve2267]

Here's a nice clip of Bill Bagwell playing with an Ontario 16" Helles Belle:

Bill Bagwell cutting power demo of a Helles Belle (http://www.threatfocused.com/videos/Bagwell_Helles_Belle_cutting_power_demo.mp4)


(Note... this is an MP4 file. If you are using a Windows boxen, you will need something to play an MP4 formatted MPEG file. Probably your best bet is the free QuickTime player from Apple.)

[Brownie]

Thanks for getting this clip up Steve.

Members who can view the clip: This vid shows Bill Bagwell, using Ontario knife company's licensed Hells Belle [ commercially available ]. For those who have never seen what a bowie will do, watch this clip.

Bill likes to say a small knife will cut an arm, and the bowie will cleave the arm.

[David Williams]

A Bowie knife is a Bowie knife, indeed.... :eek:

[Desert Rat]

Suddenly I have alot more confidence in my Helle's Belle!:D