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How to Build a Bowie Knife

The Bowie knife was designed, used and made famous by Jim Bowie in 1827. The knife gained popularity when Bowie actually used the knife to defeat his enemies at the Sandbar Fight. Since then it has been the knife of choice for hunters who use it for carving up freshly killed game. A Bowie knife can be an expensive investment if bought from a retailer, which is why many individuals choose to make their own.

Things You'll Need

Knife blade
Brass guards
Glue
Drill
Hand saw
2-foot long by 6-inch wide wooden block
Sandpaper
File
Wood stain

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase the blade for your Bowie knife. You will need a knife blade that has a tang and a threaded pommel, which can purchased at a specialty knife shop for under $20.
- 2
  Drill a hole in the center of your wood block. Make sure the hole goes all the way through the wood block.
- 3
  Draw a design on the wood block and use a hand saw to cut it out. Then use sandpaper and a file to sand the design until it is smooth. This becomes the handle of your Bowie knife.
- 4
  Drill holes in the brass guards. Make a rectangular hole in one of the brass guards and a regular round hole in the other brass guard.
- 5
  Glue the guard with the round hole on top of the wood handle. Glue the rectangular brass guard on the end of the handle. Allow to dry for about 24 hours.
- 6
  Screw the pommel of the knife in place at the end of the blade tang. Tighten the pommel so that it will not come loose.
- 7
  Coat the wooden handle with wood stain and let dry for one day.

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