AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Contemporary Accoutrements => Topic started by: Daniel Coats on August 15, 2025, 05:38:13 PM

Title: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 15, 2025, 05:38:13 PM

I'm considering having a sheath made for my Bowie knife recently acquired from Frank House. I'm thinking Alamo period maybe?

What are your thoughts? Am I in the right time period?

(https://i.ibb.co/ZpPz4VsR/PXL-20250809-170603201-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DHyfctXP)

(https://i.ibb.co/1t4zhTss/PXL-20250809-170715092-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W4RVqfDD)

Who does this kind of work?

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 15, 2025, 07:34:05 PM

Here's my questions?

What time period best fits the knife? Knowing that how would we match it up an appropriate sheath. I want it to look like the original sheath so some aging. The knife has engraving so maybe the sheath is a little nicer too but not so much that it detracts to much from the knife.

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Flintandsmoke on August 15, 2025, 09:08:06 PM

Quote from: Daniel Coats on August 15, 2025, 07:22:00 PM

Quote from: oldtravler61 on August 15, 2025, 07:11:44 PM

   Daniel probably any of the knife makers that were at the CLA sho

Thanks Mike but just any sheath won't do or I would make one. I'll reply again with more information.

Talk to Lally? She could probably make up something nice. If you want it quilled.

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 16, 2025, 12:40:49 AM

Origins and the Sandbar Fight:

The Bowie knife's association with James Bowie began with the Sandbar Fight near Natchez, Mississippi, in 1827. This incident, where Bowie used a large knife in a brawl, brought the blade to national attention.

So... that answers the time period for a "Bowie"

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 16, 2025, 04:02:16 AM

Thanks Rich! Here's an idea from Chuck

(https://i.ibb.co/4nQXgcB0/knifes-sheath-dumas-2-2.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)

He has others

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 16, 2025, 06:12:33 AM

Here's a leather covered metal sheath from the 1830s owned by Rezin P. Bowie

(https://i.ibb.co/YBVCVSmP/Screenshot-20250815-215552.png) (https://ibb.co/8gQCQwqN)

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: whetrock on August 19, 2025, 01:24:25 PM

I'm sure you've seen these in your online search. But here are two that I think are nice, and they are antiques.

https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-4792790/rare-antique-american-civil-war-confederate-texas-bowie-knife-leather-sheath.html
 (https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-4792790/rare-antique-american-civil-war-confederate-texas-bowie-knife-leather-sheath.html)

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/parts---ammo---accessories/knives---bowie/large-antique-bowie-knife-with-original-sheath-from-collecting-texas---found-in-matamoros--mexico.cfm?gun_id=102835903
 (https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/parts---ammo---accessories/knives---bowie/large-antique-bowie-knife-with-original-sheath-from-collecting-texas---found-in-matamoros--mexico.cfm?gun_id=102835903)

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 19, 2025, 02:32:47 PM

Whetrock thank you! I hadn't found those but they are almost a perfect match in style.

(https://i.ibb.co/FkD1txB8/404075988942.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Q7KVGb6Y)

(https://i.ibb.co/kgZZ8sSh/LARGE-ANTIQUE-BOWIE-KNIFE-with-ORIGINAL-SHEATH-from-COLLECTING-TEXAS-FOUND-in-MATAMOROS-MEXICO-10270.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WWCCy42c)

That knife in the bottom picture in particular!  I might have enough to post a WTB now. Anyone else have thoughts?

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: RobertS on August 19, 2025, 09:51:32 PM

https://svalbardrepublic.org/ebay/butcher-bowie0413.htm

Check this out.  The sheath (I am pretty sure) is a thin wood core made of two thin pieces of wood that have just enough wood removed in the center to accommodate the blade of the knife and then are glued together and covered with a layer of thin leather.  The throat and tip are made of sheet metal like brass, nickel silver or coin silver.  This  throat is missing the stud, but you can see where it was.  There was originally a leather frog that slides on a belt, and has an opening in the top that the sheath can slide into, and there is a slot in the leather frog for the stud to slide into and catch at the bottom.  I'll see if I can find a better picture or video that illustrates it better. 

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: RobertS on August 19, 2025, 10:46:12 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/Vpkt4FLK/IMG-3748-Copy.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mFPGWnRx)

(https://i.ibb.co/90624QM/IMG-3747.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2rxPMGb)

(https://i.ibb.co/Hpp9jmS0/IMG-3746-Copy-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Lhhs34FM)

(https://i.ibb.co/ZzrK8kst/IMG-3745.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qY89sPGX)


I hope these help!

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on August 20, 2025, 07:01:03 AM

Yes! Very helpful

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath
Post by: Daniel Coats on September 21, 2025, 01:14:06 AM

Never got a response from Lally so I made one. I'll post on Contemporary Accouterments with pictures here in a minute.

Title: Bowie Knife Sheath (Curly Ash)
Post by: Daniel Coats on September 21, 2025, 01:21:11 AM

 One of a kind Bowie Knife Sheath for a one of a kind Bowie Knife. I made it out of curly ash and iron. Hope you enjoy the pictures!



(https://i.ibb.co/B2FV7b8f/PXL-20250920-220228816-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jksvxm78)

(https://i.ibb.co/gbWLkzs0/PXL-20250920-220259325-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cK8S4DzW)

(https://i.ibb.co/k6SVw6J8/PXL-20250920-220333314.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XkCfKkDs)

Title: Re: Bowie Knife Sheath (Curly Ash)
Post by: Tim Crosby on September 21, 2025, 02:01:17 PM

 Well done, looks like they were made for each other.

   Tim