Anthony said:To me, if one plans on ordering a custom Bowie as a pure fighter today, it only makes sense to order one with the brass strip and a generous guard given that it does not add appreciably to the bulk of the knife and gives you an unconventional capability against longer implements that might be used to attack you (e.g., length of pipe, clubs, machettes, etc.).
What do my fellow High Roaders think?
- Anthony
Nope
There is no such thing as a "conventional" Bowie in the historical sense. Bowies became popularized and were produced in a huge range of styles. The one you describe is only one of these styles.
As to the idea that "the brass strip and a generous guard" doesn't add appreciably to the bulk of a knife, I can't agree. A large guard provides greater hand protection, but adds overall weight to the knife. If properly balanced it doesn't impede wrist action, but it will slow arm movement, especially direction change, due to the greater momentum the weight provides. The large guard makes carry more difficult and moves the large guard Bowie into the pure weapon category and even into the specialized category of battlefield or duel. As to the brass strip it adds weight to the blade forcing more weight the be added to the pomel to balance and thereby inceases overall weight.
In today's fighting environment I would rather have ease of carry and speed over the American short sword you've described.