Saturday, March 24, 2012

How About Some Weapons History...?

Nearly all of know a little bit about famous weapons, I'm sure.

However, what do we really know about the folks that invented them! One that comes to mind is the Bowie Knife. I mean, who in America hasn't heard of the Bowie Knife? Do you know who made the knife? Probably not!

Don't feel badly, most of us don't. I am going to tell you a few things about the maker...a man named James Black!
James Black
1800 – 1872


James Black was an Arkansas blacksmith and the creator of the original Bowie knife designed by Jim Bowie. Bowie was already famous for knife-fighting from his 1827 sandbar duel. But his killing of three assassins in Texas and his death at the Battle of the Alamo made him, and the blacksmith’s knife, legends. Black’s knives were known to be exceedingly tough yet flexible. Black kept his methods for creating the knife very secret and did all of his work behind a leather curtain. Many claim that Black rediscovered the secret to producing Damascus steel which is a type of steel used in Middle Eastern sword making from 1100 to 1700 that could cut through lesser quality European swords. The original techniques to make James Black’s knife cannot be duplicated even today. Black died on 22 June 1872 in Washington, Arkansas.

Interesting Fact: In 1839 shortly after Black’s wife’s death, he was nearly blinded when 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. After the attack Black was no longer able to continue in his trade.

I say we should have our coffee out on the patio today. Just too nice to be inside!

12 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Interesting!

HermitJim said...

Hey Gorges...
Glad you found it so! Sometimes these little known facts are interesting, to say the least!

Thanks for coming by today!

BBC said...

A good knife is hard to fine.

Sixbears said...

A quality knife is worth its weight in gold, especially if your life is on the line.

JO said...

Interesting story. Nice father in law. At least he waited until his daughters death to get show his true feelings toward the man.

The weather has been great, for coffee on the patio

HermitJim said...

Hey BBC...
That is a fact! A good quality knife is very hard to find, and having one custom made is even harder!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Sixbears...
I'd say you are exactly right about that!

Thinking of a knife as a tool makes it easier to appreciate the quality, I think!

Thanks for coming by today, my friend!


Hey JoJo...
I guess that in-laws can be detrimental to your health! Certainly were in this case!

Thanks, sweetie, for the visit!

Michael Ultra said...

He should have stuck his knife in the FIL. (being the strong, yet flexible son-in-law)

The Griper said...

The knife, probably one of the oldest tools of man, made to be used destructively as well as constructively, to save a life as well as to take a life.

And it is the one thing that has retained its value both as a weapon and as a tool since its inception without much change.

it also is probably the most versitile tool of man in both usage as well as the material that can be used to make one.

i would even argue that it rivals the wheel as being the most important invention of man.

HermitJim said...

Hey Michael...
Sure would have been better for him had he done so!

I'm guessing that maybe the FIL blind sided him !

Hey, thanks for coming over today!



Hey Griper...
Those are some very valid points, and I totally agree!

I'm thinking that it would be number one in the necessary tool department!

Thanks for coming over today!

BBC said...

I made a skinning knife out of food grade stainless steel, best skinning knife I've ever had.

SnideRemarks said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SnideRemarks said...

How can I get permission to use this photo of James Black in a newspaper article?