| When you go out to purchase Bowie knives you'll | | | | side on which it is ground. |
| likely be surprised by some of the options | | | | Most chisel point Bowie knives are ground to a |
| available. Bowies are known for their distinctive | | | | 45-degree angle on one side and are flat on the |
| blade style, their hand guard and their size. They | | | | other. Where hand-sharpening is concerned, this is |
| are a combination fighting, hunting and utility knife. | | | | the easiest type of blade to maintain. In fact, this |
| As is the case with all knives, there are numerous | | | | grind is used on kitchen knives a great deal for |
| variations in design that appeal to some users and | | | | this reason. The knife need only be sharpened on |
| not to others. Many of these design variations | | | | the one side, the excess metal is removed from |
| center on the blade. Different blade configurations | | | | the other and it's very difficult to do any damage |
| are preferred depending on the planned utilization | | | | to the bevel. |
| of the knife. | | | | Bowie knives with this type of blade will have |
| The way in which the blades on Bowie knives are | | | | some distinctive cutting characteristics. They'll tend |
| shaped is referred to as the grind of the blade. It | | | | to pull away from the side to which they're |
| is also sometimes referred to by its end result, | | | | handed, for starters. These edges can be |
| and is then called the bevel. Both of these terms | | | | incredibly sharp, but they are more brittle. This |
| simply refer to how the edge of the blade is | | | | grind is often used where knives need to be |
| formed and to its characteristics where the angle | | | | precise but not remarkably durable, such as in the |
| of the edge is concerned. A chisel-ground blade is | | | | case of the aforementioned kitchen knives. This |
| a one-sided blade that can be referred to as | | | | grind can work for a Bowie, provided its limitations |
| either right- or left-handed, depending upon the | | | | are kept in mind. |