The Fighting Knife

The fighting knife has been around as long asJim Bowie was killed at the Alamo in 1836, the
men have armed themselves to protect life andBowie knife became firmly established in his name
country. Whether you search for specific hunting,as a lasting tribute. The Bowie Knife saw more
survival, or tactical weapons- here is a sample ofaction in the American Civil War as arms for the
what every serious collector should hold in hisConfederacy. A Bowie knife requires minimum
coveted knife collection.maintenance and is practically immune to the after
Let's begin with the most influential design ofeffects of water, salt, air, or humidity.
perfection in the twentieth century- theThe Trench Knife is one sharp looking classic piece
Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. The originalof manpower known as a knuckle knife. The US
Fairbairn-Sykes was taken out of commission butArmy's first attempt at a trench weapon was the
is now once again on the market. A goodM1917/18 trench knife. The knife has a wicked
testament to a great weapon is the men whotriangle blade and the knuckle bow varies
designed the knife actually use it. Warriors haveaccording to the manufacturer. The M1918 Mark I
charged their enemy with the Fairbairn-Sykesis the knife most people think of when the word-
knife for almost half a century. Combat soldierstrench knife- is thrown around. Major McNary was
carried this knife during countless battles foughtthe designer using the identical blade design as the
by American and British Special Forces. CIA andFrench M1916 trench dagger. No American home
FBI undercover agents consider this knife a no-should be without one of these witnesses to our
brainer addition to any homeland securitymilitary's history. The McNary trench knife's cutting
operation. Thousands of lives have been lostedge was widely used in World War II, up to the
under this blade but thousands more were savedVietnam War conflicts.
in the process. The Fairbairn-Sykes is aLast but not least for every survivalist is the
masterfully constructed, straight-bladed,popular Ka-Bar Knife sometimes called K-Bar
double-edged weapon, much like a dagger.Knives. They are extremely sturdy, dependable,
A look back into the past of the United Statesand rugged knives, much like their official
wild frontier shows Arkansas was a rough placesponsors, the USMC and the United States Army.
during the 1830s. Tough Americans whittled out aThese quality knives were the prized possession
place for heroic tales and brave deeds in the hardon the side of every fighting Marine during WWII.
fight for honor and prosperity. James Black, anOwning one of these knives is part of preserving
Arkansas blacksmith, is by many accounts, theour national heritage- standing for the trials our
maker of the Bowie Knife. Black's knives wereancestors faced and won for the right of
copied in England and sold in America as thefreedom.
'Arkansas Toothpick'. Jim Bowie became legend"It is the privilege of human beings to live under
after the famous "Sandbar Duel" in 1827 withthe laws of justice and mercy.
reportedly a knife made for him by Black. After