Searles Bowie

[Ten Bears]

I liked its design so much, I bought one, and its the last knife Ill ever own.

Believed to be the Bowie brothers first design. Made by George Searles of Baton Rouge LA.

Today you can get two production models. Below is Imperials model. Its the prettier, and a tad more authentic than
Dixie Gun Works model. Dixies model has superior steel. The reason I bought mine.

[Shotgun Steve]

I too have always liked the Searles Bowie, Ten Bears. It is a classic.
You have a very nice bowie there, I hope it serves you well.

Shotgun Steve

[northwestgrizzly]

I like the looks alot!

[Galloway]

Thats beautifull, did it or the dixie model come sharpened?

[Dave Cole]

One of my favorite styles of Bowie's.I have been planning on making one soon.Dave

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Beautiful !

[The Elderly Kid]

This is the one design we can confidently associate with the Bowie brothers.  It's probably much like the one James used at the Sandbar fight, though the original probably had a plainer handle. I've seen the Searles at the Alamo museum and it's a trip seeing a knife that was undoubtedly handled by Rezin Bowie. The big, broad, clip-pointed blade most people think of as a "Bowie" is only one of many designs called Bowies in the 19th century, though it was the most popular. But the Sheffield cutlers had far more influence on its design than Jim Bowie ever did. The Searles has both elegance and utility. It is a gentleman's weapon, and in those days gentlemen could be total bada**es.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

       Very nice

[rebsr52339]

Ten Bears, is Imperials the company who makes this version?

[Ten Bears]

Ten Bears, is Imperials the company who makes this version?

Yes that is Imperials knife shown above, they dont make it, only sell it, its imported.

Thats beautifull, did it or the dixie model come sharpened?

I had to cut a mud flap that got stuck up inside a wheel well. It cut it like butter, but the steel lacing dulled it

It was sharp, but not like it is now. I took the 35 degree edge down to 23degrees, and its now nasty sharp.

Ive had a standing bet, if you can put the point on your finger, and let go of the handle, if it does not cut right thru your finger, and stick to the table, you can have it. No one has taken me up on it yet. It has to do with the fact that I can slide it right though a one inch steak, with its own weight 

Ive shown it to two different knife smiths, they both said the same thing. It was the finest blade anyone has walked in with.

[rebsr52339]

Thank you for the info.

[Ten Bears]

Here is the real one.

[rebsr52339]

If my memory serves me right this knife went "missing" (stolen) a bunch, 40 maybe 50 years ago. It was returned after about 10 years I think. While visiting the Alamo with another "well-known" Bowie collector I was privileged to hold this knife. The curator was kind enough to remove it from the display for us to "see close up". What a thrill that was. It has been one of my favorites along with the Schively I owned. Great stuff.

[Ten Bears]

Your lucky Bro, When I was there I just wanted to bring Mine in and set it on top of the glass.
They told me for security reason they could not. I told them the owners of the one under glass would be so disappointed.
That didn't work either, so I left.

[The Elderly Kid]

Ten Bears, is your knife the Dixie Gun Works item or the Imperial shown in the first post? I have a Searles blade that I bought from DGW years ago and had hilted in a different fashion, and now I'm considering getting the Imperial version for its authenticity. I have Imperial Musso Bowies, both their older design and the new, full-sized version, and both are outstanding.

[rebsr52339]

Ten Bears, as I recall the knife was in a glass case on the left as you went into the Museum. I understood a new "case" was being made to display the knife. I think it was in the late 70s when I was last there. They were VERY apprehensive about letting people near the case never mind the knife. I like the one I made and I have a photo of another Searles "with" a sharpened false edge. I believe the swage is on the right side of the blade only like the Schively.

[Ten Bears]

The one pictured is the Imperial version. I own the Dixie version. Id buy the Imperial, but cant really see owning two of them. If I ever sell mine, then Ill get the other. Im darn sure mine will go with me to the grave.

When I was there a hand full of years ago, it was in a glass fronted case, behind a roped off area.
I could not even get to the case.

[rebsr52339]

Ten Bears, here is another Searles Bowie. I can't remember "where" I downloaded this from. If anybody knows refresh my memory. It shows a very fancy guard with file work on the edges. The hilt appears to be ebony with silver pins. The blade has the swaged sharpened false edge and as I said, can't prove it, but I think it is only on the right side. Simply a gorgeous looking knife. The Alamo Searles Bowie also has silver pins embedded in each of the diamonds of the checkered panels on the four sides of the hilt. You can hardly see them. There is a great photo of this knife, the Alamo Searles, in my Texas Gun Collectors book and I will see if I can find it.

[The Elderly Kid]

rebsr:  That knife is to be found at:
http://southernantique.googlepages.com/knives
It is identified only as "unmarked Louisiana style hunting knife." It certainly has the Searles look, complete with that little crescent cutout at the base of the blade. But then, maybe those Rezin-commissioned Searles presentation knives were widely copied in the South. Without markings, it's hard to know.

[Mogorilla]

Not sure if the sale is still on, but CrazyCrow had their handforged searless blade on sale for under 20, you add the handle and the guard.  If you are looking for a "I had the smith in town make it for me", this is it.