The popularity of the Bowie knife began after the September 19, 1827 brawl known as the Sandbar Fight. After a pistol duel that resulted in missed shots and was temporarily resolved with a handshake, associates of the combatants began fighting. Ultimately, a badly injured James “Jim” Bowie, who was supporting one of the duelists, used a large knife to defeat his attacker in what became one of the most famous knife fights in history.
In the years following the 1827 conflict, Jim Bowie was involved in several lethal encounters, including one where he used a large knife to defeat three armed attackers who were hired to kill him. Historians share mixed opinions on whether or not a Bowie style knife was used at the Sandbar fight instead of a dagger-style blade. In either case, the legend of Jim Bowie was secured when he met his death on March 6, 1836 during the Battle of the Alamo while fighting a group of Mexican soldiers that was closing in on him. The location of the original Bowie remains a mystery.
Gaston J Glock Jr., son of the founder of the gun company, spent 25 years working in his family-run business and now is the leader of GASTON brand products. This company provides only the best and strives to protect our health and environment while conducting fair trade practices. GASTON produces a quality line of hunting and shooting products, accessories, and footwear. Some of these items include handmade reindeer gloves, a fine lamb wool sweater, a moose leather backpack, and a very intriguing line of custom knives.
THE GASTON BOWIE
Jim Bowie’s original knife blade measured 9.25-inches in length (235 mm). The largest Bowie blades may stretch as long as 24-inches (609 mm). The GASTON Bowie has an intermediate blade length of 15.15-inches (385 mm), and is constructed of recycled steel from the barrel of the German Leopard A3 tank. This German tank was designed in the 1960s and served as a main battle tank in over a dozen countries worldwide. There were fewer than 7,000 Leopard A3 tanks to ever hit the battlefield. The steel is extremely wear-resistant and is combined with chromium, manganese and vanadium alloy tool steel with a high concentration of carbon content during the forging process.
German master craftsman Markus Balbach forged the steel into fine 320-layer Damascus with a large pyramid pattern. He is one of the best blacksmiths in Europe, and believes in traditional methods of forging steel in an oven instead of a modern press. Mr. Balbach’s crafts are as unique as a fingerprint, which is evident on the GASTON Bowie.
Behind the blade and striking guard is a one-of-a-kind handle made of one of the most precious materials in existence: “Ainkhurn,” which is the German word for the tusk of a narwhal. The narwhal is a pale-colored porpoise found in Artic coastal waters. They grow two teeth; the most prominent one grows into a sword-like, spiral tusk reaching 8.8 feet (2.7 meters) long. The ivory tooth is a natural piercing of sorts, as it grows though the upper lip of the animal.
Finalizing the GASTON Bowie package is a stamped embellished sheath made of traditionally crafted brown saddle leather. Vegetable tanning materials are used during the tanning process. The leather is re-tanned in drums over a period of six to eight weeks to complete the process.
The location of the original Jim Bowie knife remains a mystery and would be worth an astronomical amount. The Bowie from GASTON J GLOCK style is an artistic masterpiece composed of some of the most valuable and rare materials available; and comes with an $18,850 price tag. For someone, this will be a true one-of-a-kind collector’s piece, and we know where you can find it – GASTON! Who will it be?
Originally published in the December 2013 issue of GunUp the Magazine.
