Bailey Bradshaw

Thought I would share with you one of the most beautiful and artistic Bowie knives I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Bailey Bradshaw is the maker. He is now making custom rifles and that is the knife-making world’s loss. His British style falling block rifles are equally artistic displaying fine lines, exquisite engraving, even in high relief, and exhibition grade woods. Check his rifle work out at http://www.bradshawgunandrifle.com/ The 10 3/8 inch forged blade exhibits a crisp and active hamon. The spine (or mune) has a graceful sweep and is ground to a peak like a fine Japanese blade. Bailey’s Japanese torri trademark is etched on one side and his MS (master smith) stamp is on the other side. There is an incredible presence to this blade. Remember that aliveness I mentioned in an earlier post? This knife has it in spades.

The handle has a traditional Bowie shape but clearly a Japanese treatment: with same gawa (rayskin) underlay with tsuka ito (cord wrapping) of Navy blue silk. The steel mounts are again Japanese in form, crafted of mild steel, inlaid with gold wire, and gun blued. This fighting knife exudes an understated elegance a samurai would appreciate. Mr. Bradshaw said he made this knife about 2004-2006. While it is of presentation grade, in materials and finish, hefting it leaves no doubt that it is also combat grade.

What would James Bowie have given to carry a knife like this? The heavy leather sheath is simple and perfectly fitted so that even inverted the knife stays put. It has the belt stud common on today’s sheaths allowing the wearer to slip it in and out of their belt whenever you need to sit. So I am not the first owner (more correctly caretaker) of this knife, but time and prior ownership have not diminished its exceptionalism. Thank God there are people out there like Bailey Bradshaw who create such works of art.
And now you know why I am selling some of my other Bowies. It is "time to pay the piper" as the saying goes.