Opus One

[Sam Wereb]

Is there one single handmade knife that is the most valuable in the world? The Hope diamond of knives, maybe?

[Gabe Newell]

That would be Bowie's bowie with established provenance.

[marcel54]

I don't agree. I think it would be Excalibur (knife, sword, what's the difference )with provenance to prove it's the real deal.

Marcel

[Don Cowles]

Of the knives that currently exist, my guess is that it would be Buster Warenski's King Tut dagger, in the collection of Phil Lobred.

[Buddy Thomason]

The answer is of course, "no." But it's a fun question to think about ... I bet there are a more than a few folks out there who would pay a whoppin' sum for Bo Randall's celebrated first knife.

[SharpByCoop]

Originally Posted by Gabe Newell

That would be Bowie's bowie with established provenance.

Didn't an antique Bowie get sold for about $300,000 to a Texan who claims THAT one is the fated Bowie? At least it's the most $ value I have ever heard of a real hands-on knife getting paid for.

Coop

[Les Robertson]

If your going to bring swords into this conversation.

How about the Katana and Wakazashi that belonged to Miyamoto Musashi. Unlike King Arthur , Musashi is known to have actually exisisted.

As far as knives made in the US in the 20th Century I would agree with Don, at least for cost of it.

As far as knives made in the US in the 19th Century I agree with Gabe.

[marcel54]

My Japanese history is a bit rusty, so who is Musashi?

Marcel

[Les Robertson]

Hi Marcel,

He is Japanese Samurai who attained hero status. He is credited by many for developing utilizing both swords during a fight. He is best known to westerners as the author of "Go Rin No Sho" or "Book of the Five Rings".

The "Book of the Five Rings" was adopted by many US Business Schools and Corporation's as a way to understand the Japanese Business Mind. After that we moved on to "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Both are excellent books.

I was introudced to Musashi while studying Kendo in college.

If you type in Musashi into a search engine Im sure you can get all the information you want.

[SharpByCoop]

Les,

Is Gabe's and your reference and mine all the same?

Coop

[Les Robertson]

Hi Coop,

I think we are in agreement that "IF" you had the actual knife carried by Jim Bowie that it would be the most significant knife ever made in the US.

I am no Bowie expert; however I have to think that $300,000 is a little on the low side. Additionally, if you could prove it was Jim Bowies knife there would have at least been an article in Blade Magazine. They like to "re-visit" this knife at least annually.

[Terry Primos]

Are you guys possibly talking about the auction of the Sam Houston Bowie?

Among other things, Sam Houston was president of the Republic of Texas, U.S. senator, and commanding general of the revolutionary army that avenged the fall of the Alamo in 1836 with the defeat of Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto six weeks later.

The Sam Houston Bowie sold at auction in about 2002. At presale it was assessed at a range of $25,000 - $75,000. However, there was a big stink because Texans did not want the knife leaving the State of Texas.

The auction lasted 35 minutes and sold to a wealthy corporate executive from Texas for $297,000. The buyer stated that he had been prepared to pay whatever it would take, and that the Sam Houston Bowie would never leave the State of Texas as long as he was alive.

You've gotta love those Texans.

[SharpByCoop]

Thanks, Terry. THAT'S the one I was referring too. Most I have ever heard a knife actually go for. There may be others.

I forgot the actual reference, and I see it never was billed as the actual Bowie Bowie. If there is one now.

Coop