I just bought a moderately sized bowie knife from wal-mart today,  low-priced,  but I heard some good reviews aboot it,  its adequate enough,  but the handle material is cheap.  Its called the Winchester Bowie,  it feels good and sturdy and it probably wont let me down as long as I dont abuse it,  like battoning which I dont like people using a knife like that or somethin

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As to the "usefulness" of such knives.... Bowies are purpose-built fighting weapons intended to be heavy enough and properly shaped for slashing, yet still allow thrusting.

The large guard (often built as "lugged" for trapping another blade) is a clue.... renders the blade rather awkward for more domestic chores.
Most all contemporary "fighting" or "tactical" knives are either a variation of the Bowie design or are straightforward stilleto-thrusting designs.

A big one would make a passable machete, but that's likely abuse.   The cheap Pakistani-made models make good throwing knives when you strip off all the hardware.  Or you can just throw it till it all falls off....

I don´t like the bowie type generally, like said in the post above, impractically big knifes. It´s a knife for fighting, and if I´d feel I´d need to carry that kind of hardware for self defense I would personally choose something else.

As for the quality of the knife you bought, the fact that it was cheap does not necessarily mean it is bad quality; hardening and tempering a good steel is not expensive (the knifes I like best and carry on me at all times are cheap and good, mora and opinel).

But if you ask me "what good is a bowie knife" I´d answer "not very".

What's batonning ?

Beating on the back or tip of a knife blade with a lump of wood, usually for splitting firewood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvlhXuweBj4

Its fairly abusive so you need a tough knife to do it with.

wrote on May 7^th, 2011 at 1:33pm:

I don´t like the bowie type generally, like said in the post above, impractically big knifes. It´s a knife for fighting, and if I´d feel I´d need to carry that kind of hardware for self defense I would personally choose something else. As for the quality of the knife you bought, the fact that it was cheap does not necessarily mean it is bad quality; hardening and tempering a good steel is not expensive (the knifes I like best and carry on me at all times are cheap and good, mora and opinel). But if you ask me "what good is a bowie knife" I´d answer "not very".

By this criterion, you might ask "What good is a sharp longsword?" or "what good is a sling?" Ultimately a tool is designed to do a job of work. It is possible to do courses to learn to fight with a bowie knife as that was what it was used for as well as being a general purpose cutting/thrusting weapon, much like the modern machete. Such courses can be even more fun if you learn to use the bowie in one hand and a tomahawk in the other! Obviously you'd use a blunt for training but you could try practice cutting with a sharp version on tatami or pool noodles or water bottles. As stated above there are also incorrect ways to use such a knife but you can still have fun with it.

You can learn to do most camp chores with a Bowie knife (just as you can with a small hatchet), but some things will be harder. A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away they were general utility knives as well as fighting knives. I have one that I like to use for camping that is probably too small to really be called a bowie but it's just big enough that I don't worry about bending or rolling the blade. With a bowie knife and a pen knife you can do more than with just a normal sized knife, but I'm not sure you'll ever be in a situation where a bowie is necessary.

maybe for roughing out wood shapes? i used a cleaver for my bow, and i could cut out the shape in 30 minutes or so, hacking out the shape, then using a smaller knife to carve closer in. the bowie knife is a little thicker and not as wide, but it might work.

snowcelt wrote on May 8^th, 2011 at 2:32pm:

By this criterion, you might ask "What good is a sharp longsword?" or "what good is a sling?" Ultimately a tool is designed to do a job of work. .

Well, you kinda illustrate my point. Both a longsword and a sling are pretty useless tools for me, for obvious reasons.

I've always preferred a large knife.  I can't explain it, and no, it doesn't make up for an inadequacy elsewhere, kuggur.    I've just always preferred the feel of a bigger blade.  I can't be alone in that they make so darned many of them.

ha after handling this knife for a few days all my other knives feel too small hhaha

Around town, like when dog walking, you just can't carry a big blade.  The cops would undoubtly frown on it.  When camping or fishing, however, I always carry a big survival knife.  I think that the blade is 9".  I just like the feel better than my smaller knives I guess.

around heres i dont think theres any law against carrying a big blade unless ur in a bank or somethin like that,  you can basically walk into a safeway store with a holstered pistol or somethin like that,  I dont think theres anythin more temptin to obama to give us more restrictive weapons laws

When the knife becomes big enough one may need a small knife beside it for small work and the weight and bulk may compare to a small axe (hatchet/tomahawk/whatewer) which for many tasks often performs better than a big knife.
Then it comes down to personal needs and preferances.

Myself I have far too often been out there with a small and big knife, and an axe :D.  And then the big knife is not used a lot.

Fortunately I got some light but very practical and useful 8 and 9" Same knives for when I insist on carry a big knife :).

I can therefore leave the big and heavy knives at home when the urge comes.  

As long as bear defence is not an issue a small folding saw usually outperforms any big knife or an axe anyway for camping use :(.

Rat Man wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 2:52pm:

I've always preferred a large knife.  I can't explain it, and no, it doesn't make up for an inadequacy elsewhere, kuggur.

Huh? Where did I imply that ?!

wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 8:15pm:

Rat Man wrote on May 10th, 2011 at 2:52pm: I've always preferred a large knife.  I can't explain it, and no, it doesn't make up for an inadequacy elsewhere, kuggur.     Huh? Where did I imply that ?!

You did not.  But then, we all know why some people carry big knives :)

wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 8:15pm:

Rat Man wrote on May 10th, 2011 at 2:52pm: I've always preferred a large knife.  I can't explain it, and no, it doesn't make up for an inadequacy elsewhere, kuggur.     Huh? Where did I imply that ?!

You did not imply it, but admit it... it's the first thing you though of!  lol

Rat Man wrote on May 12^th, 2011 at 9:06am:

You did not imply it, but admit it... it's the first thing you though of!  lol

Eh, no actually...but I do find it interesting that it is the thing you felt the need to deny..... ;D

I always understood it was a multi purpose knife.
Although got to admit it's a much better fighting knife. And there really is no other purpose to having a clip point blade than stabbing someone.

I suppose if you want the ultimate multi purpose knife then you've got to have a kurkri :-)
Anything from spokeshave to axe to serious fighting knife - kurkri's are about as versatile as it gets.

Wouldn't know anything about that...........

Marc Adkins



Curious Aardvark wrote on May 16^th, 2011 at 8:50am:

I always understood it was a multi purpose knife. Although got to admit it's a much better fighting knife. And there really is no other purpose to having a clip point blade than stabbing someone. I suppose if you want the ultimate multi purpose knife then you've got to have a kurkri :-) Anything from spokeshave to axe to serious fighting knife - kurkri's are about as versatile as it gets.

Though the Kukri knife looks very formidible, and this is just me, for fighting I prefer something that is double edged.  Why not have the ability to cut on the way back too?  Everyone is different.

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Bowie knives are designed for fighting and therfore work best at just that. For woods knives I would suggest somthing more along the lines of a clip point. My prefed knife in the woods is my mora this along with my trail hawk can pretty much take on any large or small chore without to much effort or bulk.

Dan wrote on May 22^nd, 2011 at 4:35pm:

Bowie knives are designed for fighting and therfore work best at just that. For woods knives I would suggest somthing more along the lines of a clip point. My prefed knife in the woods is my mora this along with my trail hawk can pretty much take on any large or small chore without to much effort or bulk.

Bowies have a clip point...

I bow hunt hogs on foot.  Every now and then, one will try to bite you.  Something like a large bowie could come in handy.  Where little hunts, there are things with claws and big teeth, I can see where having a bowie on you beats the hell out of having your rifle leaning on a rock 10 paces away while you quarter a caribou.  Bill

haha i know I was black bear hunting once,  me and my hunting partner were setting up the tree stands,  we heard noise behind us,  boyy we picked up our guns pretty quick n had them ready,  turns out it twas just a squirrel but they sound big tho,  but yeah we even heard a huge bear walkin around us,  we didnt even see it,  they're like the ninjas of the woods even though grizzlies/brown bears can get pretty huge,  moose can walk right up to you with out even making a noise soo yeah a good knife is good for security,  when I tink of it I didnt have a knife on me,  i kept it in my pack.

Thunder Chief wrote on May 23^rd, 2011 at 10:35pm:

Dan wrote on May 22nd, 2011 at 4:35pm: Bowie knives are designed for fighting and therfore work best at just that. For woods knives I would suggest somthing more along the lines of a clip point. My prefed knife in the woods is my mora this along with my trail hawk can pretty much take on any large or small chore without to much effort or bulk. Bowies have a clip point...

Yes but the back of the blade is sharpened therefore making it a bowie point (I think) perhaps a drop point was a better term. I pesonally would feel okay defending myself with my tomahawk and just carry my mora for small things like field dressing and whittleing. I know back in the early frontier days (before the "Wild West" in the 1800s) tomahawks were used for combat much more than knives due to the added reach and also that most fighting styles then relied on brute force. And concealability wasn't an issue cause' everyone carried weapons.

Bowies may have a clip point (looks like some of the blade has been clipped off at the tip). They almost always have a swedge (sharpened edge along part of the back of the blade), though most clip points only have a false edge (the clip isn't sharpened). The first Bowie was shaped like a broken back seax or a butcher knife with a swedge (more like a sheepsfoot type blade). Later versions of the bowie knife made for Jim Bowie had more and more of a clip point, though Searles Bowies are known for being a normal blade (straight spine with the blade curving up to meet it like a chefs knife) with a swedge.

if i had a choice of any knife in the world, it would be a 6 in folding doble edger. fancy term for: butterfly knife

PREFED my knife in the woods is my fault that my falcon tracks may well take on a task large or small, without much work or in bulk.

wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 8:15pm:

Rat Man wrote on May 10th, 2011 at 2:52pm: I've always preferred a large knife.  I can't explain it, and no, it doesn't make up for an inadequacy elsewhere, kuggur.     Huh? Where did I imply that ?!

lol you didn't - it's a joke :-)

One way you can tell afighting knife is by the fact that the oval guard between the blade and handle is made of brass.
This is because brass is softer than steel so you can use it to trap the edge of an opponents knife - if you're skilled enough. The steel will bite into the brass and give the defendant purchase on the other blade.

Battoning is mainly used in survival situations where you can just carry a good knife and not also need a hatchet.

Of course the only 'proper' bowie knives are made from ultra hard meteorite iron, like the original supposedly was   ;)

Rat Man wrote on May 22^nd, 2011 at 1:47pm:

Though the Kukri knife looks very formidible, and this is just me, for fighting I prefer something that is double edged.  Why not have the ability to cut on the way back too?  Everyone is different.

well, in recent times the kurkri has been used in combat in more theatres of war than any other knife. It has proved itself and the men who bear them, time and time and time again and I for one would not want to face a gurkha with his blood up, coming at me with a kurkri. (or astick of celery for that matter)

It is a superb general purpose tool - but it's the men who made them famous that make all the difference.  Toughest infantry in the world - bar none.

I like the USMC infantry better  :),  the Germans in world war 1 named em devil dogs I believe if Im not mistaken,  and they were killin em at about 800 yards more or less with iron sighted .30-06 springfields in a few battles.  And the Ka-Bar knife my favorite blade despite its weak pin like tang,  which is the only thing that needs improvement I think idk...

Knives are absolutely the hottest and most contentious issue there is.  If you carry and use a knife regularly you will generally gravitate to a smaller package, and usually a folder at that.  Remember that with the advent of a reliable revolver, the Bowie Knife went the way of the Dinosaur.  There are no "Knife Fights" only "Knife Attacks" and usually they're small so as to be more concealable.  There are current instructors in the new wave of boutique-ish self defense/tactical schools that advocate blade work, and again, it's geared toward a small folder in most cases.  Even the old mountain men usually carried only butcher knives that were available at the time and discarded them at the end of trapping seasons due to excessive wear and sharpening.  Think about it like this:  You would never carry and use a bigger, longer or heavier sling than what you could hit with efficiently.  Same with knives.  Use one a lot and it will become apparent what your needs are.  Although, you're right about the mystique of the Bowie Knife.  A little piece of history dating back to when men were the masters of their own destiny..........    

Bill Skinner wrote on May 24^th, 2011 at 8:30pm:

I bow hunt hogs on foot.  Every now and then, one will try to bite you.  Something like a large bowie could come in handy.  Where little hunts, there are things with claws and big teeth, I can see where having a bowie on you beats the hell out of having your rifle leaning on a rock 10 paces away while you quarter a caribou.  Bill

I first read that 'I bow hunt frogs on foot'.  I hope I never meet the frog that makes be want to carry a bowie knife...   :o

Jabames wrote on May 10^th, 2011 at 3:22pm:

I dont think theres anythin more temptin to obama to give us more restrictive weapons laws

i agree obama would love nothing more than to restrict our freedoms expeacialy weapons

Naive...Why on earth would Obama want to take away your pea shooters...? They apparently give you the illusion of freedom, it would be quite stupid of him to take that away now wouldn´t it.

Obie hasn't made a move toward gun control that I've seen. Both Clinton and Carter made stabs at it.

I'd say that the religious right has more of an agenda toward limiting freedoms than the left. Just depends on which freedoms you're talking about.

Jabames wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 2:37pm:

I like the USMC infantry better  :),  the Germans in world war 1 named em devil dogs I believe if Im not mistaken,  and they were killin em at about 800 yards more or less with iron sighted .30-06 springfields in a few battles.  And the Ka-Bar knife my favorite blade despite its weak pin like tang,  which is the only thing that needs improvement I think idk...

Hoorah.. Former USMC myself. The name "devil dogs"comes from The Battle of the Ardennes, WWI. The Marine first division went into the woods outnumbered by Germans when French and British troops had retreated outta those woods time and again. The German troops were overwhelmed at the marksmanship and the tenacity of the Marines. The Germans nicknamed the marines "Teufelhunden" (not sure how to spell that) or Devil Dogs.  I carry my k-bar every time i go into the woods. That knife has served me truly well both as a marine and as a civilian. can-opener, skinning knife, wood splitter, self defense, etc...etc...etc....  I wouldn't worry about the tang. i have seen k-bar's take serious abuse. run over by tanks and such. Various camp tools are handy when specialized for their intended purposes. If you have to go into the field with one tool, a good stout knife (bowie or k-bar or whatever else as long as it's good quality) is the way to go.

leadrocks wrote on Dec 7^th, 2011 at 1:28pm:

Jabames wrote on Nov 11th, 2011 at 2:37pm: I like the USMC infantry better  :),  the Germans in world war 1 named em devil dogs I believe if Im not mistaken,  and they were killin em at about 800 yards more or less with iron sighted .30-06 springfields in a few battles.  And the Ka-Bar knife my favorite blade despite its weak pin like tang,  which is the only thing that needs improvement I think idk... Hoorah.. Former USMC myself. The name "devil dogs"comes from The Battle of the Ardennes, WWI. The Marine first division went into the woods outnumbered by Germans when French and British troops had retreated outta those woods time and again. The German troops were overwhelmed at the marksmanship and the tenacity of the Marines. The Germans nicknamed the marines "Teufelhunden" (not sure how to spell that) or Devil Dogs.  I carry my k-bar every time i go into the woods. That knife has served me truly well both as a marine and as a civilian. can-opener, skinning knife, wood splitter, self defense, etc...etc...etc....  I wouldn't worry about the tang. i have seen k-bar's take serious abuse. run over by tanks and such. Various camp tools are handy when specialized for their intended purposes. If you have to go into the field with one tool, a good stout knife (bowie or k-bar or whatever else as long as it's good quality) is the way to go.

Must be my mistake then,  I've only seen with rarity some ka-bars that have broken on youtube  :D

here's a few pics of mine.
shot of the tang at the bottom, dime shown for size reference.

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knife out of sheath, some minor wear to the finish, but still in darn good shape considering what it's been through.

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in the sheath, love the eagle, globe, and anchor logo on it.

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Nice knife,  have the same model my self.

Hello

What do you think about Musso Bowie knife?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Nefarioso/Album2/threeknives.jpg

It is the biggest one down in the pic.

HurlinThom wrote on Dec 6^th, 2011 at 10:02pm:

Obie hasn't made a move toward gun control that I've seen. Both Clinton and Carter made stabs at it. I'd say that the religious right has more of an agenda toward limiting freedoms than the left. Just depends on which freedoms you're talking about.

+1

thabaill wrote on Jan 21^st, 2012 at 8:26am:

Hello What do you think about Musso Bowie knife? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Nefarioso/Album2/threeknives.jpg It is the biggest one down in the pic.

Well, some folks claim that's the knife Jim Bowie was carrying at the Alamo. It would be nice if it was. I need a little more proof than what has been provided so far. There are several other knives with documented proof of belonging to either Jim or his brother Rezin Bowie in various collections.

thabaill wrote on Jan 21^st, 2012 at 8:26am:

Hello What do you think about Musso Bowie knife?

Well, it´s a matter of taste of course, but since you asked, I think it´s an  ugly slab of sharpened metal.

I don't recall it ever being mentioned that Jim Bowie's knife had that piece of brass on it's spine. The hilt does match the original description.

Kuggur: I've got to agree that as far as ugly goes, a bowie knife is pretty ugly. If I had to choose an actually 'fine' knife I'd probably go for a puuko or some type of hunting/carving knife that's meant for delicate/more precise tasks than hacking people into pieces.  

The brass strip is supposed to catch an opponents blade. You see it alot on old bowies.

bigkahuna wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2012 at 8:26pm:

The brass strip is supposed to catch an opponents blade. You see it alot on old bowies.

Yep, but according to wikipedia (ghastly, I know) the original bowie did not have that strip. Only later version used it.

"Back (spine) perfectly straight in the first instance, but greatly rounded at the end on the edge side; the upper edge at the end, for a length of about two inches, is ground into the small segment of a circle and rendered sharp...The back itself gradually increases in weight of metal as it approaches the hilt, on which a small guard is placed. The Bowie knife, therefore, has a curved, keen point; is double-edged for the space of about two inches of its length, and when in use, falls with the weight of a bill hook."[10]

Most later versions of the Bowie knife had a blade of at least 8 inches (20 cm) in length, some reaching 12 inches (30 cm) or more, with a relatively broad blade that was an inch and a half to two inches wide (4 to 5 cm) and made of steel usually between 3⁄16 to 1⁄4 in (4.763 to 6.350 mm) thick. The back of the blade sometimes had a strip of soft metal (normally brass or copper) inlaid which some believe was intended to catch an opponent's blade while others hold it was intended to provide support and absorb shock to help prevent breaking of poor quality steel or poorly heat treated blades. Bowie knives often had an upper guard that bent forward at an angle (an S-guard) intended to catch an opponent's blade or provide protection to the owner's hand during parries and corps-a-corps.

bigkahuna wrote on Jan 21^st, 2012 at 12:33pm:

thabaill wrote on Jan 21st, 2012 at 8:26am: Hello What do you think about Musso Bowie knife? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Nefarioso/Album2/threeknives.jpg It is the biggest one down in the pic. Well, some folks claim that's the knife Jim Bowie was carrying at the Alamo. It would be nice if it was. I need a little more proof than what has been provided so far. There are several other knives with documented proof of belonging to either Jim or his brother Rezin Bowie in various collections.

There was an article in the Backwoodsman on Jim Bowie's Alamo "death bed" knife back in 2011(march/april issue). Pretty good article and a much better looking knife. 10 3/4in overall, straight antler handle and more of a spear point than most bowies today. Arrowhead Forge makes a very close replica. Their number is 605-938-4814, no website though to my knowledge.

Also, a great issue of The Backwoodsman they are like 6 bucks and you can buy it if you really want more info or you could just look around online.

This is supposed to be a real bowie knife.
http://www.antiquebowies.com/antiqueBowies/historic/perkinsShively/Shivelymadebowie.htm

Timann, that is probably very similar to what the first one looked like, it was suspposed to have been made from a file.

Jabames wrote on May 7^th, 2011 at 1:23am:

what good is a bowie knife?

Not as good as most other purpose made knives.
Mostly it's good for showing off unles the guy you're showing it to knows his knives.

I've made Bowies from time to time and they are a lot of work.
American style Bowies are much thicker and heavier than their English cousins, which make great steak knives.
Now if only the English could make a great steak.
That being said, There are few reasons to carry a massive blade in the wilderness when a smaller, work-oriented blade will find it's way into your hand sooner.
I suppose a Bowie-sized blade made from an old carpenter's saw would do nicely.
Hey, thanks for the idea for my next project; ultralight Bowies.

Never bring a Bowie to a rock fight.

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If we were taking about the versatility of a cheese knife or a putty knife, I could understand the position that the knife is a one trick pony. Clip point sheath knives have been used by frontiersmen and military men as general utility blades for far too long for me to think that way about a bowie knife, though. My 6" bowie (or almost-bowie depending on where you draw the line) gets plenty of use. It's short enough to not be totally unweildly for finer tasks, thick enough to not bend or roll with hard chopping, and light enough to be an acceptable alternative to a hatchet if I can't have both. The long straight blade is easy to sharpen and simple to use and the finger guard prevents my hand from slipping when I am doing fine tasks with the tip. A finger length ricasso between the blade of my bowie and the finger guard also lets me have fairly good dexterity with the tip of the knife. The swedge is good for skinning (and gutting, though I do prefer a smaller knife for that task). A 6" bowie knife is a perfect bridge between smaller, 2"-4" blades and the heavier, 10"-18" goloks and machetes IMHO.

I agree with Masi, the bowie (in the states at least) has been used too often for me to consider it useless, although that doesn't mean I do like the design (mostly because I don't do many heavy duty tasks). Heck, that's why as far as my knowledge goes, the bowie design is used for all US armed forces' utility, survival, and survival knives.

Bowie knife is really just a compromise betwen your double edge and the single edge so insted of maximizing the advantages and disavantages you kind of minimize all of them, like the Mercator projection of the earth or the tomahawk. Some guys like it others don't.

Bowie was looking for a weapon, after all.  Back then in the early-mid 1800s , firearms were not very reliable and slow to load as well.
Bowies and "Arkansas toothpick" blades remained a standard item for both soldiers and frontiersmen long after the civil war.

Arkansas Toothpick:

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There ya go.   Essentially, a large dagger.   Most of the historical ones you see are more slender and have a more-pointed tip.
Some good examples on th Google Images page:

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&q=arkansas+toothpick&gbv=2&aq=0sS&aqi=g-sS1&aql=&oq=arkanas+to&biw=1024&bih=644&sei=h9QhT4bPCZH9iQL97I3RBw

Hmmm, Arkansas Tooth picks?
A little research and we find that these were once called Linder daggers and were made in Solingen, Germany.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Linder+dagger&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-ContextMenu&rlz=1I7GGLL_enUS367&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=s-sjT5KtMsi7tweikqTKDg&ved=0CEwQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=845

Arkansas Tooth Picks are so called because them thar Hillbillys are steriotyped as having only one tooth.
Otherwise it would be a TEETH pick. ;)

Back to topic: Below is pictured a Taigoo style Bowie called a WildGoo. Photo stolen from the web many moons ago.

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Some interesting pics under "Linder dagger" on this Google Images page:

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=770&q=Linder+dagger&gbv=2&oq=Linder+dagger&aq=f&aqi=g-S1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1608l4261l0l4798l13l13l0l3l3l0l160l1286l2.8l10l0

Looks like many of these are of modern manufacture... Likely Linder is one of those Solingen firms that's been in business for a long time.  
Pretty standard dagger shapes.  Most of the "Arkansas Toothpick" designs I've seen in historical references tend to be longer and slenderer...Purpose built for stabbing.
I read one Civil War journalist's account of watching Confederate troops sitting around picking their teeth after eating with same... Sounds dangerous.

There were lots of imported knives running around the 1800s Americas... Many "Bowies" were made in England by Scheffield and other firms.    

ChuckRocks wrote on Jan 28^th, 2012 at 7:49am:

...steriotyped as having only one tooth.  Otherwise it would be a TEETH pick. ;)

In a similar vein, "The 'Tooth-brush' was invented in New Jersey..Invented anywhere else it would be a 'Teeth-brush'"
A non-PC bit of wisdom acquired in my travels.

"Linder Daggers" appear to be smaller than your average "Arkansaw Toothpick" . I think it is fairly safe to say that you can only make so many effective knife designs. These tend to be repeated over and over in different parts of the world because the design works.

Steven wrote on Jan 29^th, 2012 at 11:45am:

ChuckRocks wrote on Jan 28th, 2012 at 7:49am: ...steriotyped as having only one tooth.  Otherwise it would be a TEETH pick. ;) In a similar vein, "The 'Tooth-brush' was invented in New Jersey..Invented anywhere else it would be a 'Teeth-brush'" A non-PC bit of wisdom acquired in my travels.

I think this is an "insert your favorite state/region" joke. I've seen it about West (7 million inhabitants, 15 family names) Virginia.  

HurlinThom wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2012 at 12:52pm:

Steven wrote on Jan 29th, 2012 at 11:45am: ChuckRocks wrote on Jan 28th, 2012 at 7:49am: ...steriotyped as having only one tooth.  Otherwise it would be a TEETH pick. ;) In a similar vein, "The 'Tooth-brush' was invented in New Jersey..Invented anywhere else it would be a 'Teeth-brush'" A non-PC bit of wisdom acquired in my travels. I think this is an "insert your favorite state/region" joke. I've seen it about West (7 million inhabitants, 15 family names) Virginia.

15 family names?
Which is totally different from having a score of modified trebuchets all with the same EMI endings in their names.  ;)
Link: https://sites.google.com/site/trebsontheweb/galleries/wooden-trebs-emi-series