Paladin
Press has just released Col. Dwight
McLemore's book Bowie
& Big Knife Fighting, and so we
wanted to update and expand our previous review of this great
resource.
As one would expect from a meticulous researcher
like Col. McLemore, there is a lot of good historical research and
information presented on the knife its self and the connections
between the fighting styles seen in America and the older European
fighting styles. What's nice is the way he puts the history together
and then summarizes each chapter with his own thoughts on the
subject.
At its core, though, this is not history book but definitely a
"working book" and was designed as such. This is something that you
can go through and learn some real skills with; even a training
schedule is listed! Want to understand the backcut? Here it is -
clearly illustrated both from a conventional "facing you" view and
from a "first person" perspective as well. Want to know more about
the brass-strip seen on the spine of old Bowies? Got that too!
The artwork is great, and conveys the ideas and feeling of motion in
the techniques. Dwight spent a *lot* of hours doing all the
illustrations himself, but he felt it would make for a better
understanding and I think he was right on there! The illustrations
remind me of the old fencing manuals from the 19th Century. A fact
few know about the Colonel is that this "Old Cold Warrior" who at one
time led tanks in Korea and Germany and prepared for WWIII went and
got a degree in Art History, and his talent for capturing human
motion is quite evident. He told me one time that one of his leading
inspirations in artwork was always Albricht Durrer, and I have to say
it shows. Coincidentally, Durrer was a fighting master as well...
Don't know what else to say, other than "get a copy" and enjoy!
I am making this introductory statement, just to clear the air so that everyone will understand that the material we are about to cover in this text cannot be historically documented as authentic Bowie Knife Techniques. No, Jim Bowie did not develop these techniques! The fact is, there is really no hard evidence that the "Big Jim" ever fought another knife fight after the historic Sandbar duel. By the same token, there is no evidence to say that all the knife fighting stories that sprang up in literature after Bowie’s death at the Alamo are not based on truth and maybe... ...just maybe, Bowie actually participated.
The study of the Bowie Knife has
been, for me, a journey that covered fighting techniques back through
time and cultures. When I read the newspaper accounts of the 1800s I
found Spaniards fighting Frenchmen, Frenchmen fighting English, and
all being credited with using Bowie knives. Any knife design was a
termed a ‘Bowie’ and the method of fighting was the
‘Bowie System’ regardless of the country of origin. This is
the Paradox of the Bowie Knife. Although mythical from the aspect of
them being ascribed to James Bowie, the use of the big knife has been
with us from the gladiatorial arenas of Rome to the Dueling Oaks of
New Orleans.
So dear reader what you will find in this text is a group of assorted
techniques that have been used consistently throughout history
regardless of culture or fighting style. They represent the common
knife fighting fundamentals that flowed into the vast cultural
'melting pot' that we call America. It is also a notebook of my
personal thoughts and comments on some of the interesting information
I stumbled across in my journey. This is my notebook, nothing more,
nothing less, it is a compilation of thoughts and ideas that were
passed on to me by some good knife players. I ask for no agreements
on my observations and conclusions, only the sincere hope that you
enjoy working with the Bowie Knife and its paradoxes as much as I
do.
Dwight McLemore
5 June 2000
I just finished this book and it was one of the more enjoyable afternoons I've spent in some time. This is indeed a MUST for anyone interested in large knives of any type. Dwight is an excellent writer and sketch artist, and the overall package is tremendous. I'll give it the top compliment I can give, and one I RARELY give out: It made me jealous that I hadn't done it myself.
Jerry Van Cook