Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Case XX Bowie Knife: I Had No Idea

I bought this some years back, but didn't think it was anything other than a modern Case rendition of a Bowie knife. I had no idea that it was actually the same model Case (XX) Bowie knife, still made by them, that was purchased by and issued to the US Marines in the Pacific Theater during WWII under the designation Bowie Knife V-44. Just found that out, and thought it was pretty cool. I now treasure it a little more.





This one is an original US Military Issue Case XX V-44 from WWII

Yup, had an original when I was a kid. used the hell out of it and ended up losing it along the way.

Wish I still had it, I know a kid I'd send it to!

Cool

Very cool.

I didn’t realize that Case made anything like that. When I think Case I think pocket knives but I’m not familiar with the Case history. I have a few newish Case pocket knives. Fit and finish are nice on all of them for the price point. The ones with carbon blades are great the stainless blade models not so much.

I had know idea that Case made Bowie knives. Is that the original sheath?

Being from Michigan I’ve always had a thing for Marbles. They made quite a few WWII knives also despite not being what you think of when thinking fighting knives.

That's the sheath that came with it.

When my cousin and I were kids, we walked to the nearby Army Surplus store, and while there he bought a Case Bowie knife, but it was called the Case Kodiak, and didn't look like this one. Nice knife. Had stag handles.

We were only like 11 or 12, so it's amazing the store clerk sold it to him. My mother immediately confiscated it when we got home, LOL.

In fact, the US Air Force Survival knife was originally designed and made by Marbles for the Air Force. Marbles sold it in civilian form under the name "Ideal." Other companies were licensed also to make it for the Air Force, like Camillus.

This is it in civilian (Ideal) form:



Here it is in Air Force form:

It was a different time for sure. My best friend’s dad would give us a note granting permission for us to buy him cigarettes and enough extra money for pops for us. We rode our bikes up to the store and never had an issue😂

The old Army Surplus store selling everything from army jackets to t-shirts with slogans to ALICE packs were a lot of fun.

I've got an Air Force Survival knife that I totally changed the edge angle on using stones. Like a razor, now. I gave it something between a convex and a Scandi grind. I basically eliminated the tiny secondary grind at the edge.

I bet the Case Bowie isn't cheap either.

Looks quality made.

The convex profile is my favorite hunting blade grind. Scandi for more of a survivalist edge harder use knife.

Quality knives have really appreciated in value. I’m always on the scope for old knives at yard sales. Some random grimy folder in a toldbox, ya never know.

So, what do you use it for?

I had a very good friend who served on SEAL Team One in Vietnam. He told me that he had been offered a very large amount by a collector for the Gerber Fighting knife he carried in Vietnam. He had the provenance to go along with it, so that made it more valuable than most knives.

I asked him if he sold it to the collector? He said, "No, I was kinda nostalgic about that knife." He still had it.

FWIW.

L.W.

I got a Bowie knife sum where been lost for yrs found it and lost it again🤔

I'm in this camp....

Oh, I chop trees down with it. Can't you tell??

Yep, a real, certified, story to go along with a classic knife definitely increases its value to collectors.

My using knife is a Gerber lockblade that I've had on me every day since about 1980.

I wouldn't call the Case Kodiak a bowie. It's a really cool knife though.

Sure it is? What would you call it?