SKU: 33877047089

James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight (Birth of the Legend & the Bowie Knife)

Sale price$13.49 Regular price$14.99
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 11 - Jul 16

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight (Birth of the Legend & the Bowie Knife)WHAT THE EDITOR OF THE BLADE MAGAZINE THINKS The most asked question in the world of knives is a double edged one: What knife did James Bowie use in the Sandbar Fight and where is it today? James L. Batson provides the best answer yet in his new book. No one has researched Bowie and Bowie knives as exhaustively as Batson, and his book harvests the fruits of that research in Sherlock Holmes fashion, providing documents, dates and other data that

WHAT THE EDITOR OF THE BLADE MAGAZINE THINKS

“The most asked question in the world of knives is a double-edged one: What knife did James Bowie use in the Sandbar Fight and where is it today? James L. Batson provides the best answer yet in his new book.

No one has researched Bowie and Bowie knives as exhaustively as Batson, and his book harvests the fruits of that research in Sherlock Holmes fashion, providing documents, dates and other data that support his claim of the knife in question. While the assertion that the knife in question belonged to Bowie is not new, Batson’s step-by-step analysis of why he believes it was the knife Bowie used in the Sandbar Fight is.

Batson is an award-winning ABS master smith, past ABS chairman, leader of the annual Batson Bladesmithing Symposium and a mentor to scores of bladesmiths wordwide. Among other things, he not only knows how Bowie and other knives were made in Bowie’s time but of which materials, how they were tempered, how they were ground and the nature of their accouterment. Just as important he is familiar withth the top knifemakers of Bowie’s time, the ones who actually built Bowie knives of the type in question and where those makers lived and worked.

Batson takes all this information and forges it into an intriguing who-done-it that supplies the facts in a fashion that makes good old common sense. Along the way he provides much new
information about the Sandbar Fight from the viewpoints of those who were there or knew those who were there, other legendary Bowie knives with links to James and Rezin Bowie, and more.

Hats off to an inspirational bladesmithing leader who provides an engrossing explanation done in the scientific method that must be considered the best proof to date of the specific knife James
Bowie used in the Sandbar Fight, who made it, how and when.”

Steve Shackleford
Editor BLADE MAGAZINE

WHAT THE EDITOR OF KNIFE MAGAZINE THINKS ABOUT THE AUTHOR & THIS BOOK

“James Batson’s extensive and wide ranging contributions to blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and the ongoing study of history as it relates to knives are widely recognized. For decades he’s poured his endless energy into these passions, passing on his enthusiasm to a grateful audience at every opportunity. In this volume, Dr. Batson enhances his 1992 classic “James Bowie and the Sandbar Fight” with a second work containing further explorations into the history of the people, places and circumstances that led to that fateful day on a sandbar above Natchez — the day a man named Bowie wrote the first chapter of his legend with a knife that would come to bear his name. Also presented here is an extensive evaluation of the “Edwin Forrest” knife, from which he draws some intriguing conclusions.

The result is a book that is as entertaining as it is historically reliable, at once a leaping off point for future researchers and a book to be worn dog-eared by knife enthusiasts and history buffs alike.”

Mark D. Zalesky,
Editor-Publisher of KNIFE Magazine
and Bowie knife collector/historian

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 33877047089

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 2282 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
M
Verified Purchase
Matthew
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect! Read this for large size
Special Size Type: Standard, Size: Large, Color: (New) Rinse
Man, let me tell you when I say I've never been so nervous about an amazon order before. I've wanted one of these for a long time but the reviews had me a little shook. I'm 6' tall and 210lbs. I'm definitely not fat but I do have a bit of a beer belly, the rest of me is pretty lean and muscular. I measured my chest at 44" while wearing a light hoodie. The size chart said I should be a large and so that's what I ordered. It fits perfectly, I can honestly say an XL would probably be too big. The large is not too tight, not too loose. I have plenty of room in my shoulders, and I can wear a flannel shirt and hoodie under it and button it closed comfortably. The arms are the perfect length for me as well, falling just past the wrist. I read a few reviews about the quality of the denim, I got the rinse color (dark wash) and it feels plenty high quality to me. No issues that I can see with the pockets, buttons, or stitching anywhere. I did however get a blank red tag on the front pocket which concerned me, I looked that up and apparently Levi manufacturers 10% of their products with blank red tags instead of saying "Levi" and supposedly that makes them more valuable because of the rarity? Whatever, I don't care about that as long as it's not a knockoff. I plan to wear this for a long time so the resell value is of little importance to me anyways. Even if it was a knockoff, I'd probably keep it anyways because of how good it looks. Overall I'm pretty happy with this purchase and would recommend.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
big tiki
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
“This Jacket Changed My Life, My Posture, and Possibly My Destiny.”
Special Size Type: Standard, Size: X-Large, Color: Colusa/Stretch
“This Jacket Changed My Life, My Posture, and Possibly My Destiny.” I bought this Levi’s Men’s Trucker Jacket on Black Friday for 50% off, and honestly, I think the universe has been waiting for this moment. The second I slipped it on, I felt the air shift — like somewhere, a tumbleweed rolled across a Walmart parking lot in respect. This jacket didn’t just fit. It claimed me. Suddenly, I walked differently. Not better — just with more narrative significance. Like I was the mysterious side character in a Netflix show who only appears to give life-changing advice next to a jukebox. People look at me now like I’ve been to places. Seen things. Done questionable but noble acts on the open road. What This Jacket Made Me Believe About Myself: That I could fix a motorcycle using only pliers and emotional willpower That I should own sunglasses even indoors That I absolutely should lean against things while staring into the distance That I have opinions about blues music That someone, somewhere, owes me money My confidence skyrocketed. My responsibilities? Stayed exactly the same — but I now ignore them with swagger. The Black Friday Factor Getting it 50% off activated a new primal ego inside me. Every time someone compliments it, I immediately shout: “THANKS — GOT IT HALF OFF!” Even when they weren’t complimenting it. Even when they weren’t talking to me. Even when I was alone. Durability This thing could survive: A bar fight A mild tornado Being run over by a shopping cart stampede The emotional collapse of a man who just realized he peaked in high school It’s rugged. It’s iconic. It smells faintly of “I could do better, but I won’t.” Side Effects (documented): Strangers nod at me Kids think I know how to play guitar I feel obligated to say things like “Let’s ride” even when entering a minivan My reflection winked at me once Final Verdict This isn’t just a jacket. It’s a lifestyle upgrade. A fabric-based personality transplant. A denim prophecy fulfilled. Five stars. If Levi’s ever discontinues this jacket, I will chain myself to their headquarters and demand justice.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2025
D
Verified Purchase
David O. Hoagland
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 4
Vintage 60's cool, but sizing is a difficult decision
I can't believe I haven't owned one of these for the last 40 years or so. To put one on after all these years takes one right back to the questionable days of one's youth when you wore these bare chested underneath while tooling around on your Kawasaki 500 triple. Well it will take you back if you haven't let yourself go too far! I received both a large and a medium in black (love the free returns on clothing, I always order two sizes so I get the right fit). They are both made in Mexico and look very neat and well made, the denim is on the thin side but OK for warm weather. Nowhere is there any tag saying shrink to fit or shrinks two sizes. The tag says machine wash cold, tumble dry medium. The large is quite large on me (I'm 5'9" 168 lbs trim and athletic build, more often than not I wear large in T shirts and jackets), the sleeves are way too long and loose, body too long and loose. Would have to shrink drastically to fit me, I really doubt it would shrink anywhere near that much. This type jacket is just all wrong if it's too loose fitting, witness the BLACK color one in the model photos, just not too cool. The medium fits much much smaller but IMHO perfect for this style jacket, a classic fit like Steve McQueen or Robert Plant would have sported, high waist and tight shoulders with sleeves rolled back a little. If you look at the model in the 'HARRINGTON' color you have the idea. It will be totally bitchen on today's big black BMW oilhead. This is the youthful fit I was looking for but any shrinkage would be too much. I am conflicted because I would like to wash this jacket and break it in, put a little wear and tear on it. But I wouldn't dare dry it with heat. I might try washing it in cold water and then line dry or I may just dry clean it. I am tempted to go out and drag it up and down the gravel driveway and run it over with my truck a few times till it acquires some of the same attitude it inspires in me. All I need now is a Psychedelic soundtrack and I'm all set to relive the glory days, better than the first time around. A little research on the Levi's website reveals they have a regular fit and a slim fit in addition to this relaxed fit which is the only one available on Amazon. I find that this relaxed version works well in the medium size anyway, it seems to be relaxed only in the body, not so much in shoulders or sleeves.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2015
O
Verified Purchase
OPPY
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Fit True to Size
Special Size Type: Standard, Size: Medium, Color: (New) in the Sandbox
Good quality you'd expect from Levis. Fit on the very slightly snug size of true to size. Very nice jacket.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2026
T
Verified Purchase
tangent
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Large fits well, comfortable, though a bit more flex to it than expected
Special Size Type: Standard, Size: Large, Color: Colusa/Stretch
Very nice, though it is stretchier than expected. I purchased a large. The fit is good for me at 5'11" / 200lb, average build. My shoulders are a bit broader than most and the fit is maybe just a weeeeee bit tight, under the arm when reaching for something. The arm length and overall length are both great. This will be a mid-season jacket so I do not plan to wear a hoody or other bulky item under it. It would work, but I think a bit too snug for me. I reccomend washing it immeidately then taking a hot iron with steam to the pockets and collar which I feared were trying to start and curl up. They need to be trained early! I am more pleased than expected.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2025

recommand products