I USE THE TERM BOWIE BASED ON THE GENERAL BLADE SHAPE AND SIZE OF THIS EXAMPLE. IT APPEARS TO BE A FOREIGN BLADE SHAPE ADOPTED IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE FOR A HUNTING /FIGHTING KNIFE. THOUGH THIS FORM OF KNIFE (SIZE AND BLADE SHAPE) LIKELY WAS AROUND LONG BEFORE MR BOWIE AND HIS SUBSEQUENT LEGEND IT BECAME THE NAME FOR THEM.
IT IS LIKELY THE FIRST STEEL THAT CAME TO THE PHILIPPINES WAS FROM OTHER PLACES, CHINA, MALAYSIA, ECT. SO WHO IS TO SAY WHAT FORMS ARE PURELY PHILIPPINE WITH NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. A AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE MAY HAVE A SIMULAR SHAPE TO THIS EXAMPLE BUT WOULD NOT HAVE THE FLAT SIDE TO THE BLADE HENCE PHILIPPINE BOWIE. BUT IN THE PHILIPPINES IT MIGHT BE CALLED MOST ANYTHING PERHAPS I WILL MAKE UP A NAME "GRABCRABY"
