Vietnam Era Bowie Knives

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John6185

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I have three of these knives of those carried by those in the bush while in Vietnam. They're about 10" blade, very heavy. Bought these fairly reasonable but wish I'd have bought a couple when I was in Vietnam . 101st Airborne had them and can't remember the cost back then. I don't want to sell them, I'm reminded of Vietnam everything I look at one. With the relaxed laws now in Oklahoma I guess I could carry one-but I won't.
There is a story of a 2Lt in charge of a squad that had been out in the bush for quite some time and he had never of these knives and he'd sharpen the Bowie knife and the troops would laugh behind his back and talk about how he thought he was John Wayne or a similar figure. Well, as the story goes, they were fighting some Vietnam Cong (Charlies) and the 2Lt run out of ammo and was reloading and three Vietnam Cong had him and we're trying to drag him in the jungle and he whipped out that Bowie that everyone was making fun of and whacked away on the enemy and they turned the Lt loose and ran screaming and bleeding. The guys that made fun of the Lt stopped their talk and they began to carry these Bowie knives. Supposedly a true story. 15049933053301358691174.jpg
 
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D. Hargrove

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Had a reunion a few years ago at the 101st when I was still active duty, had an oldtimer ask me if we still carried Bowies in combat (responded in the negative). I thought he had lost it, now I see he hadn't. Cool story, thanks.

th
 

saddlebum

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