Rezin gave the Searles knife (named after Daniel Searles) as presentation gifts. It makes sense then that this might be close to the knife Jim Bowie used at the famous Sandbar duel.
Rezin's more famous brother Jim was made famous due to his use of a large knife to kill one of his attackers at the Sandbar duel. Jim was not actually in the duel but was acting as a second for his friend. The following account is an excerpt from a longer article appearing on the "Bowie Knife Fights, Fighters and Fighting Techniques":
About this time Cuny and Bowie had come on to the field in violation of the agreement and as the principals were walking out, Cuny called to Crain that then and there was a good time to settle their little difference, at the same time drawing a pistol. Crain turned and fired at Bowie who was with Cuny. Bowie was struck in the hip, Crain in the fleshy part of the arm. Dr. Cuny tried to prevent his brother from going into the fight and for a time forceably held him, but finally freeing himself he started back at Crain who now fired his remaining pistol, mortally wounding General Cuny. Bowie had not been disabled and drawing his knife advanced upon Crain. When Bowie was within reach of Crain, Crain struck Bowie over the head with his pistol used as a club. As Crain retreated, his friend Norris Wright came upon the scene and attacked Bowie with a sword cane. Bowie was already wounded and bleeding. He attempted to ward off the sword cane, but failed. It struck him in the breast striking the bone and breaking off. Wright was near enough for Bowie to reach him with one of his hands, and gripping him like a vice he stabbed him to death with his knife.
Sandbar Duel
The knife used in the fight has been identified in other accounts as a large hunting knife. Some speculate it was a type of large Spanish hunting knife. Others indicate it was a knife made by a man named Snowden at the request of Bowie. Regardless, the knife was given to Jim Bowie by his brother Rezin after Jim was shot in another fight. Jim Bowie was armed in that fight with a pistol which misfired allowing his assailant to shoot him. Despite being shot, the account goes that Bowie would have killed the shooter with his bare hands. Rezin gave Jim a large knife after this incident and quipped "It won't snap", meaning it won't misfire. I like the Searles as it is the only knife that we know for sure was owned by a Bowie. I suspect even if it isn't the same design as the knife Jim Bowie used, its design reflects its characteristics.
The first thing I notice is the Searles bowie is a very ornate design. It looks more like a presentation design than a fighting knife but therein lies an enigma. As soon as you pick up the knife, you notice is forward balance. It wants to slash and when you slash with it, the forward balance adds a lot of power to the slash. The gapping wound a powerful slash with the Searles bowie would be on par with the wounds sustained by Bowies victim at the Sandbar.
The next thing I notice is the blade is not clipped with a sharpened backside as are other bowie knives. There has been much made of the lethality and quickness of a "back-cut" with a bowie knife. A true back-cut is a nasty, lightning quick move but I think this came long after Jim Bowie had moved into legend. Hunting knives aren't sharpened on both sides as it would potentially tear pelts or hides too much damaging high profitable sales.
I am unconvinced Jim Bowie did not use a back-cut. Back-cuts come from saber fighting and are a way to slash downwards without leaving yourself exposed. I've not read where Bowie ever used a saber so using a back-cut would not have been instinctive for him. Rather, he probably just used the obvious power of the big blade to slash and stab. One blow from this blade and an assailant would be either killed or at least incapacitated.
The Rezin bowie has made me rethink some of the modern fighting knives I've trained with. Long, narrow blades really don't inflict the same level of deep wounds as the Rezin. The blades are made thin and short which are easy to carry and conceal but they lack the power of the heavier Rezin. It is the same reason why kukris are so much deadlier than thinner machetes. A large, think blade cleaves as it goes through flesh and muscle. It can severe or shatter bones.
Modern blades prefer subdued finishes for stealth. I used to agree with that but I've of late realized that shiny blade has an advantage as well. In a fight, the flash of the blade with cause the eye to follow it. If you know how to use angles of attack, the shiny finish can be much more of an advantage than it may appear. Unless you are on Seal Team Six and sneaking up on a sentry at night, a high polished finish may not be as problematic as you think.
If you are into large blades, especially bowies, you will want to add this knife to your collection.
