Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie Review

November 22, 2024

About Auxiliary Manufacturing

Mike Jarvis of Auxiliary Manufacturing has been making fixed blade knives full time since he left his career in the restaurant industry in 2016. He prides himself on unique designs and an unmistakable aesthetic. There is much more to an Auxiliary Manufacturing knife than simply good looks. The Pocket Bowie and all his other knives are designed for practical use. While most of his knives fall into the EDC fixed blade category, there is a distinct tactical knife flare to each of his designs. This unique combination allows users to have a knife that can handle all their day-to-day tasks, while also serving as a viable self defense tool in the right hands.

With stunning designs and practical applications, it comes as no surprise that Auxiliary Manufacturing won Custom Tactical Knife of the Year at 2022 Blade Show.

Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie Design

At first look, the unique design of the Pocket Bowie stands out from just about every other small EDC fixed blade design out there. The coffin shaped handle and clip point blade is reminiscent of the classic American Bowie fighting knife. Unlike the classic American Bowie, the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie lives up to its namesake for being able to easily carry in your pocket thanks to its small profile and sleek kydex sheath.

Above: Details of the Pocket Bowie handle scales.

Handle Design and Control

The coffin shaped handle, combined with the textured G10 makes for an attractive package. The handle fills the hand well allowing for a comfortable three to four finger grip. The swell on the bottom of the handle locks into the meat of your palm, allowing for excellent control during use. The control over the blade is further enhanced with a slightly upswept thumb-rest on the spine of the blade.

When held in a reverse grip, the handle shape allows for a full four finger grip and the with a wide flat surface for your thumb on the butt of the handle. This allows for a secure grip and good control when using the Pocket Bowie in tactical knife applications.

The textured finish of the G10 may appear random, but each valley is created with the purpose of providing added grip, especially when wet. This valley pattern was initially used on one of Auxiliary Manufacturing’s discontinued knives called the Poon and has been a staple of the line up for over 8 years.

The scales are available in a variety of color options like the Green and Orange pictured, but they are also offered in subdued black G10 if you want something less flashy.

Note of the Wrapped Handle Pocket Bowie

While I do not own the wrapped variety, I did have the opportunity to handle them. While the wrap is not as hand-filling as the G10 they still have an excellent grip. The Flattened paracord is wrapped around genuine ray skin. The entire handle is treated with a marine grade epoxy making it just as solid and durable as the G10 counterparts. While the differences are mainly aesthetic, the wrapped variety is slightly slimmer and a bit nimbler in hand.

Above: The clip point tip and recurve blade work well in both practical and tactical applications.

Blade Design

Similar to the classic American Bowie, the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie features a clip point blade. The primary purpose of a clip point is to provide a fine piercing tip that is essential for tactical knife and hunting applications. The fine point of the clip point blade also is an excellent choice when doing detailed cuts making it practical on an EDC fixed blade.

The major drawback of a clip point is that the fine tip can be prone to accidental breakage. Auxiliary Manufacturing’s use of AEB-L steel reduces the risk, due to its elevated levels of toughness. Mike also incorporates a swedge that runs down the blade that not only looks good but adds a bit more material behind the tip to help protect it.

The Blade edge has a modified recurve that provides an excellent slicing belly that is ideal for any EDC fixed blade. The back of the blade has a small area that has a slight indent that can be used for wood processing similar to the rear of a tracker style blade.

Above: The Pocket Bowie carried in a pants pocket.

Carry System

The Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie ships with a custom made Kydex sheath and removable pocket clip. The sheath is purpose designed to allow the provided clip to be mounted in different ways to accommodate various carry styles. The ability to quickly switch the clip direction makes this an ideal carry choice for the often-overlooked left-handed population.

The Sheath is also designed to accept multiple clip options, so if the provided clip isn’t your style, you can easily swap it out for something else. I personally prefer something with a bit more retention, so I swapped the original clip for an Ulti-Clip.

The Sheath fits very well in the pocket, with enough handle purchase to be able to quickly draw the blade when needed. This is important when we look at a tactical knife as the last thing any wants to do is fumble to access a knife in a high stress situation. As an EDC fixed blade, it carries comfortably without monopolizing your entire pocket.

While it does carry well in the pocket, the large amount of handle sticking out is not ideal for concealment. If concealed carry is a priority the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie sheath allows for multiple carry options. Out of the box the pocket bowie can be carried IWB. I also tested it with a soft loop for vertical belt carry and found it easy to conceal under an untucked button-down shirt and longer T-shirt.

Above: Attention to detail makes the Pocket Bowie stand out.

Build Quality

If one thing about the build quality stands out about the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie, it is the incredible attention to detail. While Mike no longer cuts the blanks in his shop, all the grinding work is 100% done by hand. Every detail of the blade grind is well thought out and well executed. The blade grind is even, the detailed lines of the swedge are excellent, and anywhere your fingers are supposed to rest are chamfered for comfort. The Handle texturing is also done by hand, with the same diligence.

Overall, the purpose driven design, excellent material choices, and incredible attention to detail ensure the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie comes out of the box looking as good as it functions!

Pocket Bowie Spec Sheet

Overall Length: 6.25 inches
Blade Length: 3 inches
Weight: G10 Model 4.66 oz
Blade Steel: AEB-L
Other Steel Options: Occasional drops in specialty steels including Damascus.
Blade Shape: Clip Point with a modified recurve
Handle Material: Textured G10 or Ray Skin/Nylon Wrap
Sheath: Custom made Kydex, with pocket clip
Price: $239-449 depending on configuration
Made In: Reno, Nevada

Above: The Pocket Bowie’s recurve blade makes it an ideal addition to your EDC lineup. It is pictured here with a Superesse Filter Bandana, Bastion Blot Action Pen, PNWBUSHCRAFT EDC travel Tray, and Leatherman Sidekick.

Practical Applications of the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie

As an EDC Fixed Blade, the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie checks all the boxes. The blade is small enough where it does not feel overwhelming when performing daily tasks. Easily breaking down boxes, opening packages, and cutting the occasional piece of fruit or meat.

The blade is easy to manipulate and control, reducing the risk of injury and miscuts during more detailed work. The piercing clip point is great when you must puncture tougher packaging materials.

Many of my daily tasks involve some kind of work in the woods. The Pocket Bowie wouldn’t be my first choice as a dedicated bushcraft knife. This is not a knock at the knife as Mike did not design the Pocket Bowie for that application. That being said, The Pocket Bowie still performs admirably during basic plant material processing, minor carving tasks, and making kindling.

While I did not process any game with it, I did use the Pocket Bowie to take apart a whole chicken. The clip point provided easy access to areas close to the bone, and the recurve blade did a superb job slicing meat. In a pinch the Pocket Bowie would be more than capable of processing small game animals.

Above: The Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie is a great addition to any defensive kit. It is pictured here with an ASP Spectrum UV Flash Light, and ASP Defender Sport Pepper Spray.

Tactical Applications of the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie

Disclaimer:

I recommend that if you intend on using a knife as a tactical or defensive tool to get formal training. Without the proper training there is a higher likelihood of the knife being used against you.

Any trained person will give you two important pieces of advice.

When using a knife in a combative situation expect to be cut by your own knife!
The best way to survive a knife fight is to not be in a knife fight!

While it may be too small to be a dedicated fight knife, the Auxiliary Manufacturing Pocket Bowie offers significant benefits as a tactical knife. First, it is small enough to be easily and discreetly carried. Second, many municipalities have laws restricting larger knives.

Beyond it’s compact size the Pocket Bowie packs some valuable features. The clip point, recurve blade, and solid grip make the Pocket Bowie a great option for a last-ditch defensive tool. In a combative situation maintaining control of your knife is vital. A solid grip reduces the chance of an attacker getting your knife. The clip points ability to pierce thicker materials provides great value. An assailant, just like any of us will likely dress for the season. In colder months attacker may have coats or sweatshirts on making slicing maneuvers less effective.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a practical knife with a side of tactical the Pocket Bowie is a great option. It’s small size, ergonomics, and practical blade shape make it a highly functional EDC fixed blade. The clip point blade, solid grip, and carry options allow the Pocket Bowie to have significant Tactical knife applications.

The Pocket Bowie is 100% made in the USA. Each knife is ground, assembled, and finished by Mike with incredible attention to detail and workmanship. The Pocket Bowie is a well designed and made small knife, but there are some larger options coming! For a larger bowie style be on the look out for the upcoming Pocket Bowie XL release. The XL will feature a 4-inch blade and an 8.5 inch overall length. The increased size greatly enhancing its outdoor, hunting, and tactical applications.

Sources

Above: The new line up of coffin handle knives. Photo by Swedge Media

More Coffin Handle Knives

The immense popularity of the Pocket Bowie has led Mike to expanding the line up with different blade shapes. While a bowie style blade is excellent, different users have different needs. The brand-new line up features 4 additional blade styles. These include an American Style Tanto, a Wharncliffe with a reinforced tip, a leaf shaped blade, and a spearpoint. These new blade shapes bring new levels of functionality to the lineup, while maintaining the excellent ergonomics of the original. They are currently available for purchase in black G10 or black paracord wrapped handles.