The Alamo Jim Bowie Knife – mahogany, stainless steel, brass – TM 1960-2009 MGM. One name forever tied to the Battle of the Alamo is James Bowie. While not yet as famous as “Crockett” at the time, Bowie had already earned a reputation in certain circles. His death on March 6, 1836, secured his place in history as one of Texas’ most fascinating figures. Like many early Americans, the Bowies were drawn to the western frontier. James’ parents lived in Tennessee before moving to Kentucky, where he was born in 1796. In 1800, the family crossed the Mississippi River into Missouri, settling in Spanish Louisiana. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, they moved again to southeastern Louisiana, which still held a frontier feel. Striking out on his own, James sought success through land and slave speculation, amassing thousands of acres in Louisiana and Arkansas Territory. The risky business brought both fortune and enemies, and in 1826 he was shot and wounded by a rival in an Alexandria hotel — a turning point in his life. James was close to his older brother, Rezin, who, concerned for his safety, gave him a large butcher knife. Known as the “Bowie Knife,” it gained fame the next year after the Sand Bar Fight near Natchez, where James, despite being shot twice and stabbed several times, fended off his attackers. The fight turned both the man and the knife into legends, sparking widespread demand for the weapon.