JAMES BLACK BOWIE HERITAGE FESTIVAL
HISTORIC WASHINGTON
ARKANSAS
About the Festival
A weekend where history, steel, and legends come together.
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of handmade knives, live forging, and the legendary bladesmith James Black. Set in Historic Washington, Arkansas, the festival brings together knifemakers, collectors, historians, families, and outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend of competitions, demonstrations, music, food, crafts, and living history.
Live Forging
Watch master bladesmiths shape steel in real time.
Cutting Knife Competitions
Cutting and forging contests that showcase top talent
Family-Friendly Fun
Music, food, crafts, tours, and activities for all ages.
FEATURED GUESTS
Each year, the festival brings in respected knifemakers, historians, and demonstrators who share their knowledge, stories, and skills with attendees.
Ricardo Vilar
Master Bladesmith
Lin Rhea
Master Bladesmith
James Cook
Master Bladesmith
Why this Historical Festival Matters
The town where the Bowie legend lives on.
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival was created to celebrate American history, craftsmanship, and the legacy of the Bowie knife through live demonstrations, competitions, education, and community gathering. Rooted in frontier traditions, the festival brings history to life by honoring the skills, stories, and ingenuity that shaped early America.
Held in Historic Washington, Arkansas, which is the place where Bladesmith James Black lived and worked in the 1800s, the festival draws focuses on its true purpose: preserving the legacy of James Black, showcasing handmade knives, and passing traditional craftsmanship on to future generations through hands-on experiences, demonstrations, and fun historical events.
THE TIMELINE
1820
1830
1830s
1900s
TODAY
James Black Arrives in Washington
James Black settles in Washington, AR, becoming a master blacksmith and bladesmith in the region.
The Bowie Knife Is Created
Black forged the original Bowie knife design, later carried by Jim Bowie.
bowie Knife Becomes a Frontier Icon
Word spreads across the Southwest Trail. The knife becomes famous for its use at the “Sandbar Fight” and becomes the blade of the American frontier.
Washington Remains a Key Frontier Hub
A major stop along the Southwest Trail, with merchants, travelers, and craftspeople shaping life in the region.
The Legacy Continues
Historic Washington State Park preserves the buildings, and history. The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival celebrates the town’s role in American blade culture.
THE LEGACY OF JAMES BLACK & THE BOWIE KNIFE
James Black & the Bowie Knife
James Black was a skilled blacksmith and bladesmith known for his craftsmanship and unique heat-treating methods. He is widely credited with crafting the famous Bowie knife for frontiersman Jim Bowie, a blade that became legendary for its strength and utility.
Whether through myth or documented history, the Bowie knife has become a symbol of frontier toughness and American ingenuity – and the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival exists to honor that legacy and the bladesmiths who carry it forward today.
2025 Collaborative Knife Auction
This is the 4th annual James Black Bowie Heritage Festival Collaboration Masterpiece Bowie Knife:
Blade
The blade is made from Damascus steel, combining 1080 Hi-carbon steel and 15N20 high nickel alloy steel. It features a historical iron core from a wagon trace found in Washington, AR, connecting it to the area's original name, Five Trail Hill. The Damascus pattern includes flame motifs reminiscent of James Black's Forge.
Fittings & Handle
The engraved fittings were forged from a wagon tire rim found along the historic Butterfield Overland Mail route in Oklahoma. The coffin-shaped handle is carved from a 305-year-old walrus ivory fossil from Alaska, a design that pays homage to James Black's famous Bowie Knife #1.
James Black School of Bladesmithing
Learn to Forge!
Taught by master bladesmiths through UA Hope-Texarkana.
Want to do more than just watch? The James Black School of Bladesmithing at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana offers hands-on classes where students learn to forge, grind, heat treat, and finish their own blades under expert instruction.
Whether you’re a beginner picking up a hammer for the first time or a maker looking to sharpen your skills, these courses give you real shop time, real feedback, and a deeper appreciation for the craft.
Vendors & Exhibitors
Some of our vendors for this festival:
Some of the talented vendors and exhibitors who make the James Black Bowie Heritage Festival a unique experience. From handmade knives and tools to crafts, art, and specialty goods, the vendor area gives visitors the chance to meet makers, explore quality work, and support craftsmanship.
Interested in participating? Explore the vendor list or apply to become a vendor for this year’s festival.
DONATE TODAY!
Support the Festival
The James Black Bowie Heritage Festival is made possible through the support of our community. Donations help fund live demonstrations, educational programs, competitions, and family-friendly activities while preserving the legacy of American craftsmanship and history. Your support helps keep this tradition alive for future generations.
Thank You to our Sponsors!
Our sponsors play a vital role in keeping this festival growing and accessible to the public. Their support helps us provide educational programs, live demonstrations, and family-friendly activities in Historic Washington.
Want to participate?
Sign up here:
PREMIUM TIER
SILVER TIER
BRONZE TIER
