NATCHEZ &045; The second Jim Bowie Knife Show at the Natchez Community Center turned out be an even bigger success than co-hosts Mike Worley and Logan Sewell expected.

Earlier in the week, Worley said he expected around 40 collectors to be at this year’s event &045; up from 28 last year &045; but 51 showed up Saturday at the Natchez Community Center from places as far flung as California, New York and even England.

But there were locals as well. Jack Shaffer of Baton Rouge, who lives in Natchez part-time,

has been collecting knives for 40 years.

&uot;I’m stunned this many people are here,&uot; Shaffer said. &uot;It’s just something I was gravitated to.&uot;

Among the knives Shaffer had were those that were found in the Natchez area, including unmarked American and unmarked Sheffield knives as well as the Natchez Widow Maker.

&uot;This is rare stuff,&uot; Shaffer said of the New Orleans Push Daggers he had on display.

&uot;These were gamblers’ weapons. These were used after firearms and Bowie knives were outlawed here in the mid-1840s. There are more of these here than there are at The Smithsonian. The Smithsonian has only two. These were 1840 to mid-1860s.&uot;

He also mentioned Jim Bowie’s brother, Rezin Bowie, and how he played a role in the Sandbar Fight Jim was involved in back on Sept. 19, 1827.

&uot;Rezin’s the one who made the knife, but no one knows about it,&uot; Shaffer said. &uot;He’s buried in Port Gibson. Jim Bowie was a myth. His ashes were buried way over in west Texas. We are just a mile and a half from where the fight took place.&uot;

Among the items Sewell had was a Searles & F/Patrick knife, which is a rare knife and Rezin Bowie’s Rifle.

&uot;This is a local knife,&uot; said Bill Adams of Roberta, Ga., who’s been collecting knives for nearly 40 years himself. &uot;Rezin Bowie wound up in the Legislature. He was a good citizen.&uot;

Most of the knives at the buy-sell-trade show were Sheffield knives that were made in England.

The knives themselves aren’t the only attraction of collecting, Adams said &045; there’s also the history behind each piece.

&uot;What we’re all interested in is little pieces of history,&uot; Adams said. &uot;The Bowie is uniquely an American phenomenon. Quite literally, it was born in Natchez.&uot;

Of all the years he’s been a knife collector, Adams said this was the best gun and knife show he’s ever been to.

&uot;I think it’s absolutely spectacular,&uot; Adams said. &uot;Mike’s done a spectacular job. In one year this is a must-do if you’re a Bowie knife collector.&uot;