Actually, the ring guard bowie was a popular style in california around the 1850's or so. Michael Price, the great California knifemaker made that type of guard, and I imagine others did also. The only major difference being that the California Bowie had a large spear point blade with a sharpened swedge. Not to say that someone didn't also make that style guard on a clip point bowie; bowie's were made in every size, shape and form you could think of.