Dave,
Interesting "story"..."BUT"...(There goes that word again)...it doesn't "match" the history of this design for the period you are talking about.
Bo saw the movie, "The Iron Mistress" in 1952 and "until" that point had "never made" a Bowie of this size or weight. (Gaddis). In late 1952 to early 1953 Bill Platts and Bo worked together from a 5x7 inch photo, enlarged from a frame of film in the Iron Mistress and came up with the #12, HEAVY (Or Smithsonian Bowie) as it is known today.
Hope this helps, Capt. Chris