1113

Fine New Orleans Jim Bowie Knife with Sheath

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
Fine New Orleans Jim Bowie Knife with Sheath
This is a fine example of a "Sheffield Bowie" manufactured by the cutlery factories in Sheffield, England for export to the U.S. in the early 1850s. The famous version of the Bowie knife was designed by James Bowie and presented to Arkansas blacksmith James Black. Black produced the knife Bowie had ordered and at the same time created another based on Bowie's design but with a sharpened edge on the curved top edge of the blade. Bowie choose the modified version when Black offered him a choice. These knives with the sharpened top edge are today called the "Sheffield Bowie". The Bowie knife became famous after Jim Bowie used such a knife in the "Sandbar Fight" which was the famous 1827 duel between Bowie and several men including a Major Norris Wright. The fight took place on a sandbar in the Mississippi River across from Natchez, Mississippi. Bowie was stabbed, shot and half beaten to death, but managed to win the fight. This knife has a 8 3/4" clipped point blade with floral etching on one side with "New Orleans" in script in the center. One side of the blade is stamped "S - C - WRAGG / 25 / FURNACE HILL / SHEFFIELD" near the handguard. The handguard is thin brass and the handle is solid brass with relief decorations of a spread wing eagle and shield at the top, scroll patterns, 27 stars and floral designs. OAL: 13 1/2". The knife is complete with an original leather tooled sheath with a brass throat. Some of the patterns are painted different colors. The most accurate version of Bowie's death at the Alamo was that he died in his cot with his back against the wall using his pistol and famous knife.
BBL:
Stock:
Gauge:
Finish:
Grips:
Serial Number:
Condition: Very fine. The blade remains bright with some small patches of discoloration and some light spotting. The etching 100% intact and excellent. The handle has an aged patina. The sheath is about good. The tips shows some heavy wear, and splitting and the tip is missing causing the blade to protrude approximately 1".