June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Circa 1830's. 7” sharpened false edge ground mainly from one side, marked "SCHIVELY, 75 CHESNUT ST., PHILAD". One piece checkered ivory handle with nickel silver pommel, ferrule, pins, washers and S-guard. Leather sheath with incised decorations and nickel silver throat and tip. Blade with scattered salt and pepper pitting especially towards point, and some tiny nicks to edge. Guard slightly bent, a few checks and one tiny chip to handle. Sheath’s original leather surface heavily flaked.
Ex. Norm Flayderman, Bill Myers, Mike Worley collections.
Publications:
“The Antique Bowie Knife Book” by Adams, Voyles, Moss (1990), p.100-101
“Steel Canvas, The Art of American Arms” by R.L. Wilson (1995), p.202
“The Bowie Knife, Unsheathing an American Legend” by Norm Flayderman (2004), p.316
One of the most desirable Bowie knife styles, truly a classic among American Bowie knives. Henry Schively was one of the leading surgical instrument makers of his day and in the early 1830's Rezin Bowie himself sought Schively out and commissioned a knife which was subsequently presented to Jesse Perkins, and now resides in a Mississippi museum. Schively is thought to be among the cutlers referred to by Rezin as being responsible for “The improvement in [the Bowie knife’s] fabrication, and the state of perfection which it has since acquired...”, which led the pioneering researcher/writer W.R. Williamson to term this style of Schively the “Improved Pattern”. These early knives influenced the many that followed (including the USN’s Dahlgren Bowie-bayonet) and even Davy Crockett owned one.
The extreme rarity of examples is not reflected by the grouping available in this auction – in fact, until very recently no “Improved Pattern” Schively had ever been offered at public auction and in this sale a high percentage of the known examples will be sold. A rare opportunity indeed.