December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Circa 1861-1865. 9" blade, 13 - 3/8" overall. Eaglehead bowie knife, unsigned but unmistakably by swordmaker Christopher Roby of West Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Clip point blade with relief grind is etched on obverse with large U.S. on ricasso, and on the blade's face with a panoply of arms with stars and stripes shield, a cornucopia and foliage; the reverse is etched with a eagle atop a shield surrounded by foliage. The ornate iron guard is also etched on both sides, continuing the motif. Turned walnut handle with brass ferrule surmounted by Roby's distinctively cast eaglehead. No sheath. Blade with light sharpening and several fine dents in the edge, not affecting the etch. Excellent plus overall. Superb example of well known Yankee Civil War eaglehead bowie knife, rare with double etching. Pictured in "Show and Tell", Antique Bowie Journal, 2018 No. 2. pp.4-5