June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Circa 1862. Spear point blade, markings no longer visible but knife was produced by a manufacturer in Sheffield, England. One piece stag handle with nickel silver guard, ferrule, and pommel cap. In very good condition for a knife that spent 100 years under salt water; blade heavily pitted and stag handle split in several places. small piece missing from ferrule, some concretion deposits, all parts now covered with a preservation treatment. With letter documenting provenance and photocopied page from the Leslie Bright book.
Ex. Bill Adams, Josh Phillips collections.
Publications: (on knives recovered from the Modern Greece)
“Blockade Runners and Bowie Knives” by W.R. Williamson, in American Blade, Jan-Feb 1981, pp.16-19, 42-44
This knife was recovered from the Blockade Runner Modern Greece which was sunk off the North Carolina coast near Fort Fisher on June 27, 1862. A century later, salvage efforts of the U.S. Navy led to the recovery of the Modern Greece’s stores, and 107 complete Bowie knives were found including this one.