June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Circa 1862 - late 1800's. Spear point blade, single edged, marked "COLLINS & CO. HARTFORD" (Collins “Sword Stamp”). Corrugated stacked leather handle with brass fittings and brass ball-end guard. Leather sheath with flap for suspension from belt and brass tip. All in excellent antique condition, not cleaned or polished. Collins’ so-called Hospital Corps Machete was designed and produced for a proposed hospital and ambulance corps during the Civil War that was not created until 1887, at which time a knife very similar to this one was produced by Springfield Armory. These knives were believed to have been sold as sidearms to Civil War soldiers and to state militia units, particularly those in New York state. For more information, see D.E. Henry’s book “Collins Machetes and Bowies 1845-1965” (1995), p.153-156.