FOUR-BLADED HORSE-ALLIGATOR FOLDING BOWIE KNIFE BY I*XL GEO. WOSTENHOLM, SHEFFIELD.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017

Circa 1850’s. Large clip point blade, marked "G. WOSTENHOLM & SON WASHINGTON WORKS SHEFFIELD", with the firm’s "I*XL" trademark on tang, smaller sheepfoot and pen blades also stamped with "I*XL" as is the corkscrew. Ivory handle scales with escutcheon on obverse. Unusual nickel silver crossguard with incised floral designs, coffin shaped nickel silver coffin-shaped pommel with horse-alligator motif. Attached nickel silver bail appears to be original to the knife. Knife is in excellent condition overall, the blades patina with a few sharpening scratches, the sheepfoot blade slightly tipped. Ex. Mike Worley collection. A highly unusual variation of the folding bowie knife with four folding blades, very rarely seen. Wostenholm was the most famous Sheffield-based knife manufacturer in the United States during the bowie knife era, due to the company’s strong focus on the American market.

Name

Value

Blade Length

6-1/4"

Overall Length

14-1/8" Open, 8-1/8" closed

Serial Number

NSN