GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
IVORY - EXTREMELY RARE AND UNIQUE REES CINCINNATI MADE BOWIE KNIFE.The first recorded advertising offering Bowie knives for sale was by Marks & Rees of Cincinnati, Ohio who were known surgical instrument makers. In the October 21, 1835 edition of the Daily Gazette, Marks & Rees offered "... all kinds of Bowie knives on hand, of their own manufacture, finished in a superior style". Their claim of "superior quality" was not overstated, as is seen in the few examples of their work. The two known examples of Marks & Rees Bowie knives are typical wood handled coffin grips much like the attributed James Black or the unique specimen of a silver mounted coffin hilt also in this sale. Sheldon Kellogg's 1834-1835 journal (Ohio Historical Society) has entry that reads "...returned with a formidable knife in his hand, saying, "there is something that won't miss fire --no flash in the pan about that". He pulled the knife from its sheath and flourishing it about before the admiring eyes of both black and white, said "there, that knife was made expressly for me by Resin Bowie, and you'll find that its first rate stuff. Accept it from me" with my good wishes for a safe return to Cincinnati". Sheldon Kellogg's home was on same road as Marks & Rees according to the consignor. This knife was part of the State of Arkansas Exhibit "A Sure Defense - The Bowie Knife in America". It was tagged C1837-1850's, an unusual design by one of the partners in the famous firm of Marks & Rees, makers of early coffin handle Bowie knives. This is the only example bearing his mark". Rees of Cincinnati was a well known surgical tool maker after his partnership with Marks. Identical mark "REES / CIN. O" is found on surgical tools. A complete set of Rees marked "U.S. Medical Department" Field Surgeon's Kit is pictured on page 300 of James Edmondson's American Surgical Instruments: An Illustrated History of Their Manufacture and a Directory of Instrument Makers to 1900. Dr. Edmondson, curator of the Dittrick Museum of Medical History, Case Western Reserve University produced without doubt the best reference on American surgical instrumentation. This massive knife is the only example of a Rees Bowie. It measures over 16" with about an 11" blade which is .28" thick at ricasso with a 3-1/4" sharpened clip. The blade still retains a near razor edge. The knife is uniquely mounted with a solid, heavy brass hilt with brass threaded finial with matching shaped hexagonal sides at base. Two 3-3/4" "certifiable antique elephant ivory" slabs which are pinned with six steel pins on either side. Scabbard is tooled leather with German silver mounts and cast brass frog button which fits knife quite well. This is the only known example of this Antebellum and Civil War surgical tool maker who must have made this special order knife for a special client. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Displayed as part of the Historic Arkansas Museum "A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America" Exhibit. CONDITION: Very fine overall. Blade retains some orig polish though blade has been re-polished with light pinprick pitting seen scattered on areas of blade. Tip was probably a 1/4" longer, but has been polished to new tip and there are several small nicks in cutting edge. Markings are discernible though the "O" in address is only half visible from polish. Grip and brass handle show yellow mustard colored patina. The pommel which is slightly turned askew has a lighter brass patina. The accompanying scabbard which appears orig and fits well with German silver mounted with a copper patinaed frog button. Leather body is sound and solid with crosshatched decoration not untypical of the Civil War though this knife could be much earlier. Ivory is sound and solid with good patina with numerous small surface scuffs and scratches and a few small hairline cracks. 49637-2 JS (20,000-30,000) IVORY -