GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
FINEST KNOWN "CONFEDERATE STATES ARMORY" CLIP-POINT D-GUARD.Louis Froelich at his Confederate States Armory in Kenansville, NC produced a great many Confederate Bowies, however they are almost exclusively double-edged cutlass style weapons. The handful of clip-point Bowies that exist can be counted on one hand. This is the only example known with complete orig scabbard with "Capture Tag". This knife is photographed and described on page 77 Confederate Bowie Knives. Knife is 20" overall with a 14-7/8" blade being 1-5/8" wide, .28" thick with a 5" clip and an additional 3" beveled edge. The orig brown leather scabbard still retains belt loop and ancient brown ink tag which appears to reads "PICKED UP ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF IUKA, MISS. BY MAJ. E H SMITH OF THE 105TH ILL...". Kenansville Clip-Point Bowie's are highly sought and you'll never see a finer example especially in orig scabbard and fine "Capture Tag" from the preeminent collection of Confederate Bowie knives. SIZE: PROVENANCE: The Collection of John Ashworth. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Blade is grey overall with staining and light pitting. There are numerous small nicks in cutting edge from use. D-Guard has iron patina being mostly smooth. Slightly bulbous grip has hand worn patina and numerous small scuffs and scrapes. There is a small pair of initials carved, possibly denoting the orig Confederate owner. Scabbard is sound and solid with some crazing and light bending near tip. 25-30% of stitching has come unbound and a few added stitches have been carefully woven through old sewing holes to reinforce with wire which appears contemporary to its time of use. Belt loop has come unsewn at top edge though is intact. 2-1/2" x 1-1/2" pasted museum tag is browned but inscription is mostly discernible. 49350-3 JS (20,000-30,000)