GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
UNIQUE BRASS HILTED IDENTIFIED "T L PRUETT" PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA MADE D-GUARD BOWIE KNIFE.This exact knife is featured on pg 193 of Confederate Bowie Knives by Melton, Phillips & Sexton. Knife measures 21-1/2" overall with 16" blade, 1/3" thick at ricasso. "This is the only known brass-mounted Pruett. The other eight examples of his work are iron mounted, and none has an orig scabbard. The blade of this knife is stamped with the same dies as those used on the guard: "J. A. ROBINSON . MD/AG./ALA." Dr. Robinson served with the Autauga Guards". J. A. Robinson was a 29 year old physician living in Autaugaville, near Pruett's home in Prattville, Autauga County, Alabama. Robinson enlisted September 16, 1861 in the Autauga Guards. Pruett had supplied 39 enlisted men in this unit with iron mounted knives with 19" blades as witnessed in the October 19, 1861 edition of Vanity Fair published in Boston under the heading "Alabama Blades". A photocopy of this article can be seen on line. The 39 knives referred to in Vanity Fair possibly account for Pruett's entire production, regardless this is the only brass handled version known and the only named example known. This knife was displayed at the American Civil War Center in (Tredegar Iron Work) Richmond, Virginia in the 2007 exhibit "In the Cause of Liberty". SIZE: PROVENANCE: Collection of Jim Maconkey. CONDITION: Very good overall. Blade shows old sharpening and a scalloped reduction in cutting edge, about 6" from tip. There is a contemporary braised repair in knuckle bow right behind Pruett's name which can be seen in photos. Scabbard is sound; last 4" are unsewn and missing tip. This is the only existing scabbard thought to be orig for any Pruett Bowie. 49442-13 JS (20,000-25,000)