You won't find a better condition or finer form of a pre-war, probably Southern, side knife with tiger striped maple grip, retained by iron pins and German silver washers. Knife measures 13-5/8" overall with about 9" blade with 3" unsharpened beveled false edge. Simple folded scabbard is retained by brass pins along edges. 2-1/2" belt loop is also pinned with brass reinforcement. Knife is in exceptionally fine condition, retaining most of its orig surfaces. Gordon Minnis, renowned author on American primitive knives, stated in accompanying letter to Mr. McNeese: "This is the best thing in a gunsmith-made Bowie I ever expect to get. The curly maple is a lot nicer than it looks here - super inletting. Arm and a leg, but I couldn't help it". SIZE: PROVENANCE: Ex-Gordon Minnis Collection; Wayne McNeese Collection. CONDITION: Very fine overall. Blade is overall grey/bright with some old sharpening, blade is indeed quite sharp, one small nick in cutting edge. Maple grips retain much of their orig varnish. Scabbard is matching condition, retaining most of its orig brown polish, with interesting old ink markings; probably on the orig piece of reused leather the craftsman started with, minor weakness at toe of scabbard. But scabbard is quite sound overall. 50427-7 JS (5,000-7,000)