This exact knife is shown on pg 170 of Confederate Bowie Knives by Melton, Phillips & Sexton. This distinct Confederate factory made knife, of which at least 6 or 7 examples are known, each made to exact standards with quality materials. This knife, like other examples known, have unpolished sand cast brass guards. The flat ground single edged blades have a 3" unsharpened clip point. The grips are hand shaped and the carved pommels show slight variation from the handiwork of the craftsman. Several noted specimens such as this have Japanned black grips, which this example retains virtually all. The scabbards are classically Confederate. They display a blunt tip, full-length welt along the cutting edge. Norm Flayderman shows two examples in his text The Bowie Knife on pg 140, one being captured at Port Hudson (though Norm misinterpreted these to be of Union manufacture). Early Confederate knife scholar R. E. Neville shows another example in the July/August 1996 issue of North South Traders Civil War Introduction to Collecting Confederate Knives. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Ex-Josh Phillips Collection; Wayne McNeese Collection. CONDITION: Fine overall. Knife measures just over 16" with 11-3/8" blade, which is grey/bright retaining orig tool marks, staining and salt & pepper pitting. Grip is sound with several scuffs at edges retaining 95% orig paint. Scabbard is sound and solid with scuffing and crazing. Missing 2-1/2" sewn belt loop. 50427-13 JS (4,000-6,000)