GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
HISTORIC RELIC KNIFE OF THE PIRATE JEAN LAFITTE, PRESENTED BY PROMINENT NEW ORLEANIAN JUST BEFORE HIS DEATH TO THE EARLIEST OF LAFITTE SCHOLARS AND BIOGRAPHERS.How Charles Luzenberg owned this knife is unknown, however he, Lafitte and Gayarre were all contemporaries and the inscriptions and vintage of dirk are impeccable. There's no more famous pirate in American folklore than " The Pirate of the Gulf" Jean Lafitte, (1780-1823). Lafitte, in 1814, was held prisoner in a New Orleans jail, but not for long and his exploits in the Gulf continued until his death in 1823. Is it possible this knife was a souvenir from 1814 capture? The inscription on blade that is copied onto coin silver scabbard reads "QUIEN A MI DUENO OFFENDIERE DE MI LA VENGANZA ESPERE 1814" and translates "HE THAT OFFENDS MY MASTER, HE SHALL I REVENGE 1814". The African figure carved horn grip with inset ceramic eyes, well made flower petal engraved capstan and forged bolster is in wonderful condition with a contemporary museum tag. Charles Luzenberg (1805-1848) was a prominent New Orleans surgeon who died only 4 months after this presentation to his friend Charles Gayarre (1805-1895) who wrote several 19th Century historical histories of Louisiana, including a history of Louisiana which was written the same year as this presentation and later is noted to have been the first biographer of Lafitte. No doubt, Lafitte had African's among his crew which may explain the fine decorated spiral grip with silver pins and brass wire, with fine carved African tribesman's head as pommel, which could have been a gift for their captain, Lafitte. Regardless, of history, there is no doubt that when displayed by Lafitte's first biographer, he stated that this was the "NAVAL DAGGER OF THE PIRATE OF THE GULF LAFITTE..." SIZE: CONDITION: Very fine. Overall length 7". Early Spanish Colonial oval 3-7/8" blade is worn, though details of etched motto, carriage scene and mounted horseman are discernible. Grip has good hand worn patina to horn. Iron patina to capstan, rivet and forged bolster, numerous silver pins are intact, as are twisted wire, apparent earrings that were worn by figure are missing as there are small holes in each earlobe. Paper tag is discernible and overall very good condition with foxing and acid burn. 50412-56 JS (15,000-30,000)