GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
ESA - SPECTACULAR AND MASSIVE AND EARLY ALFRED HUNTER, NEWARK, NJ AMERICAN BOWIE KNIFE.Collectors have always prized knives by this early Newark, New Jersey cutler, circa 1835. This is no doubt the largest and most fearsome of his products known, measuring 20" overall with 13-7/8" clip-point blade, with 4-1/2" clip, 1-3/4" wide and 4/10" thick. Alfred Hunter Bowie's had very distinctive grips, the most desirable with solid ivory with "OWL EYES" decoration in scrolls on either side. Knife is German silver mounted, including 3-1/4" crossguard, ferrule, escutcheon, scabbard mounts with distinctive brass frog button and brass tip to drag. The pommel cap is most unusual in that the owner used it as his seal with deeply engraved backwards initials of the owner "WBH". This is as fine and honest an early American Bowie you will find. Really big early-American Bowie's are quite rare. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Ex-William Meyers Collection. CONDITION: Very good-fine overall. All orig, authentic and complete, though three silver pins are missing from grip. The "certifiable antique elephant ivory" grip exhibits fine patina with several hairline cracks. The blade is overall grey with scattered areas of staining and light pitting, old sharpening. The orig Hunter sheath is sound and solid with matching patina of mounts to knife. Leather scabbard body retains much of its orig finish with craquelure, scuffing and minor cosmetic defects. 51346-2 JS (15,000-25,000) ESA -