GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RARE VIRGINIA MADE CONFEDERATE ETCHED "SUNNY SOUTH" BOWIE KNIFE.Knife measures 16-3/4" overall with a 12" clip point blade. There are several knives known by this maker or at least genre. One knife etched with the Virginia state seal is signed "JOHN B ROOKE" who is thought to be the maker from Portsmouth, Virginia. This knife has a name which appears to read "E W DOOLITTLE" above a large 6" spread-wing eagle with ribbon reading "VIRGINIA". The reverse has eagle with ribbon above reading "SUNNY SOUTH". Harold Peteron in his book American Knives, 1958 shows another example with a similar brass crossguard on pg 33, though unetched. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Collection in Utica, NY; Joseph Zyla 1953; Ex- Tom Wibberly; Ex- Johnny Bassett Collection. CONDITION: Knife is good to very good overall with an apparent (contemporary?) braised copper repair to quillon of crossguard at cutting edge. The wood grip has been covered with old tarred canvas tape for a very long time and needs to be removed to see what the orig configuration was. The blade is grey overall, with staining and old grinding and sharpening at cutting edge which unfortunately obscures some of the etch, however the ribbons with "Virginia" and "Sunny South" are easily discerned as can be seen in photos. 51492-1 JS (4,500-6,500)