GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE CONFEDERATE D-GUARD BOWIE IN ORIGINAL SCABBARD ATTRIBUTED TO PVT. JOSEPH DINWIDDIE, CHARLOTTE CAVALRY WHICH BECAME 14TH VIRGINIA.Knife is 20" overall, with 15" well ground blade with 4" partially sharpened top edge made from a file with beautiful well patinaed crown stag grip. This knife has survived in beautiful "as found" condition and saw little use as Joseph Dinwiddie enlisted May 15, 1861 and discharged July 31, 1861 after serving only about 45 days. Joseph Dinwiddie (1832-1906) was born in Plum Branch, Campbell County, Virginia and enlisted at Charlotte Courthouse. Like so many early war Confederate soldiers, these big knives were popular sidearms and so often seen in early war photographs, but they were soon thrown away or sent home as there was little use for this weapon as there was so little hand to hand combat. This knife appears to have been well preserved by family retaining much of its orig finishing marks and well fit scabbard. This is a fine example of rarely seen big Confederate D-Guards with orig crown stag grips. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Ex-John Hammer Collection; The Confederate and Civil War estate collection of Fred Donaldson. CONDITION: Very good overall. Blade is grey overall showing orig tool marks. Tip is broken. Scattered areas of staining and pitting. Guard has dark iron patina. Crown stag is sound, solid with good "as found" hand worn patina. Scabbard is sound and solid with crazing and cracking. Stitching loose about 1" at point and about 5" opening along sharpened edge near top. Integrally cut belt loop still intact but fragile. 52430-5 JS (4,000-5,000)